Reshaping Your Narrative: Rebounding After Job Loss and Crafting Your Comeback Story

In this candid episode, Jaime sits down with a seasoned professional who recently experienced a significant career transition. Bryce Hoffman, formerly the AVC of Marketing at UMass Lowell and current AVP of Integrated Marketing at the University of New Hampshire, shares his personal journey of having his position eliminated and the subsequent process of rebuilding his professional life. Bryce is open, honest and raw in his recounting. His experiences serve as a source of inspiration and empowerment for those facing similar challenges.

Takeaways include: 

• How to manage your emotions during a tense and difficult conversation with human resources
• Insights into how to negotiate an executive transition that protects your professional life – and your family
• Tips for handling the emotional fallout and dealing with not understanding the “why”
• Guidance on how to approach interviews and addressing a termination
• Insights into harnessing your professional network to increase the likelihood of landing a new role

The Vulnerability of Higher Ed Leadership

Jamie Hunt kicks off the episode with a candid confession: leadership roles in higher ed marketing are far more vulnerable than many people realize. From enrollment downturns to leadership changes, CMOs and their peers in senior roles often find themselves in precarious positions. Bryce Hoffman’s story exemplifies this reality.

Bryce, who spent nearly nine years as the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Marketing at UMass Lowell, shared how his trajectory abruptly changed after a leadership transition. Despite glowing performance reviews and significant contributions to the institution, he was let go after a new chancellor chose to move in a different direction.

“The negative emotions, the shock—it was overwhelming,” Bryce recounts. “But once I processed it, I realized my focus had to shift to protecting my family and my career.”

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Negotiating an Exit: Protecting Your Reputation and Resources

One of the most critical aspects of Bryce’s story is how he approached negotiating his exit. While initially blindsided, he quickly focused on securing both financial and professional protections:

• Seek professional advice: Bryce hired an employment lawyer to guide him through the negotiation process, ensuring he protected his rights and maximized his severance package.
• Beyond the paycheck: In addition to financial compensation, Bryce successfully negotiated important non-monetary terms, including a positive reference, a clear statement that his position was eliminated (not terminated for cause), and a leave of absence to avoid a resume gap.
• Control your narrative: Bryce was allowed to notify his team and campus partners personally, shaping the message around his departure in a way that maintained his dignity and professional reputation.

These steps not only provided financial security but also allowed Bryce to transition into his job search with his confidence intact.

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Launching a Job Search After a Termination

For many higher ed leaders, the prospect of job hunting after a sudden termination can feel daunting. Bryce approached the process with a mix of urgency and strategy:

1. Tap into your network: Bryce leaned heavily on his professional connections, reaching out to former colleagues and search firms. A pivotal moment came when a former team member helped resurface his application for a role at the University of New Hampshire.
2. Be transparent but strategic: While navigating interviews, Bryce was upfront about his departure from UMass Lowell, framing it as a result of organizational change rather than a personal failing. His honesty and vulnerability were met with respect from potential employers.
3. Stay prepared: Bryce advises keeping your resume, references, and cover letters updated, even when you’re not actively job searching. “Preparation is separation,” he says, emphasizing the importance of being ready to pivot at any moment.
4. Self-care matters: Amid the stress of job hunting, Bryce found solace in his hobbies, including cycling and restoring vintage bicycles. These activities helped him maintain balance and focus during a challenging time.

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Landing the Next Opportunity

Bryce’s persistence paid off when he was offered the role of Assistant Vice President of Integrated Marketing at the University of New Hampshire. Reflecting on the experience, Bryce emphasizes the importance of resilience and self-belief.

“The person you were before the bad news is the same person you are after,” he says. “One decision by one leader doesn’t erase your skills, experience, or accomplishments.”

Bryce also highlights the critical role of empathy and understanding among hiring managers. “The way my new supervisor handled my situation was exemplary. She appreciated my honesty and didn’t let one moment in my career define me,” he shares.

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Actionable Insights for Higher Ed Professionals

For Job Seekers:

• Network, network, network: Maintain relationships with peers and search firms, even when you’re not actively looking for a job.
• Be honest but strategic: When discussing a termination, focus on the circumstances and your strengths rather than the negatives.
• Stay prepared: Regularly update your resume, references, and other materials to ensure you’re ready for new opportunities.
• Take care of yourself: Job hunting is emotionally taxing—find ways to recharge and maintain your confidence.

For Hiring Managers:

• Give candidates grace: Understand that a termination doesn’t define someone’s capabilities or potential.
• Encourage vulnerability: Create a safe space for candidates to share their stories without fear of judgment.
• Focus on potential: Look beyond gaps or transitions to assess a candidate’s skills, experience, and cultural fit.

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This episode is brought to you by our friends at Mindpower:

​​Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is sponsored by our friends at Mindpower- a full-service marketing and branding firm celebrating nearly thirty years of needle-moving, thought-provoking, research-fueled creative and strategy. Mindpower is women-founded and owned, WBENC certified, nationally recognized, and serves the social sector – higher education, healthcare, non-profits, and more. The Mindpower team is made up of strategists, storytellers, and experience creators. From market research to brand campaigns to recruitment to fundraising, the agency exists to empower clients, amplify brands, and help institutions find a strategic way forward. Learn more about Mindpower here! 

About the Enrollify podcast Network:

Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network.  If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Our podcast network is growing by the month and we’ve got a plethora of marketing, admissions, and higher ed technology shows that are jam packed with stories, ideas, and frameworks all designed to empower you to be a better higher ed professional. Our shows feature a selection of the industry’s best as your hosts. Learn from Mickey Baines, Zach Busekrus, Jeremy Tiers, Corynn Myers, Jaime Gleason and many more. 

Learn more about The Enrollify Podcast Network at podcasts.enrollify.org. Our shows help higher ed marketers and admissions professionals find their next big idea — come and find yours!