Last paycheck is on Friday.
It hit me that I need to figure out how to pay my bills. And I was surprised to see that if I pay off my debt, I only need to make $30/hour. This is how I calculated that and what I did to cut that debt. And like any other mid-life crisis, how I’ve seen life come full circle. If it wasn’t that bad then, maybe it’s not that bad now.
“Get certified,” they say.
Google has confirmed that I am now an AI Professional. As a marketer, this certification was extremely valuable. But certifications have a cost, and I don’t really have the extra cash for a new subscription. But the coursework reinforced what I already knew: AI needs a human to be effective. And it reassured me that our former employers are going to realize they made a mistake when they let us go.
Laid off, Lifted up: Rediscovering creativity
Marissa is an artist near Chicago, Illinois who was recently laid off after 20 years in the finance and mortgage industry. She decided to use this opportunity to pursue her passion: sewing, craft, and costume art. She writes, “I’ve worked harder and been more creative in the last 3 months than I have been in the last 20 years.” Follow her journey and her creations on her site: lowkeyexpression.com.
Retirees relate!
Retirement can be boring. It can be lonely. Money can get tight. Lisa fills her free time with volunteering and earns some extra cash by substitute teaching. Subs are in high demand, and you don’t need to be a licensed teacher to sub.
In progress
Networking events
LinkedIn best practices
Temporary income sources
New perspectives
Managing mental health
As a fellow job seeker impacted by a corporate layoff, I am also experiencing the challenges of our current competitive, AI-driven job market. I see, hear, and share the mutual frustrations and bewilderment. In my experience, the most successful way to secure a new role is through networking. However, those in-person opportunities are hard to find. Many people are terrified of networking, even on LinkedIn.
I can help fill that gap. My background is marketing and communications. I’m a natural networker, and I’m a writer. Some of my innate qualities are honesty, transparency, and finding the positivity in a negative situation.
But most importantly: I know what it’s like to have nothing. To be starting from scratch. To ask for help.
We’re all going to be okay; we just have to stay together. And maybe we can find some ways to have fun in the process, learn from each other, and build a community: a network.