#18: The Unemployment Diaries With Sara Burns
On Never Searching Alone, the power of "weak ties," and the importance of mentorship.
Laid Off Life is a place of respite for the weary workforce. Whether you’re unemployed, on strike or just trying to make it through the workday, let this be your 5-minute mental break from the grind of late-stage capitalism.
In this weekly newsletter, you’ll find musings and insights about work and life, things I’m finding useful (or useless) in my job search, gems from my DMs, clickable bits n’ bobs, cheap thrills, and recs about worthy ways to waste time - from articles to TV shows and podcasts and beyond.
The Unemployment Diaries With Sara Burns
Meet Sara Burns, former SVP Programming & Strategy for HGTV, ID and TRVL. I’m thrilled she’s agreed to share her Laid Off Life journey with us.
If you’d like to be featured in The Unemployment Diaries in the future, email me at laidofflife@substack.com!
Tell us your layoff story. What was your initial reaction to being laid off, and how did you deal?
Layoffs have become the new normal in media, and I could sense my time was around the corner. One day, you’re helping with post-merger org design and the next you’re anticipating shifts with the rest of the team. Because of this, I took the in between time to prepare for leaving — including getting my wide-ranging emotions in check and resume updated. I was ready to say goodbye to Warner Brothers Discovery after a fantastic 18-year run overseeing great brands like HGTV, ID and TRVL, but it still wasn’t easy. ✌️
💥 When the doomsday meeting invite popped up, I immediately sent a Schitts Creek GIF to a friend and grabbed my notes. If you know me, I always have a list. My goal: if I had to go, I wanted to attempt to secure promotions for my team members one last time. Thankfully, I found out soon after I left that my efforts paid off.
I had just over a week to do my goodbye tour 👋, which was mainly hyping up those taking over my workload. Ripping the bandaid off is much easier than a long farewell, so I’m grateful for that. I also reached out to fellow colleagues who had also been laid off, offering support. A bit of genuine acknowledgement goes a long way for anyone who finds themselves in this situation.
Finally, I sat down and wrote a fun little ChatGPT prompt 🤖 that encapsulated how I was feeling - adding humor to the typical layoff posts that flood LinkedIn. I wanted to be transparent about my situation because that’s just who I am.
The toughest moment was finally surrendering my badge and walking out the door for the last time. It was gut wrenching. A wave of sadness just hit me as the reality of it all sunk in at once.
I got through it all thanks to the support of so many people who offered their encouragement. I will always be grateful to everyone who reached out to me with a personal note or text. 🙏
What's one piece of advice you have for someone who is at the very beginning of their laid off life journey?
It’s so easy to be burnt out and emotional at the beginning of a layoff. 😤 Many people will say take a break from it all and just enjoy your family. Go on vacation. Volunteer. Pick up a hobby. Clean out your closet. I have nothing but admiration for people who can truly do just that to reset. My attempt at this failed miserably when half my family came down with COVID 🤒 on the Jersey shore. So stressful.
In reality, I just needed to jump into a new routine and establish my new normal. This meant figuring out my job search strategies from the outset. Plus, there is a lot of general paperwork to take care of at the beginning from switching over insurance to setting up a new computer. Personally, I needed to get that administrative work done. This is not for everyone, but once I had my systems in place, only then did it feel easier to take some down time and relax for myself/family as well. 🧘♀️ Can’t change who you are, and that’s what worked for me.
What have you found to be the most challenging part of unemployment, both practically and emotionally?
No two days are ever the same. Constantly networking means it feels like being at a conference all the time. It takes a different type of energy 🔋 to meet new people and always be “on.” I’m an introvert, so this phase does feel rather exhausting.
It’s also a roller coaster out here. 🎢 Job prospects can go from “hope to nope” very quickly. I am careful about what jobs I go after, so I get rather invested in each one. I do a lot of research and even visualize myself on the team. I’m trying to get better about setting my expectations low, but again, it’s hard to change who you are.
The truth is all of this is a slog. I’ve only been at it a short time, so I still have more optimism than not. The bad days are very rough. I have nothing but empathy for folks who have been at it longer. It’s one of the hardest things anyone can ever go through professionally and personally. You can bet that if you hire one of us, you will get an employee who is stronger than most. It will be worth it.
What’s the most annoying thing that’s been said to you about being laid off?
❌ I can’t stand the cliches. I know to some extent they are true, but ugh. Please don’t tell me when door closes another door opens or that I will look back at all this and think it’s best thing that ever happened to me. I’m still in it!
✅ Better things to say/do for those of us out in the wild include:
“The media business is in a terrible place right now, but you’re a fighter. I believe in you.”
“Let me introduce you to so-and-so. They might not have a job, but they would love the way you think.”
Tell us about an obstacle you’re facing in the workplace and ask our opinion on it.
Put a comment of substance on our LinkedIn posts. It helps with the algorithm.
Send us an article, funny meme or just a show/book/podcast recommendation you think we would enjoy. Something to let us know you’re still thinking of us.
Of course refer us to jobs – duh!
If all else fails, sure – give us a cliché, but try the other options first.
What unexpected benefits or personal growth have you experienced during this time?
✍️ I’ve found a lot more time to write, which I enjoy. Whether it’s crafting a LinkedIn post or drafting a proposal, it’s nice having the uninterrupted time to focus on creative storytelling. Plus, it’s a refreshing break from the monotony of reworking the same old PowerPoint presentations for corporate.
Of course, I have also appreciated more time with my kids and husband. 🥰 From a less rushed morning routine to more time at the pool this summer, I know this time is precious. I try and pause and remember that as often as possible.
Please share any networking or job search tips that have been helpful for you.
✔️ Don’t obsess over your resume. Your network will get you in the door.
✔️ I highly recommend reading Never Search Alone and joining a Job Search Council. It’s free. Doing the exercises will make you more focused in your job search and having a team of cheerleaders who understand what you’re going through is priceless. We meet every Monday to support one another.
✔️ Post and comment on LinkedIn and make sure your profile is optimized including your headline, banner and feature sections. I know it’s annoying, but I have met some really great folks along the way by just putting myself out there and talking about my industry. Remember, posting and commenting is about progress not perfection. That said, don’t fall into the hole of only being on LinkedIn because it’s a weird place sometimes. I set limits for myself.
✔️ Go to free virtual conferences. They are easy to find and a great way to meet the speakers and stay current. Or take a class and add a new skill – it’s better than doom scrolling. Coursera is excellent.
✔️ Your best networking will happen with “weak ties.” I mean this in the best possible way. These are colleagues 2-3 steps removed from your inner circle and they tend to have the most interesting leads. Your closest former colleagues can offer you encouragement, but they tend to know the same people you do. Networking is about making new connections.
✔️ Be a mentor. There’s so many students and recent grads that can benefit from your experience. Help them find their way. Send them connections. It’s good karma. I was so grateful to be invited to guest speak to Andy Goldman’s media class at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and I am still in touch with some of the students I met that day.
✔️ Follow LoRen gRieFf’s podcast and LinkedIn profile. It offers tangible job search advice, and she doesn’t feel like just another bot influencer on LinkedIn.
✔️For entertainment folks 📺, some other good follows on LinkedIn for industry news include: Evan Shapiro, Alan Wolk, Marion Ranchet, Entertainment Strategy Guy, Hub Entertainment Research, Jo Redfern, Emily Horgan, Julie Alexander, and Ashley Carman. There are so many others too. Find them and tell me about them as well. I also highly recommend the Entertainment Careers job board. It’s the best one I found and their daily email (which you can customize) is great.
✔️ Spring for the premiums. Spend the fees to have access to the upgraded versions of LinkedIn, Zoom, Calendly and Canva. Worth it.
✔️ Stay connected to the colleagues who really matter. Remember they are only a text away. Be prepared that it might not be who you think it will be at first, but you do have people in your corner.
What’s one piece of advice your employed self would give your unemployed self?
Always be networking outside your company. 🍸 Using LinkedIn is important while working too. Keep your resume updated with your latest accomplishments.
What are your daily routines, rituals, and strategies for staying motivated, productive, and sane during your job search?
It’s true what they say that finding a job is a job, so I treat it as such. 💼 This means I set goals for myself every Monday and stick to them. The next bit makes me sound like a machine, but organization is truly what keeps me sane.
☀️ I usually start the day reading industry news and checking my regular job boards. Then I get my “focus” work done in the morning when I have the most energy. This may include writing, listening in on a virtual conference/podcast, commenting on LinkedIn, applying to a job, or taking a class/workshop.
I take anywhere from 5-8 networking meetings a week to stay active. I track all my progress and follow-up through spreadsheets and “to do” lists. 💻 At times, I have picked up some freelance gig work that also keeps me busy. I don’t like being on the bench and refuse to get rusty.
To take a pause from the hustle of it all, I try to take walks or exercise midday. 🚶♀️ I do a lot of fun easy reading. I also cart my kids around to various activities after school ⚽. I’m amazed at how much time it takes to still take care of all the household business. It’s easy for the days to just fly by.
What kind of work are you hoping to do next (in case anyone reads this and has a lead for you)?
I’m on a mission to solve content discovery issues across platforms including SVOD, AVOD, FAST and linear. I would love a leadership position at a media or tech company where I can lean into some of my superpowers — curation, merchandising, scheduling, acquisitions, partnerships & distribution, long-range planning & budgeting, competitive analysis & insights.
Speaking of dream jobs, what is your dream job, if time, money, experience, and reality were of no consequence?
I know you want me to say fly to the moon 🌕, but my dream job is working in the entertainment business. I get to explore my creativity, and I’m well suited to the business aspects as a competitive person. There is just something about helping storytellers find their audience that truly energizes me. At the end of the day, I’m a true believer that storytelling is essential to our humanity, so I engage in this work to help people connect with one another. I followed my dreams and then I got laid off, but it’s not the end.
What’s the unemployment fear that keeps you up at night?
I’m the breadwinner of my family, so I feel the pressure to bring income in the door. While I am grateful to have a severance package and savings, the uncertainty of when I will have something more stable is always just below the surface. I’m probably harder on myself than I should be, but the reality is we all have bills to pay and everyone who is laid off has to cut back on something.
Have you developed any unusual habits since becoming unemployed?
☕ I drink a lot of tea. It’s comforting. I also joined the PTA for my son’s preschool as the Director of Communications, and it’s seriously a whole scene. We put on a killer Halloween parade though. 🎃
What's the most absurd job listing or piece of job-hunting advice that you've come across during your job search?
👎I’m sorry to say this, but I haven’t found headhunters to be very helpful. They are in it for their clients, not the job seekers. However, I think they are also struggling with the job market being so tough in general.
If unemployment were a competitive sport, what would your unique talent or skill be in that competition?
It is a marathon – no doubt about that. I’m good at the methodology and routine of training. Putting in the hard work. It’s how I grew through the ranks over the years in my last position, and I am flexing those muscles once again. 🏋️♀️
I also can’t help coaching others in their search as I go. 📣 I am a firm believer in not doing this alone, and happy to share what I have learned along the way.
Remote, In Office, or Hybrid?
Hybrid or Remote.
Lunch at your desk or take a break and eat properly?
Take a break. I never want to go back to eating in front of a computer.
Most cringey job interview you’ve been on?
Remember there are a lot of fake-out jobs out there. A recruiter called me just because they wanted intel on my previous employer. I didn’t fall for it.
Worst thing you’ve done for money?
My parents (who are both engineers) never understood why I would even go to college if I wasn’t going to be an engineer. They did not get the entertainment industry at all. The summer after my first year of college, they insisted I intern at an engineering company. I spent the whole summer being ignored, but I was well paid. The engineers just had no idea what to do with me. That said, I did get really good at Minesweeper 💣that summer, so it wasn’t all bad. In retrospect, it does feel like I would have more job security now if I had become an engineer.
Best thing you’ve done for money?
🕵️♀️ I will always be proud to have been part of the founding team that built Investigation Discovery into a top-tier true crime destination. The leadership and core team were one of a kind at ID, and it’s always the people who make the job worth it. We were our own little pod within Discovery, and it truly made me fall in love with the TV business. So many fantastic shows and extensions came from that time.
What are your worthy time wasters? What are you reading/watching/listening to/consuming right now?
📺I love all standup comedy specials. Recently watched Heather McMahan: Son I Never Had on Netflix, and it was fantastic. I also binged Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ right after being laid off (yes I was late to the party), but it was the perfect time for it. Shrinking on Apple TV+ is also excellent and can’t wait for the next season. Looking forward to watching Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV+ as well because I read the book.
📚Books I’ve read in the last year that have stuck with me include - Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, and This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. Most of these books have a film adaptation of some sort underway, so you can sense a pattern with what I read. The Sarah Maas Book Universe is another one of my guilty pleasures – iykyk. Can’t wait to see what Hulu makes of A Court of Thorn and Roses.
🎮I also love mobile games. I still play Wordle, Connections, and the Mini every single day. Thank you NYT! If you’re lapsed, come back. I also like Wordscapes. I also have to admit, my son likes to play Plant vs. Zombies 2🧟♀️, and he has also gotten me sucked into that world.
Last Internet rabbit hole you fell down.
I’ve been playing around with AI generated photos. I find it both fascinating and creepy what AI can do to a human face. I played around with my headshot above — it really looks just like me but does it look too much like me??
Where can people find you?
You can follow me on LinkedIn.
💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 Don’t keep all this fun to yourself! 🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️
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