By Phuong Lee
October 17, 2023
Two layoffs in the past 10 months have truly taken their toll.
My previous employers were outstanding, and I forged deep friendships along the way that endure today. I harbor no resentment. With interest rates approaching 8%, the writing was on the wall.
Recently, a Netflix documentary about former CA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (“The Terminator”) caught my attention. One line struck a chord: “You can feel sh*tty, or you can feel happy. The world is not going to change, so let’s get going.”
So, let’s be useful.
When HR called on that fateful January day, I had anticipated the news. Layoffs—especially large-scale downsizings—seldom come with compassion. I focused on not internalizing my subsequent emotions and immediately reached out to my pillars of support after hanging up the phone: my husband, sisters, and a close friend. In our darkest hours, having someone (or, even better, multiple people) to lean on can make all the difference.
I recognized the importance of staying busy even before watching the aforementioned documentary. It was my lifeline to positivity—especially for the sake of my concerned family—so I promptly filed my unemployment papers and tapped into my network. Many empathized, and some even tried to circulate my resume. The hiring landscape, however, was bleak—especially in the mortgage sector. Despite this palpable challenge, it was an enlightening phase in my life: revealing both personal strengths and the innate kindness in people. If you are currently facing a similar situation and can relate, stay tuned for insights into how I secured a new job by March 10th (less than 45 days after my layoff). I share some tactical recommendations that helped me stay positive during such a tumultuous time.
First and foremost, I committed to dispatching one resume daily in the wake of my layoff. Despite sending out approximately 30 resumes in the days following January 29, only two potential interviews emerged, both of which fell through. Despite these setbacks, I persisted: notifying friends of my wide-open availability until a breakthrough finally arrived.
However, it took some time.
In the meantime, and to keep myself busy, I took advantage of the following opportunities (and you can too!) …
I earned my California notary license:
I highly recommend taking a 1-day in-person class through the National Notary Association (NNA). The instructors cover aspects of all things Notary and prepare you for the Notary State exam. At the end of the class, a CA state board proctor administers the Notary exam. From the day I took the NNA training class to the day I received my state commission certificate, it was approximately 3 months. You don’t have to pay for everything all at once; you can spread out the cost along the way.
The total cost amounts to roughly $584, with a breakdown as follows:
I took advantage of Santiago Canyon College’s offerings:
For California residents, this community college provides complimentary continuing education classes: meaning you can easily delve into a variety of courses such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop and so many more online classes at No Cost out of pocket. Who knows? It might just spark a profitable hobby! Click here to visit their website and be inspired.
I refreshed my CA real estate license:
If you’re at least 18 years old and a California resident, did you know you can earn your real estate salesperson license by completing just three courses? As for me, I jumped at the chance to simply refresh my license—which had lapsed a decade prior—and invested in test samples while also binge-watching PrepAgent on YouTube to prepare.
I found a Shipt Shopper gig:
As I explored new opportunities to stay engaged and productive, I found a Shipt Shopper gig. Shipt Shopper members fulfill and deliver grocery orders, providing another way to earn income. If you are interested in joining, feel free to reach out to me directly on LinkedIn, and I’ll be happy to share a referral link!
I remained proactive even after starting my new job in April, an approach I’m grateful for—especially after another unexpected layoff occurred six months later.
Now, I strategize a bit differently: prioritizing job fairs over mass resume blasts. Whether I return to the mortgage world or chart a new course remains to be seen, but I do have options now that will keep me busy (and, hence, optimistic) until the next opportunity presents itself. To echo the wise words of my younger sister: “Scarcity breeds creativity.” I believe I have found a way.
So, what’s your next move? Send me a DM on LinkedIn. I’m eager to hear all about your own personal journey and share some advice on what I learned.
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Thank you for reading!
For more insights and updates, connect with me:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/phuonglee
Website: www.phuonglee.comMedium: https://medium.com/@ptranlee