When I entered the workforce, it was during the height of the pandemic, a period that fundamentally reshaped the professional landscape. Instead of beginning my career in a traditional office setting, I found myself launching into my first full-time role remotely.
I initially joined the team under an experienced people leader, which gave me confidence as I transitioned from student to professional. However, shortly after I started, the organization created a new developmental opportunity for an employee to become a first-time manager. This added a layer within the team and shifted my reporting line to someone who was brand new to leadership.
As an early career employee, I had originally expected to learn directly from a seasoned manager at a global organization. Instead, I found myself reporting to a leader who was building foundational management skills at the same time that I was trying to navigate the basics of corporate life.
While they approached their new role with good intentions, being a first-time manager naturally comes with a learning curve. Through no fault of their own, they were still developing the skills needed to guide someone who was brand new to the professional workforce.
On top of this, I began my career entirely remote. For someone early in their journey, the in-person workplace offers invaluable organic learning—observing collaboration, absorbing positive behaviors, witnessing healthy conflict resolution, and understanding what to do and what not to do. Without that day-to-day exposure, and without a tenured manager to lean on, it became challenging to gain the informal insights and guidance that typically help shape a strong professional foundation.
Compounding these challenges were the broader impacts of the pandemic, global economic shifts, and changing business needs. As work significantly decreased for the regions I supported, the company went through a reorganization, and I was among those laid off. I was shocked, embarrassed, and overwhelmed. Being laid off from my first professional role—just after celebrating one year—left me feeling lost and unsure of my path.
Looking back now, after working at another organization and now at Hitachi Energy, I can clearly see how much that experience taught me. At Hitachi, I feel myself growing, adding value, and surrounded by incredibly supportive people. Being laid off taught me to advocate for myself, to trust that setbacks can lead to better opportunities, and that with the right tools, I can succeed.
Most importantly, it taught me resilience.
—Catie Barrett, Employee Experience Coordinator, Hitachi Energy
