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Staying Connected After Job Loss

Losing a job is more than just losing a paycheck—it’s losing daily routines, professional identity, and, often, the connections built over time. One of the hardest parts is realizing that many of the people you once spoke with every day simply stop reaching out. Meetings, check-ins, and shared moments disappear overnight, making it feel like you no longer exist in their world.

If you’re going through this, you’re not alone. And while it’s painful when former colleagues go silent, you can choose to be the one who keeps the connection alive.

Reaching Out to Others in the Same Boat

Chances are, you weren’t the only one impacted by a layoff or termination. Reach out to others who are in the same position. They understand the emotions, the uncertainty, and the challenges you’re facing. A simple message—“Hey, how are you holding up?”—can provide much-needed encouragement. Sometimes, knowing you’re not alone makes all...

Finding Growth in Life’s Unexpected Turns

In Buddhism, there’s a well-known story about a grieving mother who had just lost her only son. She was so devastated that she refused to let others bury him, unable to accept his death. Around that time, the Buddha was teaching nearby, and hearing of his wisdom and enlightenment, she carried her child’s lifeless body to him, desperately seeking a miracle.

“Dear Buddha, I cannot bear to live without my son,” she pleaded. “He was the source of my happiness, my energy. Without him, I don’t know how to move forward. Please, bring him back to life.”

The Buddha looked into the mother’s tear-filled eyes and understood that no words could immediately ease her pain. Instead, he gave her a task. “I will help you,” he said, “but first, bring me a mustard seed from a household that has never experienced death.”

With renewed hope, the woman set off, knocking on doors, visiting homes across her city and beyond. Each time,...

Never Search Alone: The Power of a Job Search Pod

Job searching is often a long and challenging journey, filled with ups and downs. Rejection can feel personal, and the process can be exhausting. Yet, just like training for a marathon, job seekers don’t have to—and shouldn’t—go it alone.

When preparing for a marathon, runners rely on a support team: coaches to refine their technique, pacers to keep them steady, and friends or family to provide encouragement along the way. A job search should be no different. Having a team to support you can make the process more effective, less isolating, and even increase your chances of landing the right role faster.

Remember the Career Fair Model

Think back to your final years in school. Universities often host career fairs or interview events where companies send recruiters to meet with students. These events are filled with energy, collaboration, and opportunity. Students don’t just attend alone; they prepare together, exchange tips, and encourage each other. The...

Showing Up Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Losing a job can feel like a crushing blow, leaving you feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the future. It’s easy to fall into isolation, but in times like these, showing up and attending networking events—whether it's industry conferences, trade shows, or networking meetups—is more important than ever. Even when you don’t feel like it, stepping into these spaces can provide invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth.

It's natural to feel a lack of motivation after losing a job. You might experience feelings of self-doubt, frustration, or even embarrassment. It’s important to honor those emotions, but don’t let them dictate your next move. The power of networking isn’t just about landing a new job—it’s about making connections, staying informed about industry trends, and being visible. Often, opportunities arise when you least expect them.

Recently, I met up with two former colleagues who had recently lost...

Networking as an Introverted Job Seeker

As an introvert, the thought of social networking used to terrify me. Early in my career as an engineer, I believed that success depended solely on my technical expertise. I focused on mastering my craft—running tests, documenting results, writing detailed specs, and keeping meticulous records. I thought that if I just did my job well, everything else would fall into place.

But I was wrong.

This narrow focus led to isolation. I kept my head down, diligently working, but I found myself excluded from important conversations. Worse, I encountered unkind individuals who took advantage of my reserved nature. Then, an incident nearly cost me my job. That was my wake-up call—I realized that technical excellence wasn’t enough. I needed connections, relationships, and allies. I needed to network.

But how? The idea of attending networking events, engaging in small talk, and putting myself out there was overwhelming. I had no idea where to start. Then I found How to Win...

Staying encouraged after facing setback after setback

Recently, I met with a friend, a former colleague whom I greatly respected and admired during our time working together. As we sat down for coffee, I noticed a weight in his demeanor. His eyes had lost their usual spark, and his shoulders were slumped. When I asked how he was doing, he forced a smile and said, "Great." But it was clear something was wrong—his facial expression and body languages expressed a sense of defeat, discouragement, and sadness.

As we continued talking, he confided that he had lost his job nine months ago and had been relentlessly applying for new positions since then. Despite sending out countless applications and attending numerous interviews, he had yet to receive a single offer. “Thanh,” he said, “I’ve applied to over 500 jobs in the last nine months. I’ve had maybe a dozen interviews, made it to the final stage three times, but never got an offer. I keep wondering if it’s because I’m over 50 and not an...

Overcoming Financial Insecurity

The number one struggle of a job loss is typically financial insecurity. Losing a job often means a sudden loss of income, which can lead to difficulties in paying bills, meeting financial obligations, and covering basic needs such as food, housing, and healthcare. This financial strain can cause stress, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future, impacting not only the individual who lost their job but also their family members or dependents who rely on them.

Here are a few practical steps to take to address the situation and regain stability:

Assess Your Financial Situation

Review Your Finances: Take stock of your current financial situation, including savings, expenses, and any severance package or unemployment benefits you may be entitled to. You may even negotiate your severance package to get a higher amount or an extension on health care coverage.

Create a Budget: Develop a budget that reflects your current income and expenses. Cut any non-essential spending to conserve funds....

How to Overcome Bias and Discrimination as a Woman Engineer: A Personal Reflection

Today, I had a heartfelt coaching session with a young female engineer who reached out for guidance. As we wrapped up, she hesitated, then said she had one last question. We were out of time, but I sensed it was important, so I encouraged her to share.

She asked, "What do you do to deal with biases and discrimination as a woman engineer? Have you ever experienced it?"

I paused—not because I didn’t have an answer, but because her question stirred a wave of memories. Memories of hurtful experiences, of challenges I’ve worked hard to rise above.

Yes, I’ve Experienced It—A Lot

Bias and discrimination have been a reality for me as a woman engineer, and as an Asian minority. In fact, being both a woman and an Asian creates a “double whammy,” meaning I’ve encountered discrimination and biases rooted in both my gender and my race. Each layer adds complexity to the challenges, as stereotypes about women and Asians intersect, sometimes...

Happiness Is the Way: Discovering Joy in the Here and Now

Thich Nhat Hanh once said, "There isn’t a way to happiness. Happiness is the way." It's a simple, profound reminder of the nature of happiness. Every day, we’re flooded with advertisements suggesting that buying something will bring us joy, or that we need to achieve a certain milestone to finally feel fulfilled. Growing up, we’re conditioned to believe that happiness is something to reach for, as if it’s a destination in the distant future. But what if that perspective is upside down? What if, instead of constantly seeking happiness, we realize that happiness is already here, waiting for us to notice?

Last weekend, I took my children to a pumpkin patch. Watching them hunt for the “perfect” pumpkin, laughing and sharing little jokes—it struck me that this is happiness. In these small moments, happiness is alive and tangible, but it’s easy to miss if we’re too busy or distracted by what’s next on our list. This...

Life Lesson from a High School Football Game

Going to our children's high school football games is a special tradition for our family. We're not big football fans, but we rarely miss a game to support our daughter, who proudly sings the national anthem at every home game. Besides, there’s something magical about being there together—the band, the cheering, the music pulsing through the crowd, and sharing those moments in the crisp evening breeze.

Last night’s game was a rollercoaster. Our team was just a few yards away from the end zone, and everyone was on the edge of their seats in anticipation. The atmosphere was electric, a touchdown seemed inevitable. But in a surprising twist, they didn’t make it and opted for a field goal instead—what seemed like a sure three points. But even that went awry as the ball bounced off the goalpost, eliciting a collective gasp of disbelief from the crowd.

From hope to disappointment, and then another round of it, the crowd's enthusiasm visibly waned. I found...

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Yes, I’ve Experienced It—A Lot

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