What I Learned from Being Laid Off

No Regrets

I did not get laid off; I quit my job before the economy went 100% south. I had plans to do something freelance and also go back to school to get my master's. All those plans fell apart due to a combination of depression, laziness, and bad decisions, but one thing I know for sure: I do not regret quitting my job.

I hated that job, I was in it for eight years and it was never the job for me. By the end, not only was I in a job I hated, but I was also in a hostile work environment and under great stress every day.

I am unemployed now and seeking work but the market sucks. I am going to keep trying; I just take it day to day. I probably will get evicted from my apartment And will have to move to another state to live with family. Even if I end up on the street I will still say that I don't regret leaving that place.

--tranquil_one

A Time to Get Experience

I had a signed contract for my job as a nursing instructor and had just bought a new house when my boss called and said there were cutbacks and I was being laid off. I was devastated for about 15 minutes.

Now, I had wanted to go back to school and become a nurse practitioner, but my boss didn't think it was important for my job. I had also wanted to get experience in the intensive care unit, but didn't want to go back to nights and weekends, holidays and stuff.

So I started working in the nursing pool. After about 13 days of getting pulled to the ICU (yay!) they told me they would guarantee my hours at full time if I was willing to work in the ICU. So, now I was getting the experience I wanted, but I could pick my own hours. That allowed me to take the classes to become a nurse practitioner.

I applied for a couple jobs after I graduated but didn't get them. Then I got the one I have now, and it has opened so many doors and given me so many opportunities. I can Google myself and find multiple hits based on articles I've written, I am presenting at national conferences and it’s all because I got laid off, and then didn't get what I thought was my perfect job.

--REteach

A Blessing in Disguise

I had worked for Washington Mutual Bank, and in 2006 we were told that the office was closing down. I was very upset at the time but it really was a blessing. We had lost my mother-in-law to cancer in January 2006, and my mother was starting to get really bad from cancer at the same time. My last day of work was in April of 2006. After I stopped working I moved my mother into our home and cared for her in her final days. Mom passed away in July. I was thankful for being off work and having the time to spend with my mother.

After Mom passed I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life. I decided to go back to school to be a Medical Assistant to be able to help people. I have since graduated and am now working in a physician’s office and love what I do.

--married4evr

Being Prepared for Uncertainty

In the next year it's very likely that my public-sector agency is going to go through some major restructuring -- this has more to do with politics than with the economy per se, but because we depend on local millages for much of our funding, I think it was just a matter of time before our agency was impacted by local hard times. I figure that my job is either going to be eliminated or cut back to part time. I'm ready for either eventuality. I've wanted to go back to school and take some classes that will improve my job flexibility and work enjoyment; going part time would give me more time to do that. As long as I have a part-time job that will help me pay for my health insurance, our household can absorb this little "speed bump in the road of life."

--tawonda

Early Retirement

I'm 61 years of age and my position at my job was eliminated after 37 years, just 10 months before I was hoping to retire. With the economy in the state it is, I probably would have thought I needed to keep working even longer. God knew best, as he always does! It was his timing for me and my husband.

My husband is 11 years older and has been retired for a number of years. His retirement income is minimal and we depended on my salary. We began preparing for my retirement 5 years ago, got completely out of debt; still have a healthy mortgage and daily living expenses, and healthcare insurance challenges. But for God…I got a buyout and was able to collect unemployment--we are watching God provide every day for our needs. I was raised on the principal of tithing—believe me, we can never out give God's mercy, grace and provision! The Bible said we have a "peace that passes understanding"—I can't imagine going through this time without God's peace.

Those of you struggling because of job layoffs need to hang on to every promise God gives us in his Word. He doesn't need our money—but he wants to grow and develop our faith as we give to those around us—whether it's our finances or our time. Worrying about the future is not of God—He hasn't even promised us tomorrow. Using the wisdom God gives us, taking it a day at a time, and staying in His Word is what we all need to do. I am praying daily for all those touched by this economic struggle. God is greater than all that's going on in our lives and in our nation and world.

--chapgal

Peace of Mind

I know that when life seems unfair, it is really hard to believe that you are not getting the raw end of the deal—especially when you feel that those that should pay the price are not having to pay anything at all while your life gets turned upside down. I recently left my job after being put in a situation that was not what I deserved. Though I loved my job, my boss made my life impossible. But I am here to tell you—it was one of the greatest things that happened to me!

Yes, I dealt with the fear of not having a steady paycheck—especially during these economic times we are facing—but my peace of mind is priceless. I have had time to pause and ask myself, “What do I want to do with the rest of my life?” As I pursue new opportunities and find my next adventure, I realize now what is important—and will ensure finding it. Nothing beats the feeling of having a great boss—one that believes in you vs. one that views you as a threat and because of their own bitterness at life, tries to create misery in yours. And definitely nothing beats waking up to a job you look forward to going to. Use this time to ask yourself if you are happy and seek to find your happiness if not. I pray for her (my boss)—and though she is enjoying the security of a nice paycheck (and I am sure a fat one!), I know great things are coming my way. That is what peace of mind, hope and faith give you.

All the best - and keep believing in your higher power - and LIFE!

--Didley Di

God Is In Control

My husband was laid off in October 2008 from the railroad after working for four years. I never would have thought anything like this would have happened. We were able to save our car, but most of our bills are going bad now. Luckily, we now live with my mom. She helps a lot, without her I don’t know what we would have done. We are a family of seven, and I know God has something better lined up for us in our future. I am grateful for what we do have, and that is healthy kids, a roof over our heads, family that loves us, food in our stomachs, a car to drive to find work and the love for God in our hearts.

I believe God made this happen to us for a reason. We weren’t living the way we were really supposed to. We were spending money and not going to church. I believe he is opening my eyes to believe that money is not the root of everything and material things are not needed to live. It has really humbled me and brought me back to where I should have been all along, believing God is in control of our lives and I need to trust and believe in him. Without him, nothing is possible. I thought I would have been depressed and sad every day, but I'm not. I'm really calm, cool, and relaxed, because I know and believe that God has a plan for my husband and our family. He will decide which of the jobs is best fit for him and guide him to it. We all just have to believe that God is in control!

--luvchele

Making a Name for Yourself

A couple of years ago I used to be a reporter at a top celebrity magazine. I remember the day management called us all into the main conference room to tell us about company layoffs. It was scary because this magazine had never been affected by layoffs before. The higher-ups mentioned wanting a certain number of staff to volunteer to leave with "packages." So after being at the company for nearly six years, I knew it was time for me to move on. I called human resources and asked about my severance allowance. When they gave me the numbers, I decided to leave the company and move back to Florida where my family resided. Although I didn't have a job lined up, I knew leaving the company was the right choice for me. My mom couldn't understand why I'd leave a job that had "good benefits" but I had to follow my own heart and path.

In the end, my decision to leave worked out in my favor. I got a job offer from a company in Arizona so I relocated a few months later. After being at the company for about nine months, I was presented with the opportunity for a promotion, which included relocation. Now I was off to Las Vegas, with the new title of Fashion/Entertainment Editor. I had created a name for myself by using the contacts I had established in New York and Arizona in order to make things happen at the magazine. As if this wasn’t enough, while out one night with a colleague, I met an editor who was leaving a magazine she'd been working for, for another job opportunity. I gave her my business card and days later—after a series e-mails and interviews—I was offered her job. Now, I am the editor of the magazine! I say all of that to say this. Sometimes you have to step out on faith in order to receive what God has for you. Don't look at layoffs as a negative thing. Look at it as an opportunity to challenge yourself and make the most of it. Who knows where your faith can take you? God knows. Let Him guide you.

--TheEditrix