So, you just got laid off…
And the pressure to bounce back fast is real – update your resume, scan job boards, and make the next ‘logical’ move to get a new job. Then, you apply to different job postings and nothing feels like the right fit. So, you’re wondering if this layoff might actually be a turning point.
If you’ve ever thought:
- What if I don’t want to go back to my old industry?
- I have other gifts… but I don’t know how to turn them into a real job.
- Am I being irresponsible for wanting something more aligned and okay with waiting for a few more weeks/months?
I’m sure you’ll love this post because that’s where our client, Delphine, was, and she had the most inspiring career change story ever! After being laid off from a finance job in New York, she expected to stay in her comfort zone. BUT she made a bold move and completely changed careers – returning to a long-abandoned passion and building a business that aligns with her calling.
Let’s dive deeper.
Meet Delphine, Founder of Poiesis Art Advisory
When Delphine was laid off from her finance job in New York, she had a kid to provide for in one of the most expensive cities in the world, and the fear hit fast.
But instead of feeling rushed to make decisions about her new career, she was surprised at what came next: peace, and then clarity.
Delphine had spent years working in compliance at a broker-dealer company. Her job was stable, structured, well-paying, and secure.
But it also pulled her far from who she truly was: a creative, empathetic, deeply visual woman with a passion for people and aesthetics. Before finance, she had worked in the art world, including a job at Sotheby’s in her early 20s, but the industry had hurt her. She walked away thinking she’d never return, and closed that chapter of her life.
But it took a layoff, a leap of faith, and some serious clarity and reflection work for Delphine to come back to herself. Today, she runs Poiesis Art Advisory, a boutique service that curates meaningful, deeply personal gallery walls for busy professionals. She helps people discover art that reflects their lives, and helps emerging artists find homes for their work!
Here’s what Delphine’s story teaches us about making a courageous, aligned career change after layoff – especially when you feel stuck between what’s safe and what you’re truly called to do.
1. Give yourself permission to rethink what’s actually right for you
After her layoff, Delphine’s first thought was to go back into finance, because it’s the first sensible thing! She also thought of pivoting to HR because she loved people interaction, but the longer she sat with that idea, the more it didn’t sit right.
“I was trying to make sense of myself in that old role, and I just couldn’t.” – Delphine
This was a moment of quiet disruption, a chance to ask not just “what job can I get next?”, but what kind of work is actually right for me right now?
Try answering this question: what would I pursue if I didn’t feel pressure to play it safe, please others, or immediately prove myself?
This kind of reflection takes courage. But it’s often where the real clarity begins. For Delphine, that moment of honesty is what eventually led her to build a business that is rooted in her strengths, and not her resume history.
2. Reconnect with the parts of yourself that got buried
Delphine had always loved art. After college, she even worked in the art world including a role at Sotheby’s, but she had left the industry in her 20s feeling disillusioned, unsure if she had a place there. So she tucked away those gifts – for years.
It wasn’t until she slowed down and reflected – through prayer, coaching, and time – that she began to name the parts of herself she had pushed aside: her artistic eye, her deep empathy, and her joy in creating beautiful spaces for others.
“I knew I had these talents related to art, but I just didn’t know what to do with them.”
To be honest, a career change after layoff often invites you to pick up parts of yourself you’ve been ignoring because of your day job! This is especially true if you’re currently misaligned at your work.
3. Notice what (and who) you’re jealous of – and ask why
Over the holidays, Delphine listened to our podcast episode featuring Catherine Dolaher of CD Arts Management. Catherine is doing exactly the kind of work Delphine had once dreamed of – curating art, working with artists, and building a meaningful business in the creative world.
And Delphine’s reaction was: “What?! Why is she doing my dream job? Was it actually possible?!”
She didn’t dismiss this feeling and paid so much attention to it. This good ‘envy’ moment for her helped her realize that she had not moved on from her passion yet, and just buried it under years of practicality, fear, and striving to fit into a more ‘acceptable’ career.
Rather than letting jealousy paralyze her, she let it guide her. That twinge of envy revealed desire. And desire, along with deep communication with the Lord and reflection, pointed her toward clarity.
4. Allow yourself to revisit industries that didn’t work the first time
Delphine had walked away from the art world because she didn’t feel like she fit in, and at the time, she didn’t have the support, clarity, or maturity to stay. But 20 years later, something had shifted: this time, she wasn’t trying to squeeze into someone else’s mold. She was ready to return on her own terms – with a new vision, a deeper sense of calling, and a desire to bring light into a space she once found intimidating.
“Now when I see a difficult situation, I don’t take it personally, I see it as an opportunity to bring light,” she said.
Your career change after layoff could be a return, not to the same role, but to the part of your story that was never finished.
5. Build a rhythm that actually supports how you work best
After months of working behind the scenes building her business, Delphine actually got to achieve it and she now helps busy professionals curate their gallery walls! And her favorite part of her new career is having the freedom to work in ways that energizes her!
She’s a creative thinker who thrives in variety and autonomy. And now, she gets to build her schedule around that. Some days are spent styling gallery walls. Others involve connecting with artists or curating for clients. Her workflow is flexible, and intentional.
If you want to figure things out like Delphine, you can ask yourself: what is your ideal day of work – not just the tasks, but the pace, the people, and the space. What kind of role (or business) would make that your reality most of the time?
A fulfilling career isn’t just about what you do, it’s also about how your life feels while you’re doing it.
Final Thoughts: What if this layoff is your turning point?
Delphine didn’t rush her next move. She listened to her frustrations, her faith, her gifts, and her envy. And from that space, she built a business that honors who she is.
“I actually get excited to wake up and go to work now,” she said. And this is what matters!
If you’re navigating your own career change after layoff, you don’t need to force clarity. But you do need to slow down long enough to hear what your life is telling you. There’s something on the other side of this layoff, something more aligned, more alive, and more true. If you need help to figure things out, please check out our programs here and feel free to book a call with us here.
