Making big moves during a pandemic – Kristen’s story

Originally from Pittsburgh, Kristen had worked at a job she loved in New York City for nearly seven years. When the Covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020, her company regretfully had to downsize, and Kristen’s job was eliminated. After a few months of freelance work, Kristen was struggling to make ends meet in New York, so she ultimately decided to move in with her parents just north of Pittsburgh to continue her job hunt. 

“Not having a job and with such high rent, it really caused me to make some big decisions about my life with everything going on,” Kristen remembered. “I really wanted a change, but the cycle of jobs being posted during Covid made things difficult. Beginning in January 2021, I was ready to get focused.”

A family friend referred Kristen to PA Women Work where she signed up for New Choices. During the five-day virtual class, she connected with other people experiencing similar challenges, and she refocused her job search. She learned tactics to better organize herself and strengthen her resume.

“What was really great about New Choices was connecting with other people who were going through a similar situation – especially with Covid. We were all just figuring out what our next move was,” Kristen said. “This class got me more organized and goal oriented in my job search. It was a good centering force in my job search and was what I needed with what I was going through at the time.”

Following her participation in New Choices, Kristen found a new management position at a media and events company that aligned with her goals. She’s grateful for the connections she made and skills she learned thanks to PA Women Work. 
“Having this class as a free resource, especially during the pandemic when so many people continue to be out of work, is something that is so rare to find,” she said. 

To learn more about New Choices and sign up for an upcoming class,
​visit https://www.pawomenwork.org/upcoming-classes.html.