Success Story: Linda’s Journey from Layoff to a New Career

Receiving news of a plant closure is never easy, and it’s even harder when you personally know the people impacted. In June 2023, HyLife in Windom closed its doors, leaving over 1,000 workers without jobs. Among them was Linda, who worked in the office and often supported her coworkers with her bilingual skills. When the State of Minnesota and the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC) organized Rapid Response meetings for the affected employees, Linda not only attended, but she stepped up to help.

Right away, Linda set a goal for herself: to enroll in college through the State Dislocated Worker Program. It was a decision that would change the course of her life.

“The hardest part of this journey was being able to manage a part-time job, being a wife, a mother of two, and going to school full time,” Linda shared. “I had to balance my time carefully and stick to a strict schedule so I could complete my schoolwork, work evenings, and still be present for my family.”

Linda, a Worthington High School graduate from the Class of 2015, found herself back in the classroom nearly a decade later. In 2024, she proudly graduated from Minnesota West Community and Technical College as a Medical Assistant.

The transition wasn’t easy. One of Linda’s greatest fears after the layoff was how she would be able to cover the bills, mortgage, and daily expenses while supporting her children. “Losing a whole income in your daily routine is very stressful, especially when you’ve built your life around it,” she recalled.

But what seemed like a setback turned out to be a turning point. “The best thing to come out of the layoff was being able to go back to school. This was something that had never even crossed my mind,” Linda said. “It was a sign for me to grow, to overcome my fears, and to chase my dreams.”

Today, Linda is working full-time at Sanford Clinic in Worthington, proud of the stable career she’s built for herself. She no longer feels confined to the industry she once believed was her only option. “All I had ever done was work in meat processing companies. I didn’t think I was capable of completing school again,” she admitted. “But I did it. I’m proud of myself, and it’s safe to say I now have a stable job and a career I enjoy.”

Though Linda acknowledges there’s still more she wants to accomplish, she’s confident she’s on the right path.

“Getting laid off was scary, but it pushed me toward something better. Now, wherever life takes me, I know I have the skills and confidence to succeed.”