I want to
enjoy life again
After 9 years with her employer, Miriam was told there was no longer a place for her. It didn’t come as a big surprise. The organization had been restless for a while. She was offered an outplacement program and was referred to career advisor Manja. Miriam set herself a beautiful goal: to enjoy life again. We are happy to work towards that goal together!
I just kept going: With ups and downs
‘I worked as a Quality Manager at a new division under the holding company. I saw various reorganizations happening around me,’ Miriam explains. ‘Meanwhile, the philosophy and support for this new division slowly faded as well. Yet I kept going. With ups and downs, I tried to hold everything together. Without success. But giving up isn’t in my vocabulary; I’m dedicated and kept believing in it. Against my better judgment. I only see that now, in hindsight. What was I doing it all for? What did that struggle bring me? I was stressed and unhappy because of my job.
I put myself aside
In my first conversations with MEPD, I shared everything I’ve been struggling with over the past, perhaps, 15 years. The pain of losing your job also brings up other (unresolved) grief. I had to work on that, too. So besides the outplacement program, I also saw a psychologist. With Manja, I discovered that I was no longer behaving naturally. I often put myself aside for others. And in doing so, I forgot that I also have goals I want to achieve. Recognizable, but it was (and is) quite a challenging task to work on.
Started to recognize my own values again
I appreciate noticing that I’m finding myself more and more. I also feel that there is room for a new job again. The excitement is coming back. I think it’s important to truly be myself in an organization. I love working together in a close-knit team. I am broadly oriented within organizations and always look for areas to improve. I’m not super ambitious, but I do want to develop myself. Through this process, I’ve started to recognize these values in myself. I want to guard them carefully. And I try to translate them into what I look for in an organization. An organization that matches me and my values.
Put myself back in the foreground
And enjoying life again? That’s going well now. I’ve put myself back in the foreground. If it hadn’t been for COVID, I think I would have traveled. That’s not possible now, unfortunately. But I am moving forward. I’ve stepped from the past into the present and the future will unfold,’ says Miriam.
Arjan Elijzen
Career advisor
I derive personal satisfaction from exploring and discussing what makes you happy together. And what is suitable for you in your next career step—and successfully completing this with a positive result.
