This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kristy Layden, a 45-year-old based in Frisco, Texas. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
“If I don’t have a job in three months, that would be crazy.”
That’s what I remember thinking to myself when my senior management role at a major retailer was eliminated. Over a year later, I drained my 401(k) for cash and still had no offers.
When I sat with myself and was truly honest, I realized corporate wasn’t something I wanted to return to. If I was having this kind of experience looking for a job, what on earth would it be like in the actual position? I wanted to help people, connect with others, and see the direct results of my work.
That’s when the idea of being a nurse came up.
When I get my mind on something, I move really fast. So, I will start class later this summer at a community college. I’m concerned about starting this career in my 40s and taking on debt, but I know this is the right path.
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I cashed out on anything I could get my hands on after losing my job
I started seeing LinkedIn posts from people saying they were six months into the job hunt. Then, a year in, they were losing everything. I kept digging, looking, and watching, and everyone had the same story.
My worry built over time as I couldn’t find a job. I cashed in on anything I could, selling handbags, jewelry, and anything else that might have some value. Once I started running out of those things, I didn’t know what to do.
I’ve had depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember, so my parents were concerned about me. I also live alone in a rented apartment with my cat and two dogs, so we set up weekly phone touchpoints on Sundays so my parents could actually hear what I was going through. Parents can always tell when something is up by the way you sound.
They’ve helped me financially by covering my doctor’s appointments, but aside from that, they’ve listened without judgment and worked really hard to make sure I was getting the support I needed.
I stayed in corporate out of fear
I looked back at my decade in corporate, and the atmosphere of layoffs isn’t something I wanted to return to.
Also, I felt like I couldn’t be my authentic self in corporate, and that I had to keep quiet or leadership would see me as a threat. I feel like a lot of people in corporate only care about themselves and climbing the ladder. Finally, work-life balance just felt nonexistent.
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I stayed for so long out of fear that my next move might not be a smart one. Even at my age, I also worried about disappointing my parents, which is silly because they’re my biggest cheerleaders.
My Botox injector inspired the idea of becoming a nurse
I have a friend who’s a plastic surgeon, and I see her occasionally for Botox touchups. When I went in a few months ago, I watched how everyone in her practice worked together — the energy was electric. The plastic surgeon is a really great person, and I started looking into becoming a cosmetic nurse.
I wish I had known 20 years ago that this could have been an option for me. Nursing isn’t just changing bedpans or administering medication. There are so many different options, so I started looking into it with the injector route in mind.
I’m taking prerequisite courses at a community college
I debated pursuing a BSN or an RN, but I decided on a BSN because I can potentially earn more. ChatGPT was a great resource for helping me figure out the best path.
Read more about people who pivoted their careers
I talked to an advisor at my local community college, who helped me figure out which classes I’d need as prerequisites before applying to BSN programs. My first two classes are this summer. I considered waiting a bit to take classes because I didn’t feel ready, but my dad reminded me that I’ll never feel ready. I just have to start.
I applied for financial aid, so I’ll hopefully be receiving money to apply toward classes and cost-of-living expenses. I can’t wait for that to all get pushed through because that’ll be a huge relief.
My plan is to finish prerequisites, then apply for the University of Texas at Arlington’s 15-month online nursing program.
I’m concerned about starting this path later in life; I wish I had left corporate sooner
Once I realized this was the path that I wanted to take, I was locked in and ready to go. The one thing that concerns me, though, is that I’m older now, and it’ll take multiple years before I’m actually working.
The debt is going to be something I have to deal with, but I try not to get too in the weeds on that kind of stuff.
It’s hard to give a blanket statement that anyone can drop job hunting and go back to school or whatever they want to do, because systemic barriers and personal situations might not make that available. However, my advice to people looking for a job is to be honest with yourself.
Don’t get stuck on what you’ve done and the roles you’ve been in. Think about what excites you, even if it’s something entirely new.
Do you have a story to share about navigating long-term unemployment? If so, please reach out to the reporter at [email protected].
