Liudmyla found a new direction and balance after job loss.
Liudmyla lives in Carmarthen and moved to Wales from Ukraine with her family. After working as a teaching assistant through an agency, she suddenly lost her role. This left her feeling uncertain and low.
She said, “I was quite upset and didn’t want to go back into the same job. I started to look for something different.”
Reaching out for support
Liudmyla decided to visit her local Careers Wales centre for advice. Working Wales is delivered by Careers Wales and funded by the Welsh Government. Working Wales provides career advice to those aged 16 and above.
She booked a face to face appointment and met with a careers adviser, Laura.
During their meeting, Liudmyla was encouraged to reflect on what she wanted from work and how it needed to fit around her life.
She said, “Laura was very friendly and supportive. It was easy to talk to her.
"She asked questions that made me think differently. I could see my situation from another side and understand what I really needed.”
Exploring new options
Through these discussions, Liudmyla realised she needed a role that also supported her wellbeing and her family life.
She said, “I understood that I didn’t have to stay in the same type of role. I needed something that worked for me and my family.”
She wanted to focus on supporting her children, including her youngest, who trains regularly as a swimmer, and her eldest, who is in college.
Laura encouraged Liudmyla to consider different sectors, including retail, where there could be more flexibility. She also supported her to search for roles more effectively, including looking directly on company websites.
Together, they found a vacancy in a local shop that suited Liudmyla’s needs.
Taking action
After the appointment, Liudmyla applied for the role and was successful. She is now working in retail and has been able to find a better balance between work and family life.
Liudmyla said, “I applied after our meeting and now I’m working there. I enjoy my job and feel more confident.”
Advice to others
Reflecting on her experience, Liudmyla encourages others in a similar situation to keep going, even when things feel difficult.
Liudmyla said, “Never stop. Even if you think you can’t, keep going and searching. In the end, you will find what you need.”
If you’ve been affected by redundancy and feel you need redundancy support or access to training and upskilling, please visit Redundancy Support or contact us.
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