What Happens After You Work Yourself Out of a Job… Twice

The first time I got laid off, I was angry—really angry. I was confused, hurt, and I took it personally. It’s tough getting laid off in any role, but as an HR leader, it hits differently. I knew the process inside and out. I’d led it before. I knew how these decisions were made. I just never thought I’d be on the other side of one.

In the months that followed, I focused on putting myself back together in the healthiest ways I could: hitting the gym, spending more time with my husband and daughter, traveling, and prioritizing self-care. I was incredibly lucky to have a partner who could carry the financial weight for a while. I didn’t love relying on him, but I was deeply grateful for the space to regroup.

People always say, “You’ll be better off—you’ll see why this happened someday.” Eventually, that started to ring true. I updated my resume, started applying, and slowly but surely, recruiters began reaching out. With every message and interview, my confidence returned.

That next role changed everything. It healed something in me. I found my people—colleagues who made me feel seen, smart, and valued. I leveled up as an HR leader and dug deeper into Total Rewards, especially on a global scale. I worked on meaningful projects with some of the most talented HR pros I’ve ever met.

And then, I got laid off again.

But this time felt different. I wasn’t shocked. Honestly, I’d even joked that they didn’t need me anymore—after all, I’d built the function from the ground up. The process was handled with such dignity and respect that it reminded me how good HR should feel, even when delivering hard news. I left with a deep sense of peace and appreciation—for the experience, the growth, and the people.

This time around, there was no identity crisis. I didn’t have to rebuild. The only thing I mourned was no longer working alongside people I truly enjoyed. But it gave me time and space to ask some big questions:

What does Total Rewards look like outside of a startup?
Is this still the work I want to be doing?
What comes next after building yourself out of the same role twice?

I don’t have all the answers yet—but I’m working on it.
Stay tuned.

GJ