Community Spotlight: Career Setbacks

By: Annie Drummond / March 30, 2020

Community Spotlight: A new series highlighting Aspire to Her community members and their experiences early in their careers.

The recent coronavirus outbreak is greatly affecting the economy and will likely cause career setbacks for many. Can you tell us about a time you dealt with a similar situation and how you got through it?

I experienced a setback early on in my career that I think is worth sharing. After graduation, I moved to NYC to begin my dream job of working in fashion. Although the company was fairly small, I was achieving success rather quickly. After receiving a promotion in just a few short months, I felt like I was on top of the world. Until a year later when the company announced they would be closing my division effective that day. My heart sank and my head began to spin. I still had rent to pay and food to buy. How was I going to make it in NYC with no paycheck? I graduated top of my class and landed a job in the "Big Apple". How could this be happening to me? To this day, being laid off was one of the most humbling experiences I have been through. After a few days of coping with my situation, I realized I had two choices. I could sit on the couch and feel sorry for myself or I could overcome this setback. I have always been someone to look on the bright side and firmly believe in the phrase “When one door closes, another one opens.” After applying to endless job applications and hearing nothing back, I decided to tap into the network I had been building since I moved to NYC. Funny enough, the CEO of the company that had just laid me off was able to connect me with the founder of a brand I had been eyeing for some time. A position had just opened up and in a matter of weeks, I accepted a job offer at the new company. It was an even better fit for me than before. It’s funny how things have a way of working themselves out!!

What's your advice for anyone in the thick of a career setback right now?

My advice for anyone experiencing a career setback is to keep your head held high and know that you are not alone. These are unprecedented times but watching our community come together during this health crisis has been truly inspiring. Who knew social distancing would bring our community closer? If you are experiencing a career setback right now, remember these times will pass. Do not be afraid to reach out and ask for help. There is no reason to be embarrassed. You never know when someone will be able to help. Have faith in others and stay positive!

If you’re interested in sharing a career experience/lessons learned with other Aspire to Her community members, please fill out this quick form!