New Chapter Energy ⚡

Plus 5 tips on how I found my new job

Jun 15, 2025

I got laid off last May. In almost a year of searching for the next thing, I have shed many tears and experienced days of hopelessness.

Describing job searching as a roller coaster is so accurate because every time you interview, you start inching up and up, your hope increases with each round, and when the rejection letter comes, it’s a plummet back into disappointment and despair.

What made this search even more difficult was that I didn't know what I wanted to do. I realize no career path is linear, but ever since I started working, I haven’t stayed in one lane. From tax advisory to starting a fam box to sustainability consulting to mushroom meat sales, my jobs have been a little all over the place.

If you’ve ever worked for yourself, I call it the curse of entrepreneurship. Even though stability and benefits are wildly appealing, I have struggled to find the right fit ever since starting my own business.

I knew I wanted to go freelance this whole time, but I felt it was impossible because of health insurance. I told myself that if I could get a part-time anchor gig that could provide the stability I needed, I would go freelance, and that’s exactly what happened.

I am now a Producer for the Ceres Food Film Fest, a festival based in NYC that uses film to explore the complex role food plays in our lives and our impact on the broader food system. This is a dream job.

So, to anyone out there looking for a job or thinking about what to do next, here is what worked for me:

Join things: Last year, I joined a group called People in Food with Jo Gryfe, who ultimately introduced me to the film festival's founder. I am also in many Slack channels and
Rachel Karten
’s Link in Bio Discord channel, all of which provide support and resources.
Use LinkedIn: My friends laugh at me, but this platform can be fun. Post things you are reading and comment on people’s posts, engage with your peers authentically, and find your place in your industry. When I made my creative portfolio, I shared it on LinkedIn and let my network know about my new skill set.
Do it for low cost and try on the title: I started working with Farm to People on the Know Your Food event series and podcast, and served as the Producer. They needed help, and I needed to keep working. That title led me here.
Don’t settle: In the same week I was offered the job with Ceres, I was also offered a full-time sales job. I knew it wasn’t right. Every bone in my body said no, and you have to listen to that.
If someone else does it, you can: Talk to people. Meeting other people who freelance gave me the courage and trust that I could do it too.

If you or anyone you know needs help with their job search, I am happy to talk to anyone and pay it forward as others have done for me.

Lastly, I am freelance! So if you need support with content, social media, email marketing, or other projects in the food world, reach out! danielle@illuminatefood.com

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Gems of the Week ✨
Sign up for the
Ceres Food Film Festival
newsletter! The festival is in October, and we are currently accepting submissions if anyone is or knows a filmmaker. We have an event on June 25th in collaboration with the Museum of Food and Drink, showing two short films: One called MSG: Mysterious Savory Grains and pb&p, on the peanut butter and pickle sandwich and the science behind its flavor.
I went to an event hosted by Alfred’s Cinema and Field Meridians last week. If you don’t know Field Meridians, check out their work of bringing nature to the city, and follow Alfred’s cinema for all of their upcoming films.
I am finally in the Rancho Gordo Bean Club. I have been on the waitlist for months and was accepted the same week as my new job - life changing! If you want to eat more beans, this is the way to go.
I made a Tomato and Fennel Baked Risotto from the Love and Lemons Cookbook, and it was SO good and easy. Her recipe isn’t online, but you can Google any baked risotto recipe like this one, and it will change your life.
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