The two weeks following my layoff were a blur. Between calls to family members, friends, and lawyers, I remember crying a lot and going through boxes of tissues. The thought of “You are not good enough” kept coming back to haunt me. But, as the days passed, I began to realize just how unhappy I had been working at that office. While working there, I never felt as though my experience and the work that I had done were valued. So although I mourned the loss of my job and the relationships I had there, I was able to begin to see the gift in it - and it was almost a relief. Now I had the time to make some changes to my life and to find a path, and a place, that was more in line with my core values.
After a couple of weeks of soul-searching, I was ready to step into the next chapter of my life. I was lucky. The company that I had worked for had contracted the services of a career counsellor to help me find a new job. Gloria was a godsend. Over the next few months, she became my trusted advisor and confidante, tasked with guiding me along my journey. And I could not have survived it without her.
At my first meeting with Gloria, it quickly became evident that I needed a career change. I had spent the previous 25 years working in volunteer management, engaging and motivating volunteers primarily in the healthcare sector. But the contribution that volunteers (and their managers!) make is often undervalued by the organizations they serve. I was tired of constantly having to advocate on their and my behalf.
Over the next few weeks, I completed several assessments, looked closely at my personality traits, interests, and strengths, and researched different career paths. In the process, I learned a lot about myself - who I was, what was important to me, and what I really wanted. As a result of this introspection, I decided that a new career in career development was right for me. Yes, I wanted to help others who found themselves unemployed find meaningful employment! Who knew?!
The prospect of making a career change at my age, in my mid-50s, was daunting, but exciting at the same time. I had made several career shifts over the years, and had even had the opportunity to work at jobs that I considered my “dream jobs”. But I was younger then. How did I feel about having to start all over again from scratch? Taking entry-level jobs so that I could build up my experience? It was a challenge, but I knew that I had valuable skills and expertise to share, and I was willing to forge ahead. Figuring out what I wanted to do was only the beginning. Now I had to take action.
One of the important things I was to discover during my job search was, you can’t do it alone. I am normally a confident, capable woman, but there are times when I begin to doubt and second-guess myself. I know I did. But I was lucky because I had family, a few good friends, and Gloria, my career counsellor, in my corner, cheering me on every step of the way. They were there when I needed to vent my frustrations, hug me, and give me a shoulder to cry on when I needed it. And they were there to help me celebrate my successes too.
Unemployment is like a roller coaster ride. There were days, such as when I would receive an invitation for a job interview when I felt as though I was invincible. On those days I was on top of the roller coaster hill, breathless with anticipation, bursting with hope and optimism. But then there were days when I honestly did not have the energy to get out of bed. Those days usually followed the news that I did not get the job I wanted yet again, or when I had submitted what felt like 100 job applications only to hear nothing in return. Those are the days when you question yourself. Did I make the right move changing careers? Why the heck did I decide to do this? But, having people around me that I could trust; that I knew would listen to the good, the bad, and the ugly and still love me no matter what made all the difference in the world.
There is also truth to the saying, “It isn’t what you know, it is who you know.” More than 80% of the jobs available in the job market today do not get advertised. Instead, they get filled through referrals by other people. I can attest to this. I got all three jobs I hold now (yes, three, but more on that next week!) because someone I know recommended me. But I was learning this back in 2017.
Gloria encouraged me to get out there and network. Now, I am an introvert; to most introverts, networking is a nightmare. The thought of walking into a room filled with people I do not know but who all seem to know one another is my idea of torture. But she explained that the traditional networking events we all know and hate are just one type of networking. She introduced me to a beautiful thing called an information interview. In an information interview, you meet with someone who is either doing the type of job you want or works for a company you like. You ask them questions about their experiences. What does their job entail? What do they like about it or dislike about it? How did they get where they are now? This approach was MY idea of a good time – meeting with people over coffee (pre-Covid!) and asking them questions! All in all, I did over 40 information interviews and, through them, gained a greater understanding of my chosen career. I also became more and more confident that this was what I wanted to do.
And in the end, my hard work paid off. In April 2018, I had seven interviews in five days. I chose a job as an Employment Coach and Workshop Facilitator with a local public service employment agency. In the process, I met many great people I still keep in touch with today. But my story does not end there, oh no. I still had much more to learn and growing to do before I finally landed.
Cathy Obright is a Career and Employment Coach in London, Ontario, Canada
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Next week - Chapter 3 - I Land a Job, but...
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