The Pandemic Blip

I have something in common with a lot of professionals I’ve been talking to recently. Our LinkedIn profiles and resumes showed fairly consistent employment, with one job transitioning smoothly into the next. Until 2020 — The Pandemic Blip.

The shared experience of losing a job during the pandemic has become a bonding moment. Whether we were working for industries that relied on public interaction like theaters and gyms, or retail companies whose businesses were hit hard, we’re all embracing the pandemic blip in our career path. It’s no longer about figuring out how to explain a gap in our employment history, that career gap we used to fear being asked about. Now it’s about figuring out something interesting to do in the interim.

So, I’ve decided to use my layoff as a catalyst for many things: rebuilding my portfolio site, re-evaluating where my career is going, growing a man-bun, starting this blog, showing vulnerability, taking more risks, continuing to design.

When life gives you lemons, pull a Beyoncé and create your best work.