After a surprise layoff, I embraced uncertainty as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Those 3 years at my former company helped me develop my skills and learn new technologies, shaping the developer I am today. But the layoff also forced me to rethink my goals and chart a new course for my career.
I still remember how I felt during my last two weeks at the company: nostalgic for the great team I'd be leaving behind and scared to be unemployed, but a little excited for the opportunities ahead. When I finally left my job, I decided not to start looking right away for two reasons: first, I wanted to improve my online brand, and second, I had a trip to Buenos Aires coming up. I think that trip was an eye-opening experience for me because it helped me put a lot of things that were going through my head at the time into perspective.
When I got back, I started looking for new job opportunities, but I realized that I had put some personal projects and goals on the back burner, so I took action and that's how I got to where I am today:
✅ Reflecting on myself, I've embarked on a journey of personal growth by changing some habits and also adopting new ones.
✅ I'm currently working on my personal website, which I started developing 4 years ago but never published, and I'm using it to improve my skills even more while acquiring new ones.
✅ As part of my journey as a university lecturer, with a group of friends and colleagues, I'm structuring a complete web development course to help students or people with basic knowledge to pursue a career in this field.
✅ Two weeks ago I started a research training course to improve my skills as a research mentor.
✅ Last week, I received an official invitation from the research department of the university where I work to write a scientific article for the university's scientific journal, and it makes me so excited to be published in the near future.
And that's the message I want to give you with this post: everything happens for a reason and you can get good things out of situations that might seem bad at first, that being unemployed isn't all bad, because you can use this time to reflect on yourself and explore new perspectives that you wouldn't have thought possible otherwise. Likewise, you need to understand that while it's good to focus on your job, it's also important to work on your personal projects and goals because it gives you the chance to grow.
I'm actively seeking a new opportunity. However, I'm also cherishing this time of growth. My journey is a testament to the power of turning challenges into opportunities.
Are you facing a similar situation, what strategies do you use to navigate a career transition? Interested in one of my current projects? Share your story in the comments or connect with me on social media! Let's turn these situations into opportunities to #connect 🤝
Cover image by Ian Schneider
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