This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Leslie Friday, 48, a marketing and communications professional who found a “bridge job” at a garden center after getting laid off. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I know everyone says this, but I really didn’t see it coming.
After a decade at the same company, I was laid off. I was in complete shock. I thought I was a key part of the team, was about to start a sabbatical, and, more importantly, my identity was completely intertwined with my job — until it came crashing down.
At first, I didn’t think the job market would be that bad. I’d spent 10 years as a senior director of…
