When Dream Jobs Don’t Work Out: Finding Purpose Beyond Layoffs

I’ve never shared this publicly before, but in 2018 I landed what I believed would be my “dream job” as Training & Development Manager at a boutique recruiting firm. Fresh from a successful interview process, I dove headfirst into learning their systems and processes—and even celebrated my first placement within my first 30 days.

The Unexpected Twist

Just as I was gaining traction, I was suddenly let go. No warning. No feedback. Eight weeks of severance, and a polite request to “go away quietly.” In Texas, employment is “at-will,” meaning you can be fired for nearly any reason—sometimes even something as trivial as a haircut that didn’t sit well with your boss. In that moment, I was left with questions swirling in my mind:

• What did I do wrong?

• Why me?

• How would I explain this gap on my résumé?

I began working at age 15, and I’ve always held myself—and my work—to high standards. That unexpected layoff knocked the wind out of me. I spiraled into shame and self-doubt. I wondered if I’d failed not only myself, but everyone who had believed in me.

The Ripple Effect of Shame

Shame is a powerful emotion. It tells you you’re flawed at your core, not just that you’ve made a mistake. As I scoured my mind for answers, I felt my confidence erode. The security I’d built over years of diligent work seemed to vanish overnight.

I replayed every interaction, every email, every training session. I felt stuck in an endless loop of “What if?” and “If only…” I worried that potential employers would see my résumé and think, “She must not have been any good.”

A Turning Point & Finding Purpose

But here’s the thing about low points: they can also be catalysts for growth and finding purpose. That layoff became the nudge I didn’t know I needed. It forced me to pause, reflect, and consider what truly mattered to me—beyond titles and paychecks.

During that period, I turned inward. I revisited my core values: authenticity, growth, and service. I realized I was happiest when I helped others learn, grow, and find fulfillment in their work. The answer I was seeking wasn’t another corporate role; it was an entirely new path.

Building Encompass Coaching

That moment of upheaval planted the seeds for Encompass Coaching. Drawing on my years of recruiting and talent acquisition experience—and fueled by my own journey through uncertainty— I became an internationally certified coach and created a practice dedicated to helping professionals navigate career transitions with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

Over the past seven years, I’ve worked with executives, mothers returning to the workforce, women pivoting careers, and leaders seeking greater alignment with their purpose. I’ve seen firsthand how a single twist of fate—like a layoff or a firing—can become the impetus for profound transformation.

Finding Closure—and Letting Go

For years, I carried the sting of that mysterious layoff. I never knew exactly why it happened, and part of me longed for closure. Last week, I attended a networking event and ran into two colleagues from that old firm. As soon as I saw them, the old feelings—the insecurity, the shame—resurfaced. But this time, I chose a different response: I held my head high and greeted them with warmth.

To my surprise, they offered the explanation I’d been seeking. They shared that the agency was plagued by poor leadership, and there were many deeper issues at play in that environment. Their reassurance wasn’t just comforting; it was liberating. It reminded me that sometimes there truly isn’t a personal reason behind a layoff. Often, larger forces—poor management decisions, budget cuts, market changes, restructuring, and/or shifting priorities—are at play.

Lessons for Your Journey

If you’re reading this because you’ve recently experienced job loss or an abrupt end to a role you loved, here are a few reflections to hold onto:

1. Your worth isn’t defined by any single job. Companies move, strategies shift, and leaders change. Your value—your skills, your character, your potential—remains intact.

   
   

2. Closure can come in unexpected ways. You may never get a sit-down explanation. Sometimes closure is something you grant yourself, by reframing the story you tell about what happened.

   
   

3. Use the pause as an opportunity. A career break can be the perfect time to recalibrate. What lights you up? What skills do you want to grow? What legacy do you want to build?

   
   

4. Lean on community. Sharing your story—whether with friends, mentors, or a coach—releases the burden of shame and opens you up to new insights and support.

   
   

5. Trust the process. Even when it feels unfair or inexplicable, trust that this moment is part of your larger journey. Often, the detours lead to destinations you never could have imagined.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Today, I carry that career setback not as a scar, but as a badge of resilience. It reminds me of the power of vulnerability, the importance of self-compassion, and the potential for growth that lies hidden in adversity.

If you’re standing at a crossroads, feeling uncertain about what’s next, know that you don’t have to navigate it alone. Whether you’re contemplating a career pivot, rebuilding confidence after a layoff, or simply seeking greater fulfillment, Encompass Coaching is here to help you find clarity and courage.

Let’s turn your unexpected twist into your greatest opportunity.

Ready to explore? Schedule a free discovery call today, and let’s chart your path forward—together.

About the Author:

Kimberly Smith is a Life, Career & Business Coach with a focus on mindset and resilience, and the founder of Encompass Life Coaching.  She is a native New Yorker, proud Houstonian, truth seeker, mental health advocate, mother, yogi- and unabashed dachshund lover.

Kimberly is degreed in Sociology and Psychology, is an internationally certified coach, and has spent over 15 years in talent acquisition and recruiting for a variety of industries including oil and gas, renewable energy, engineering, hospitality and more.  She is currently Senior Manager for Onshore Recruiting at JAB Recruitment in Houston, Texas. In her role at JAB Recruitment, Kimberly combines strategic recruiting expertise with her coaching background to connect top talent with transformative career opportunities.

Kimberly is a servant leader passionate about dissolving the stigma around mental health and is dedicated to empowering others to live more authentic lives full of passion, purpose, courage, freedom and adventure.

Through coaching services, speaking, and writing, Kimberly helps ambitious women, mothers and entrepreneurs move past overwhelm, cultivate resilient mindsets, and amplify their energy and confidence, so they can flourish within their careers, families, businesses, and relationships, while accomplishing their personal and professional goals.

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