Laid Off: One Planner's Story of Finding a New Job

It has been almost a year since Rebecca Carmody was laid off from her position as events marketing manager at the software company Syncron. She has been on a total of 8 interviews and sent out more than 800 applications on LinkedIn alone.

At the beginning of her search, she says she spent 40 hours a week looking for work. It’s less now, since she hung out her shingle so she could take some temporary assignments.

She shared with Skift Meetings the story of her initial shock, her job-seeking journey, the industry colleagues who have lifted her up along the way, and her plans for the future.

Skift Meetings: Were you shocked at first when you were laid off?

Rebecca Carmody:  I was totally shocked. I was working for Syncron, a software company, and I had been there about a year. My first thought was, ‘Well, it shouldn’t be hard to find another job.’ But next week, it will be one year without a regular paycheck.

Skift Meetings: Do you think part of the issue is that companies don’t understand what planners do?

Rebecca Carmody: I’m not sure that a lot of team members understand what we do. People don't realize what goes into it, all the strategic moves that we make, all the budgeting, the data analysis, plus the creative side of things.

Skift Meetings: How have you been surviving financially?

Rebecca Carmody: I took my unemployment, but in January I had a couple of coworkers reach out and say they had some event work for me if I wanted to open up a business and take one-off projects. So that’s what I’ve been doing since then. It’s been erratic; it hasn’t been free-flowing, but things are starting to gel.

Skift Meetings: Have there been organizations you joined that have helped you through this time? 

Rebecca Carmody: I’ve been part of Club Ichi, and that community has been so supportive and helpful. I also joined a couple of job search groups. I’m also doing more with my MPI chapter. A lot of those people are self-employed as well. It’s been uplifting.

I also joined the local chamber of commerce to network with other small businesses and see if I could help them if they’re starting out planning events. We’ll see how it goes.

Skift Meetings: Has LinkedIn been helpful?

Rebecca Carmody: You can dig really deep into your LinkedIn account, and I realized I’ve applied to over 800 jobs. But I also can see how many people have applied to each job, and sometimes it’s 4.200 people!

There have been fake job ads I’ve applied to where I’ve gone through the entire interview process and panel interviews at the end, and then it was like, ‘Oh sorry, thank you for the presentation you put together for us.’ They were just looking for free work.

My LinkedIn contacts have been helpful for one-off jobs, however. I’ve done a few trade shows and some programs for small startups. One company referred me to others, and a lot of it has been word of mouth, or my not being shy and just reaching out to have a conversation. I’m not a salesperson, but I know I have to put on that hat a little bit. 

Skift Meetings: It sounds like it has been hard?

Rebecca Carmody: It’s been very disheartening, this whole job search process.

I’ve had to step back and say, ‘Something is telling me to do my own thing, leading me in that direction.’ It’s not so bad, compared to constantly feeling down about yourself between the rejections, the ghosting and the competition from other people in the same shoes I’m in.

It’s hard to get those letters that say, ‘Thanks for applying but your experience is not a good fit.’ A good fit? I’ve got over 20 years of experience here. I’m a great fit for anywhere I go!

Skift Meetings: So what do you think is going on with these companies?

Rebecca Carmody: There are a couple of things. One, companies are not looking to hire event planners full-time. If they do, they are hiring much younger people who are starting out in the industry. And that’s fine, I’m all for that.

However, for people like me with many years of experience, I think they are making a lot of assumptions: that we want more money, that we're not flexible, that we’re not technologically savvy, that we won’t be able to fit in. And I think for the most part, nothing could be further from the truth.

I’m not looking to make a million dollars or take over your company. I just want a job.

Skift Meetings: Are you going to continue looking, or focus on your business at this point?

Rebecca Carmody: I had a call with an old co-worker last month who told me they’re thinking of hiring an event person in January, and that’s nice.

But I still have bills to pay, so I’m continuing on that path of growing my own business.

Skift Meetings: What helps you stay positive?

Rebecca Carmody: There are days when I’m completely down in the dumps. But I have people around me who I love who love me. I can put the dogs on a leash, get some sunshine, and take a walk.

I think it’s really important to get out there, even if it’s just a trip to the grocery store. Get out of the house and change my mindset. Go hang out with friends, go see a play. Do something fun.

I don’t let this control my life. I can’t. Because otherwise I’d be rolled up in a ball.