Hustle Harder: Bouncing Back & Professional Relationships

Suzie
Suzie
Aug 28, 2017 · 3 min read

I Was Laid Off: I was laid off by an organization that I was proud to be a contributing member of. I had hopes of simultaneously riding that wave while working towards that organization’s success. I’ve since learned that individual career aspirations don’t always align with the growth strategy of your employer (and that’s ok). This was a tough pill to swallow, though — to put it bluntly, I was devastated.

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: I wasted zero time. On my commute home after being let go I messaged recruiters I’ve worked with in the past, connections I’ve made in Silicon Valley, and updated my resume. I knew one thing was for certain; I was determined to bounce back into a role directly connected to a social justice mission.

Workin’ It Out: In the meantime, however, I live in The Bay and let’s be real… rent money is a necessity. I was laid off on a Wednesday and because I allowed for no lag time contacting recruiters I had an offer for a temporary office manager position in my inbox on Thursday afternoon. This is an important piece of the Hustle Harder mentality: get right back up. I’ve come to find that temporary positions allow for a constructive balance of providing you with a paycheck, while also allowing you ample time to search for your next career adventure. Many temp positions offer part time or flexible hours to accommodate job interviews. Not to mention, if you’re anything like me… there’s only so much unemployed Netflix & Chillin’ I can do all day without going stir crazy…

Relationships: Fast forward about two weeks and I’m proud to say I connected with an amazing organization, interviewed for a position that seemed just about tailor made for what I had been looking for, and was ultimately offered the position. It’s important to recognize that this wasn’t just luck or being in the right place at the right time, but a direct byproduct of the hustle I’ve put in to my career in tech plus the importance I place on building professional relationships. Relationships are more important than the generic LinkedIn connections we all rack up. As Common once said ‘a relationship is effort, I will match your work…’ and I truly do believe that. I believe how someone nurtures a professional relationship serves as an indicator of their work ethic.

Movin’ On & Getting Over: It’s difficult to accept and understand the reality of being laid off… I’m sure that’s what John Mayer was talking about here:

“Moving on and getting over
It’s been so long; it just goes to show you
That I still can’t seem to get you off my mind (my mind)
And I sure would like to see you one more time”

You come to grips with an unexpected shake up in your life. You won’t be seeing the same people you usually do every single day, you’ve probably been displaced from your comfort zone, you’re upset and confused. I do miss my old co-workers, I do miss my old office environment, I do miss the comfort of knowing I was an active member of my previous working community. On the flip side, it’s wonderful to know that I am moving on and getting over. I‘ve secured a position I’m excited for, and most of that sadness has dissipated. You’ll start to wonder if this was all supposed to happen after all…

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Suzie

Written by

Suzie

Susan livin' like a Suzie Q. (tweets are my opinions)

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