I got laid off from Google in my 50s and juggled 3 jobs at Trader Joe's, Lyft, and Starbucks. It was a humbling experience.

Thu, 07/04/2024 - 08:06

A photograph of a Starbucks apron, a Trader Joe's ID badge and a Lyft sticker and a photograph of Lois Kim smiling — Lois Kim juggled three part-time jobs last year.
Lois Kim

Lois Kim took on three part-time jobs after getting laid off from her executive job at Google.
After 30 years in the corporate world, she decided to take a gap year and try out new roles.
Kim said working at Trader Joe's, Lyft, and Starbucks opened up her world and was humbling.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 55-year-old Kyongsook Kim, also known by her English name Lois Kim. She was laid off from Google in 2023 and worked three part-time jobs for about a year. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her current and past employment.