It’s been almost a year since Rebecca Carmody was laid off from her job as event marketing manager at software company Syncron. She had a total of eight interviews and sent out more than 800 applications on LinkedIn alone.
She said when she started looking for work, she was spending 40 hours a week looking for work. Less so now because she hung out her sign so she could take on some temporary assignments.
She shared with Skift Meetings her initial shock, her job search journey, the industry colleagues who supported her along the way, and her plans for the future.
Skift Meetings: Were you initially shocked when you were fired?
Rebecca Carmody: I was completely shocked. I worked at Syncron, a software company, for about a year. My first thought was, “Well, it shouldn’t be hard to find another job.” But next week, it will be a year without a regular paycheck.
Skift Meetings: Do you think part of the problem is that companies don’t understand what planners do?
Rebecca Carmody: I’m not sure many team members understand what we do. People don’t realize what goes into it, all the strategic moves we make, all the budgeting, the data analysis, the creative side of things.
Skift Meetings: How are you doing financially?
Rebecca Carmody: I was unemployed, but in January I had a few colleagues contact me and say they could offer me some event work if I wanted to open a business and do a one-off project. That’s what I’ve been doing ever since. It’s been unstable; it’s not free-flowing, but things are starting to gel.
Skift Meetings: Did the organization you joined help you get through this time?
Rebecca Carmody: I am a member of Club Ichi and this community has given me great support and help. I also joined several job search groups. I’ve also done more work on the MPI chapter. Many of them are also self-employed. It has been exhilarating.
I also joined the local chamber of commerce to network with other small businesses to see if I could help them if they started planning events. We’ll see how things go.
Skift Meetings: Is LinkedIn helpful?
Rebecca Carmody: You can dig deeper into your LinkedIn account and I found that I’ve applied to over 800 positions. But I could also see how many people applied for each position, sometimes 4,200!
I applied to some fake job ad, and I went through the whole interview process and the final panel interview, and then it was like, “Oh, sorry, thank you for the presentation you put together for us.” They were just looking for free work.
However, my connections on LinkedIn were helpful for one-off work. I’ve done some trade shows and some projects for small startups. One company recommended me to other companies, many of which were word of mouth or me not being shy and just reaching out to have a conversation. I’m not a salesperson, but I know I have to wear that hat.
Skift Meetings: Sounds like a challenge?
Rebecca Carmody: The whole job search process is very frustrating.
I had to step back and say, “There’s something telling me to do my own thing, leading me in that direction.” Compared to being constantly frustrated by rejection, ghosting, and competition from others in my situation. It’s not that bad.
It’s hard to get a letter that says, “Thank you for applying, but your experience doesn’t make it a good fit.” Is it appropriate? I have over 20 years experience here. I’m perfect for going anywhere!
Skift Meetings: So where do you think these companies are at?
Rebecca Carmody: There are a few things. First, the company is not looking to hire a full-time event planner. If they did, they would hire younger people new to the industry. That’s okay, I’m all for it.
However, for someone like me with years of experience, I think they make a lot of assumptions: we want more money, we’re not flexible, we’re not tech-savvy, we can’t. I think in most cases, This is not the case.
I don’t want to make a million dollars or take over your company. I just want a job.
Skift Meetings: Will you continue to look for or focus on your business at this time?
Rebecca Carmody: I was on the phone with an old coworker last month and he told me they were looking at hiring an events staffer in January, which would be great.
But I still have bills to pay, so I will continue on the path of growing my business.
Skift Meetings: What helps you maintain a positive attitude?
Rebecca Carmody: There are days when I get completely down. But I have people around me who I love and who love me. I can tie up the dog, get some sunshine, and go for a walk.
I think it’s really important to get out, even if it’s just to go to the grocery store. Getting out of the house and changing my mindset. Hang out with friends, go to the theater. Do something fun.
I won’t let this control my life. I can’t. Because otherwise I would be rolled into a ball.
