After the great RESIGNATION

Four women who gave up their day jobs in the post-lockdown global career crisis reveal the realities of chasing their dreams.

- Harriet Sim

SHELLEY GINZBURG

From publicist to Pilates instructor There was a time when I tied so much of my identity to having a career in the music industry. I’d been with the same company for eight years and loved it. I was turned down for the job three times before they took me onboard. That was a really big moment for me.

During my time there, I was lucky enough to live all over the country, work with awesome talent and have some incredible once-in-a-lifetime experiences. It really was a dream job but at the end of last year I decided to give it all up.

At the time, I had a lot going on in my personal life and felt like I couldn’t give my job everything it needed. But it took a lot of hard conversations with my husband and asking myself what I want out of life and for my family before I made the call to step away. After hitting send on the resignation email to my boss, I remember just bawling my eyes out.

Up until that last moment, I had worried I’d made the wrong choice. I’ve never had something I was so emotionally attached to. I also didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do next and that was scary, but I trusted the process and allowed myself the time and the headspace to answer those important questions.

After a short break, I signed up for a course to teach Pilates and put myself out there for freelance public relations work. Since resigning, I’ve definitely had moments of doubt where I have asked myself, “Have I just left a really stable career, plus a role and colleagues that I love?”