The Silver Lining of Layoffs: Finding Success in Unexpected Places

I’ve been laid off 6 times” is the title of a blog I recently read and found captivating. The author’s masterful writing style drew me in from the first sentence. It wasn’t just the story of layoffs that was engaging, but how it was told. 

I've experienced layoffs four times, and each one was heartbreaking. Yet, everyone who's heard my story has found it fascinating. Today, I’m proud to say I bounced back every single time, and each time for the better. 

Did I foresee such an incredible work journey? Absolutely not. That’s the beauty of a layoff: you never know where it will lead you. 

First Termination  

It was from my first job right out of college. Incidentally, I had excelled in the master's program (M.Sc. Home Science) but had no clue what a suitable job role for me would be. I saw an advert for a Fashion Designer in the newspaper, went for the interview and aced it. In retrospect, they just got impressed by my credentials but didn’t evaluate my fashion design sense, or the lack of it. Left in the bedroom of the designer who owned the high-end boutique along with an embroidery worker, I was seen dozing off on the sofa several times. It was just too boring, and the hum of the AC was luring! 

Lectureship 

One thing led to another, and I found myself on the faculty of my alma mater. Soon after finishing college, I had passed the UGC exam for a lectureship. Here, while teaching B.Sc. and M.Sc. classes, I discovered my true calling was not designing but teaching. ‘Those who can’t do, teach.’ I found this proverb hilarious and so apt for my situation. I loved teaching; the traditional saree attire suited me (back in the 80s) and my students responded well to me and thrived to do their best. It was soul-satisfying. 

After getting married, I moved to a new city, leaving behind my "so respectable for women" career. This new city had a bustling export scene, and I found myself in a merchandiser's role at a garment export house nearby. One day, I was asked to tidy up the garments on the shelves. As a former lecturer who was accustomed to being addressed as "Ma'am," I felt like a maestro being asked to tune the piano instead of conducting the orchestra. 

However, life has a way of surprising us. A new college had just opened in this city, and one of my M.Sc. lecturers, who remembered me as a dedicated student, recommended me for a faculty position. It was a classic case of being in the right place at the right time. After a whirlwind of interviews, I was appointed as an Assistant Professor. Once again, I found myself loving my job, teaching college students, caring for them in a maternal fashion (as they were residential students), and even standing up to the Director to procure facilities for my students. I was exactly where I belonged, once more! 

Second Termination   

A few years later, I found myself in the US, without a work visa, dependent on my husband’s H1 status. With no US work experience or education, I joined a Montessori school to learn how to care for my son, who exhibited some unfamiliar autismtic traits. 

Maria Montessori’s philosophy taught me to respect every child for who they are and nurture them like a plant. "The plant will not flower when we want it to, but when it is ready," our Head Director would say, and those words became my guiding light. Working with children felt natural to me. 

Despite my success, my second layoff came. Although it had been a soul-satisfying tenure, it was time to move on and discover what else lay in store on my checkered career path. 

Soft Skills Training Career Pivot 

Upon returning to India, an old friend who owned a soft skills training and consultancy invited me to join her for a corporate training session at a resort. She asked me to sit in the back as a colleague and "feel free to speak." The training focused on 'presentation skills,' and as she provided feedback to participants, I jotted down my own notes and raised my hand to share my insights. I felt satisfied after sharing my feedback. 

Later, my friend remarked on how the participants had been nodding in agreement with my feedback and suggested I had a knack for training. She invited me to join her as a soft skills trainer. Intrigued, I researched what soft skills training in corporations entailed. 

Under the mentorship of my friend, a masterful trainer, I traveled across the country, conducting two-day training sessions for multiple batches of a large national bank, alongside other colleagues. The experience was incredibly engaging, exciting, and rewarding.

After attending a Train-The-Trainer and a few of my master’s sessions, my entire outlook on life transformed! I found my vocation again, feeling in my element.

As the years passed, I took on freelance projects. During one such stint, while preparing for a session, I learned about the concepts of blue ocean and red ocean strategies. The field of soft skills training in corporations was turning into a red ocean. POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) training was a blue ocean, but I had barely been exposed to it.  

POSH Training Career Pivot 

One day, I got a call from a small corporation to conduct POSH training. I relied on my friend and the Internet to prepare and conduct the training. Though this was a very interesting field, and I felt like a duck to water, no new calls came for POSH training, and I was feeling disappointed.  

Inspired to specialize, I pursued certification in POSH training. Despite initial doubts, this decision paid off when the #MeToo movement hit India and requests for POSH training surged.  

I soon found myself employed in a POSH training and advocacy organization, learning the nuances and gaining experience and expertise in the legal and psychological aspects of a POSH inquiry. By this time, I was consistently getting high ratings in POSH training feedback surveys. 

Third Termination 

However, the pandemic forced the organization to downsize, and that led to another layoff.  

Undeterred, I quickly found a role in a leading corporation, gaining extensive experience in POSH, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and content writing. For a couple of years, I felt as snug as a bug in a rug. Then the unthinkable happened! What were the odds? 

Fourth Termination  

The company eventually decided to retain only lawyers, leading to my fourth layoff. By this time, I was a seasoned professional, ready to embark on a career as an individual consultant.  

Individual Consultant Career Pivot 

As an independent consultant, my first client was a renowned hotel—a true badge of honor. This achievement would not have been possible without the career profile I built, which was shaped by several layoffs. Each layoff brought frustration, confusion, and uncertainty, but these challenges became the catalyst for pursuing new opportunities. 

Today, I am a POSH, DEI, and Soft Skills Trainer, External Member, Consultant, and Writer. As a side hustle, I teach soft skills to school students, nurturing them like little plants, knowing they will blossom one day. 

Definition of Success 

Success to me is not what society defines—a large property, some fancy cars, and luxurious biannual vacations.  

My definition of success is deeply personal. To me, success means having a job that I genuinely enjoy, one that pays well, benefits others, and allows me the time to exercise and socialize with friends.

A layoff is not the end of the road—it's a new beginning. Remember, failure is never final. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Don’t measure your progress by competing with others; instead, reflect on how far you've come and appreciate the amazing journey you've had.