Out of the Office: Laura Hampton
on Loss, Layoffs, and Reinvention
​
When I spoke with Laura Hampton, she was in the middle of two major life changes: a move from California to Arizona and a huge career pivot. After losing her marketing job just days after her mother’s funeral, she could have rushed to find the next “safe” role. Instead, she did something braver—she listened to her gut and pressed pause to reassess her professional goals. What followed was a season of reckoning and reinvention. In our conversation, Laura talks about job loss, identity, and what it means to rebuild a professional life that is born from a passion to contribute to the greater good.
Q: Let’s start with your last role. What were you doing before your layoff?
Laura Hampton: I was Senior Manager of Lifecycle Marketing at Robert Half. I oversaw all external communications to clients and candidates — helping companies fill roles and matching job seekers to openings. I managed a team of up to four people and had been there for about four years.
Q: And your layoff — was it part of a larger round?
Laura: Yes. It was a corporate-wide layoff that hit a lot of senior and people-manager roles. I’d had great reviews, so it came as a surprise. From what I gathered, it was mostly about flattening titles and cutting costs — more of a spreadsheet exercise than a performance one.
Q: Did you see it coming at all?
Laura: Not really. I tend to be anxious, so I’m always a little braced for layoffs — that’s just tech life — but I wasn’t expecting it then. My mom had just passed away in January, and four days after her funeral, I saw an HR person added to my one-on-one invite. I knew immediately.
Q: Oh my god — four days after your mother’s funeral?
Laura: Yeah. It was brutal. My boss wasn’t involved in the decision; it was made higher up. They weren’t looking at people, just titles and salaries.
Q: How did you handle it afterward?
Laura: I told myself I’d take a beat — we had a trip planned in March — but I couldn’t help myself. I peeked at LinkedIn, saved some listings, and ended up applying to a few before we even left. I started interviewing in April, but nothing really panned out.
Q: So it’s been about six months now. How has unemployment affected your sense of identity?
Laura: I thought I’d be fine because I’ve never seen my job as my identity. I’m not obsessed with climbing ladders. But when the structure fell away, I realized how much my days — and my self-esteem — were tied to work.
At first, I thought I’d use the time to get everything in order: deep-clean, meal prep, work out twice a day. I did none of that. I was far less productive than I expected. A little depression crept in.
Q: What emotions have been most present for you during this time?
Laura: Shame, mostly. I started wondering if I’d been living a lie. I wasn’t getting past early interview rounds — which had never happened before. Interviewing usually comes naturally to me. I expected to land something fast. When I didn’t, I started questioning everything: Am I even good at this? Do I know what I’m doing? And then sadness. I’d read job descriptions and feel nothing — or dread. I’d think, I don’t even want to do this anymore.
Q: Same. I’ve had moments of real insecurity, wondering if I even want to go back to the same kind of work. Have you had any similar revelations?
Laura: Definitely. I’ve realized I don’t want to keep chasing roles that don’t fulfill me. Marketing feels… over-serious. Everyone — candidates and companies — is acting like we’re saving lives, and we’re not. We’re selling stuff.
I’ve decided to pivot completely. I’m applying to grad school next year to become a therapist — something I’ve wanted to do since college. Before that, I’m enrolling in an esthetician program so I can work part-time while studying. I’ve always loved skincare and beauty, so it’s a fun way to bridge to something new.
Q: I love that. And you’re moving too?
Laura: Yeah, my boyfriend and I are moving from Alameda to Arizona this week. We bought a house, which gives us more financial breathing room. He works remotely as a lawyer, so we have flexibility — and he’s been so supportive. Having that partnership makes this transition feel possible.
Q: That support makes such a difference. How does this compare to your last layoff?
Laura: Night and day. In 2018, I had three job offers within weeks. It was a totally different market — no one was stressed about getting hired. I thought about switching careers back then, but I didn’t feel ready, and I couldn’t afford to. Now, I have more savings, more perspective, and someone cheering me on. I told him, “If you weren’t here, I’d still do this, but it would be a lot scarier.”
Q: What advice would you give to other people going through unemployment?
Laura: First, stop blaming yourself. Companies are taking this process way too seriously — five interview rounds, unpaid projects, endless rejections — it’s not you. The system is broken.
And second, don’t ignore what this time is trying to tell you. If you feel relief after a layoff, listen to that. It might be pointing you toward something new.
Q: That’s so true. I keep reminding myself that this is a rare opportunity for reinvention.
Laura: Exactly. I’m terrified, but I’m also excited. I don’t know what the future looks like — what my income will be, or how my life will feel — but I’d rather be scared moving forward than stuck doing something that makes me miserable.
Q: Amen. And when you get your esthetician license, call me — I’ll be your first client.
Laura: Deal! I start classes soon. I’ll send you before-and-after photos — and maybe a few free samples.
​
​
​
​
If you’re inspired to share your own story, I’d love to hear it. You can send me a DM on LinkedIn or reach out here to arrange a time to talk.
​
