What I Learned From Being Laid Off Twice

I have learned a lot over my short, 6 year career but that is what is most important to me. Every chance I got, I took something away from the experience. Whether it was learning more about my focus (marketing), learning more about what my peers were doing and where the industry was heading or just learning how to work with and for different personalities.

Amber Naslund recently wrote a post on her learnings from quitting twice. Both very different experiences and both opportunities to learn something. In fact, I could see the learnings from the first time she quit being carried over into the way she went about quitting the second time.

Do Our Expectations Ever Live Up To Themselves?

Every time I have started a new job, I walk into it with expectations. They could be expectations about what my day-to-day would look like, how I imagine working with the person that hired me or even expectations about the long term. Some have actually panned out, while on others I have missed the mark entirely.

I take this and apply it when I am looking for a new position either within my current company or within another company.

I have learned that I am not cut out for a large-scale corporation that involves a legal team that’s job is to peruse over each and every single piece of marketing material I create. I have also learned that I don’t want to ‘be the marketing department’, I want to be part of a larger team that enables me to focus on the piece of marketing (lead generation/inbound) that I am the most passionate about. I know that I am not a product marketer and although I feel I can write good copy and sell the product, it brings me no pleasure to write spec sheets, datasheets or product pitch decks.

I also know what type of person I want to work for. I seek mentorship in each and every manager I work for. I want someone that encourages me to try something that I want to do but haven’t figured out how and I want them to critique me honestly.

Getting The Boot

Like some of my earlier, unfulfilled expectations, I never expected to be laid off – either of the 2 times. I don’t think anyone expects to be laid off actually. Perhaps we have a hunch and an eerie feeling of discomfort, but I don’t think we are ever expecting to be called into a meeting and be told that my job was no longer secure.

The first time for me was the toughest because I loved my job with all my heart. Probably would have married it if I could have. I worked long hours and on weekends without even realizing it, because it brought me joy. On top of my passion for it, I was really good at it.

Like I say ‘lead generation is my thing!’ Leads came in and not just any leads, the kind that converted. When that happens, revenue goes up, my budget went up and that gave me an even greater opportunity to go out and try new things.

The second time was a little less devastating because I already wasn’t happy. The position did not pan out to be what I thought it was (expectations missed horribly). The people I was working for had a very different agenda than my own (spend money and not track return anyone?) and it was really hard for me to give it my all.

Each time I was laid off, a new opportunity emerged. And each time it was even better than the last. I’ve learned that expectations are not always met and things just are never going to be what they seem each and every time. But when one door closes….

It’s never easy and it doesn’t become less scary but I look back constantly when faced with a big decision or find myself not satisfied with the work I am doing and really consider what it is I want and expect, then do everything in my power to seek it out and obtain it.