I was laid off after 10 years at the same company. My $17-an-hour job at a garden center changed how I think about work.
After getting laid off, single mom Leslie Friday took a part-time job that was the complete opposite of her career while she continued her job search.
Leslie Friday, a 48-year-old marketing and communications professional, faced an unexpected layoff after a decade at the same company. As a single mother of three children, she struggled to make ends meet while navigating a challenging job market. Leslie found unexpected joy working a part-time job at a garden center, which allowed her to connect with customers, describe plants, and care for them, bringing her immense satisfaction.
Despite earning $17 an hour, the garden center job provided her with financial stability and taught her the importance of maintaining a work-life balance. Her positive experience at the garden center inspired her to share her story on LinkedIn, which resonated with many others who had gone through similar job searches. This led to a new role as director of communications, where she plans to incorporate the fun and levity she learned from working at the garden center.
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