Personal timeline

Wowwkatie's journey

Milestones, reflections, and progress updates connected as your layoff-to-next-step story unfolds.

  1. 2
    Applied to a Job Feeling Got a Job Thinking

    I recently applied for a job that I truly believed I wouldn't get, especially during what has been the worst year of my life. Last year was incredibly tough for me; after a long struggle to save my marriage, I had to make the painful decision to walk away due to an unforgivable incident. Shortly after that, my mom, who is my closest friend, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. I was devastated and spent months in a state of emotional turmoil. As time went on, I started to find some stability. I was managing to take care of my kids about 90% of the time without much support from their dad, and my family was understandably focused on my mom's treatment. The financial strain was overwhelming, and I was constantly worried about covering bills and the potential for anything in my home to break down. Then, I received one of those generic emails suggesting jobs I might like. I almost didn't apply because I thought it would be too competitive, and I didn't stand a chance. With only about three years of experience in my field and no degree, this position represented a significant jump in pay, offered remote work, and had flexible hours — all the things I desperately needed. Despite my imposter syndrome, I remembered how my previous employer had treated me with kindness during my struggles, but the reality was I had bills to pay and not much to lose, so I decided to apply. To my astonishment, just a week and a half later, I received a job offer. I was in shock! This opportunity meant I could finally pay my bills and start rebuilding my savings, especially after the costly divorce. If you're out there staring at a job posting thinking, 'I'll never get picked, why should I even try?' I encourage you to apply anyway! I wasn't actively looking for a job; I applied for just this one role, and it truly changed my life when I needed it the most. I hope my experience inspires others to take that leap.

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  2. 1
    Applied to a Job Feeling Got a Job Thinking

    I recently found myself in a surprising situation at work. I've been in my industry for about three years and have been quite content in my current role, feeling that my compensation was fair for my experience level. However, a couple of weeks ago, I received a job posting on LinkedIn that caught my attention. It was for a role in the same industry, fully remote, but the salary range was significantly higher than what I currently make. As a recently divorced single mom with my kids most of the time, I figured it wouldn't hurt to apply, even though I wasn't actively looking for a new job. I submitted my application, not really expecting much since the position seemed competitive and I only have three years of experience without a college degree. To my surprise, a week and a half later, I received an offer letter with a ~55% salary increase! I was in shock, especially when I started receiving emails from higher-ups at the new company expressing how impressed they were with my application. I accepted the offer, feeling both excited and nervous about this new chapter. I believe strongly in salary transparency, as it helps people understand if they are being compensated fairly. Unfortunately, my current company discourages employees from sharing salary information. I decided to tell my teammates about the offer and the pay difference, hoping my departure might encourage leadership to raise salaries to be more competitive. I have a feeling that if they don’t, several of my colleagues might start looking for new opportunities as well. Sometimes, it takes a personal experience to realize how underpaid you are or to see what’s possible.

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