PROTECT YOUR RETIREMENT

PIVOTING AFTER JOB LOSS

Making the gig economy work for you

Amy Sweezey

Marc Walker is finally getting back to work. After spending most of his adult life living and working on cruise ships, he lost his job, like so many others during the pandemic. Now that travel is beginning again, and the cruise industry is starting to open, Walker said he’s ready to do a happy dance.

“I’m back on a ship for the first time in 15 months,” he said, “and it’s absolutely amazing to be back.”

For 30 years, Walker worked his way through the cruising ranks to larger ships and bigger responsibilities, eventually becoming cruise director on one of the largest cruise ships in the world. He was shocked when his career came to an abrupt halt due to the coronavirus pandemic. When travel stopped, Walker said he was frightened.

“I think it scared everybody, especially those of us with careers revolving around hospitality, travel and being around people,” Walker said. “This was the scariest thing I’d been through in my life.”

As the paychecks ended, and the bills piled up, Walker was determined not to let it devastate him. He needed a plan.

“I probably applied for about 200 jobs,” he said. “I like to drive, and get out, and not sit behind a desk, so I applied for driving jobs. I only got five responses from those applications.”

That might have been a roadblock for most people, but not for Walker. Instead, he put on his thinking cap and figured that since people still needed food, and delivery services were considered essential, he would drive for DoorDash®. He was happy to have the work but knew it wasn’t going to be enough to support his two young daughters. He added a few other jobs, such as working for Publix and driving an airport shuttle van, until he found a better fit delivering cars for Carvana.

“I think some people in my industry would refuse to do anything but entertainment,” he said. “They’d rather just stay in bed, but I knew I had to do it. I wanted to keep my house and had to support my family.”

Walker was willing to step outside his comfort zone and try something new. He credited his upbringing for his persistent job searches and humble work ethic.

“My mum and grandparents did a great job bringing me up,” he said in his British accent. “My mum was in a very bad car crash, which I witnessed when I was 5 years old; and it put her in such a bad place. She still went out to work to provide for my sister and me. When you’re a kid, you don’t realize what your parents are doing; but I think it all mentally gels inside of you and molds you for the future.”

Walker said that as much as he loved driving, there were times he felt isolated.

“I would get a little depressed when I had so much time

Nobody else can fix things for you. You have to do the homework. You have to put in the groundwork. You have to follow up, make those phone calls, send those emails. Of all the jobs I’ve had this past year, I’ve had to go get them myself.”

– MARC WALKER to think,” he said. “I started asking myself, ‘What is going to happen? How long is this going to last? Am I going to lose my house? Will I have to move back to England? What is my family going to do?’”

Walker said his circle of friends was critical when he had negative feelings.

“They motivated me a lot by reminding me this was just temporary,” he said. “They told me to focus on the good. Some of the guests from my cruises sent gift cards so I could take my girls to dinner and even sent them birthday gifts.”

Walker recognized he was fortunate to have his job waiting for him when the cruise industry returned and had encouraging words for others who find themselves in similar, challenging times.

“There are jobs out there for everybody,” he said. “It might not be what you’re used to and the pay of what you’re used to. A couple of the jobs I had I didn’t really like, but the people I worked with were amazing. If I could turn back the clock, I would probably do the same again, because I have learned so much about how people survive with so little; and I’m proud of myself that I’ve come this far. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.”

Walker made it through the tunnel and now he’s off to do another happy dance—this time on board his cruise ship.

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Illustration: sorbetto Via Getty Images