Between 2018 and 2023, I faced repeated setbacks – layoffs, misaligned roles, and sudden endings that forced me to rebuild over and over. I worked hard, stayed committed, and tried to create a foundation, but the ground kept shifting beneath me.
A Journey Through Instability
From 2015 to 2023, my career path was marked by sudden changes and unexpected endings:
- Rancho Federal Credit Union (2015-2018) – A stable industry, a promotion to Branch Supervisor, and then suddenly gone.
- CU Direct (2018-2019) – A dream company, a technical role I loved, and then terminated after 18 months.
- First American Title (January 2020 – July 2020) – A role that wasn’t what was promised, leading me to leave.
- MeridianLink (July 2020 – March 2023) – A work-from-home role aligned with my skills, ended by a mass layoff.
- Southern California Edison (2023) – What I thought was my dream job in project management, but within five weeks I was threatened with job loss, placed on a PIP, and then let go.
By the time I reached 2023, I was exhausted. I was wounded. I was living in survival mode, hoping for something – anything – that would last.
Stability isn’t just about keeping a job; it’s about being able to plan again, breathe again, and believe that tomorrow won’t disappear overnight.
Then Came ADP
I had tried to get hired at ADP for years – from 2017 to 2023 – with multiple first interviews and even an interview with my current manager back in February 2022. But it wasn’t my moment yet.
In July 2023, it finally was.
I was hired as an Employment Tax Senior Implementation Specialist, stepping into a senior role for the first time. Yes, it came with a pay cut, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was the chance to rebuild my life.
And ADP has been different.
- No mass layoffs
- No sudden firings
- No managers who make it their mission to make life difficult
Instead, I found stability, consistency, and people who genuinely care.
My manager, Michael, has been supportive and steady. My coworkers – Les, Lupe, Elisa, James, Yareli, Kim, Karen, Danielle, Sylvia, Liz, Ryan, Victoria, Ed, Lisa, James, Luis, Joey, Stephanie, Tawny, and Nadine, Tiffany and Melanie – have become my support system. Their kindness didn’t just make work easier; it helped me heal parts of myself worn down by years of instability.
In over 20 years of working, these are some of the finest people I’ve ever worked with.
For the first time in a long time, I feel seen. I feel valued. I feel like I matter.
What I’ve Learned Here
My role is demanding, but fulfilling. I get to use my communication skills, my project management background, and my experience with clients. I’ve grown more confident, more patient, and more grounded. I’ve rediscovered my professional identity – not through titles or promotions, but through consistency and trust.
Watching my coworkers – some my age, some older, many younger – build families, grow careers, and shape their futures has pushed me to reflect on my own journey. On how far I’ve come. On how much I’ve survived. On how much I still want to build.
I still carry the scars of the past. I still feel that voice inside telling me the rug could be pulled out from under me. I still hesitate to decorate my desk because I’ve lived too many years believing everything could disappear overnight.
But ADP has given me room to breathe.
Looking Ahead
I’m still healing. I’m still hoping this position lasts, especially as I work to support my daughter through high school and prepare for the next season of life. But I can say this with confidence:
- I am happy with my choice of employer.
- I am grateful for the stability I’ve found.
- I am learning to enjoy the season I’m in.
- I am building memories, strengthening my skills, and observing the lives around me with appreciation.
Every day, month, and year at ADP shows positive movement. Even a simple smile from a coworker reminds me that people here are content – and that I can be too.
If you’re in a season of instability, keep going. Sometimes the right door opens after years of closed ones.
Here’s to three years. Here’s to growth. Here’s to the future.
Joe Meyers Adventures 