As we rebound from the impact of Covid, reduced revenues and sheltering from home, it is always important to recognize that people and jobs have been impacted in a real way. Insider saw this article from Aliana Heffernan and offers it with her permission.
By Aliana Heffernan, Digital Media Content Marketer & Event Planner
It feels surreal to be saying this, but here it goes. Next week would have been my 3 year anniversary at Vistar Media. Last week, I joined the millions of Americans who are currently unemployed.
I was furloughed by Vistar in mid-April and laid off in late June as part of a major restructuring of the company. During my 6 years in the workforce, this is unfortunately not the first time I’ve experienced my position being eliminated, but it still stings none the less.
Early on in the pandemic, I understood that my job (like so many others) would be in jeopardy. And so, as a doer, I used the past few months to take the online courses I “never had time for,” used my newly found free time to enjoy hobbies I had long forgotten, and took the opportunity to dive head first into my passion project – consulting for small businesses… all while trying to adjust to what we‘re calling “the new normal.” But as a doer, I also know I’m going to be looking for my next role.
Thinking back on the past few years, I recognize how lucky I was to be part of such a collaborative and supportive team, to have an exemplary boss who motivated me to grow and learn, and to have accomplished so much for a startup tech company during a pivotal transition (from just over 50 employees to a peak of more than 100, worldwide!).
As I reflect on what I’ve learned, these 3 things stand out:
- The role you are hired for is rarely the only job you’ll do. Take that challenge as a chance to learn and grow. Learn as much as humanly possible, strengthen your existing skills and develop skills you never thought you’d possess (hello, spreadsheet organization and budget management!).
- Set high expectations for your employer and don’t settle for less. Some jobs will leave you overworked and underpaid. Other jobs will suffer from mismanagement or poor company culture. At Vistar, I was offered fair compensation, benefits and raises. My work was appreciated and there were countless employee perks. My coworkers became my friends. When employees had concerns, People Ops worked to address them. Things weren’t perfect, but I felt confident that I was in a positive work environment. My team and leadership set the bar for any future employers.
- You are more than a “career.” As millennials, we are told we are lazy and expect things to simply be handed to us. In my experience – as I know is the case for many others – this is far from the truth. I pride myself on my work. I am passionate about what I do and I love doing it well. I strive to continuously do better. Yet at the same time, I’ve come to realize that the so-called ladder to success isn’t what we were told it would be. Working hard doesn’t equate to a successful career; however, being resilient does. So as I look to the future, I’m beginning to process what success looks like to me and how I plan to get there.
I’m excited at the prospect of a new opportunity and determined to find a role that is right for me. Please keep me in mind if you learn of any content and strategy-focused marketing roles, and feel free to reach out if you’ve also been recently laid off – I’m always happy to connect!
Insider’s Take: Thanks for your perspective Aliana. In case you are interested, Aliana is currently seeking her next role. Bringing with her +6 years of marketing experience, she is interested in working for a company that has a need for content strategy and development across all marketing channels. If you are hiring or would like to discuss other opportunities, please connect with her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliana-heffernan/)
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