I had been laid off… again! I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t even make it to my one-year anniversary. I had been laid off before, you work in mortgage and it comes with the industry.
But this time, I had gotten into a new industry. I had landed a job doing communications—my dream! It was rocky from the beginning—started during the holidays, boss on vacation—I didn’t have a clue what I was supposed to be doing. I took a deep breath, embraced the uncomfortable and dove in.
I asked questions, tried to get into every meeting I could, and still felt like I was flailing. I asked for help when I got a new boss, wanted to learn and grow, made myself available, asked more questions and still felt like I was constantly out of the loop and out of sync. And then I started being left off meetings and emails, and I knew.
So, I asked and my boss confirmed it. She needed someone who could just step in and do it. I didn’t have what she needed. It shook me. My previous layoffs were industry/business-related. This was personal.
My confidence low, I started the job search again. I networked, I read, I learned, and I focused on what I really wanted from a new position. And then one day I literally stumbled on a job posting and when I read it—bam—the perfect job.
Funny thing, I knew nothing about the company or the industry.
Watkins Wellness has a 94 percent retention rate and an average tenure of 12 years. I knew I wanted to find my place and stay. The more I learned, the more I knew this is where I belonged. My confidence was still a little shaky when I jumped into my first round of interviews, but it grew, and the people I met solidified how much I wanted to be a part of this organization.
I started on my birthday and what a gift it has been. I felt supported and welcomed from day one. Everyone helped me learn and grow. When I suffered a family loss, everyone stepped in to help cover so I could focus on my family. I felt more welcomed, empowered, and effective 60 days into my new role than I ever did at my last company, but that failure prepared me and propelled me into my position at Watkins Wellness—where I was truly meant to be!
—Polly Edwards, Manager, Internal Communications and Social Impact, Watkins Wellness
