After 5 years in the industry, I left U-Haul and began to pursue other opportunities which led me to my first work-from-home gig, a tech support agent for internet providers. Quite the shift, huh? Not quite! I still had a desire for a management-based career and was gunning for a supervisor position with this new company. But after a year of answering dozens of phone calls a day, 5 days a week, I needed a drastic change.
Boy did the Universe throw me a curveball to ignite that change! Just as I had decided to search for a new job, I was gifted a surprise pregnancy. Eeek! How on Earth am I going to start a new career? Who’s going to hire me now? Those, plus many more, frantic thoughts rushed my mind until I heard a whisper that called to me. And that whisper was coming from Jacksonville, FL. 6. Hours. Away.
Ironically enough, my best friend had recently moved to Jacksonville which made the idea of moving a little less intimidating. So I embarked on this sporadic journey to relocating to Jacksonville and landing a job all while 3 months pregnant. To my surprise, I landed an interview with a sales company for a management position which I quickly rushed to (also a good reason to go see the BFF!) and was even MORE surprised when I was offered the job the very next day. What a dream! Or so I thought…
After emptying our bank account and packing up on a whim’s notice, my family and I moved out to Jacksonville to start our new lives. I was so excited for my first day at the new job at least until I attended my actual first day. I had been scammed. It wasn’t a management position at all. It was a door to door sales job.
Left with little choice in changing jobs (let’s be real – places don’t really want to hire pregnant women)I decided to stick it out through my pregnancy. While the company was very high-energy and boasted a lot of entrepreneurial influence, the environment was completely toxic. As my pregnancy progressed my boss became very hostile towards me, complaining every time I mentioned needing to go to an appointment. To make matters worse, an entire month before I had planned to take maternity leave, my boss approaches me telling me that he wanted me to start my maternity leave early.