Denis Storey has been laid off five times. Three of those layoffs happened in three years. His most recent? His employer decided AI could do his job.

In this episode of Pink Slip Pavilion, host Ashley Waddington sits down with Denis to talk about repeated layoffs, career pivots, being replaced by AI, rebuilding confidence, and what five very different experiences taught him about navigating job loss.

Denis began his career as a journalist. Early on, he was laid off three times by the same company as magazines closed or relocated during the dot-com crash and the economic fallout surrounding 9/11.

Remarkably, the same mentor kept bringing him back.

Those experiences taught Denis an early lesson: layoffs can feel incredibly personal even when the decision has nothing to do with your value or performance. They also taught him the importance of not burning bridges.

Years later, Denis pivoted from journalism into marketing, using his writing and storytelling skills in a new environment. That role was eventually eliminated too.

Then came layoff number five.

Denis was working for a scientific publication, translating complex studies into digestible news stories. After a couple of years, his employer told him his writing would be replaced by Claude, an AI tool.

They even wanted him to help train it.

That layoff hurt.

Today, Denis says he's in the best place he's ever been in his career.

In this episode, we cover:

• Getting laid off five times

• Experiencing three layoffs in three years

• Being rehired by the same company after a layoff

• Why you shouldn't burn bridges

• Pivoting from journalism into marketing

• Using transferable skills to change careers

• Imposter syndrome during a career pivot

• Losing a writing job to AI

• Being asked to help train the AI replacing him

• Rebuilding confidence after job loss

• Why interviewing is a skill you need to practice

• Rethinking loyalty in today's job market

• Staying open to opportunities while employed

• Finding gratitude on the other side of a layoff

Looking back, Denis wouldn't trade his layoff experiences. Each one taught him something about his career, himself, and navigating uncertainty.

One of his biggest lessons?

Don't get complacent.

Keep your eyes open. Maintain your network. Practice interviewing. Know your strengths. And don't allow your career to become your entire identity.

Denis went from having the "Sunday scaries" to being genuinely grateful to sit down at his desk on Monday morning.

For anyone currently navigating a layoff, his message is simple:

It's going to be okay. This isn't your whole story. It's just a chapter.

CONNECT WITH DENIS STOREY:

Instagram: @storeyeditor

LinkedIn: Denis Storey

TikTok: @storeyeditor

Email: denis.storey@gmail.com

Pink Slip Pavilion shares real stories about layoffs, job loss, career transitions, career reinvention, and what comes next.

New episodes every Wednesday.