Job in Antarctica after 30 years at HP: 59-year-old woman was laid off, struggled to find work & then landed an unexpected role on the frozen continent

After spending three decades at Hewlett-Packard (HP), May Lee had expected to continue working at the company for several more years. But when she was laid off, the sudden career setback pushed her to consider a completely different path, one that took her thousands of miles away to Antarctica.

Lee, 59, joined HP as an intern in 1987 and had planned to remain with the company for around five more years before the layoff changed her plans. In an as-told-to essay published by Business Insider, she described how an unsuccessful job search eventually led her to take up seasonal work in Antarctica.

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May Lee joined HP as an intern in 1987

Lee said she had always wanted to build a long-term career with a company she could remain loyal to.

“As a graduate, I wanted to sign on for life with a good company that I knew I could be loyal to and would be as loyal as a company could be,” Lee told Business Insider.

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She said she was not interested in constantly changing companies or pursuing the corporate ladder. Instead, she expected to spend much of her career at HP.

However, after about 30 years with the company, she was laid off.

HP layoff came as a surprise

Although the layoff was unexpected, Lee later realised there had been some warning signs.

She pointed to a hiring freeze and a temporary reduction in her working hours as indications that changes could be coming.

Still, she said the decision came as a surprise because she had expected to remain at HP for several more years.

The layoff left Lee feeling sad and disappointed, and she initially responded by launching an intensive search for another job.

Why May Lee struggled to find a new job

Lee said she had a strong professional network and received referrals while looking for work. Despite those connections, however, she was unable to secure a new position.

That was when a former HP colleague suggested that she look beyond the technology sector.

According to Lee, her friend reminded her that she had already paid off her house and no longer necessarily needed to pursue the high salary associated with the technology industry.

The advice encouraged Lee to think about the things she genuinely enjoyed and explore opportunities in those areas.

How two holidays led Lee to Antarctica

Antarctica was already familiar to Lee because she had visited the continent twice as a tourist.

She said she had loved both trips but had never considered that it might be possible to work there.

“I had been to Antarctica twice before on vacation and loved it. I didn't know whether you could work there, so I looked into it and, to my amazement, found that you can,” Lee told Business Insider.

She began researching employment opportunities on the continent and eventually applied for a seasonal position.

May Lee got a job as a supply technician in Antarctica

Getting a job in Antarctica was not straightforward.

Lee said the process was competitive and involved a lengthy application procedure, an extensive background check and physical qualification requirements.

She eventually secured a position as a supply technician with Amentum.

The role was very different from her previous career in technology. Instead of spending her working day behind a desk, Lee found herself handling physical tasks in an extreme environment.

‘I’d forklift cargo into the warehouse’

Lee described her work as a supply technician as involving warehouse operations and inventory management.

“I'd forklift cargo into the warehouse and check we had the right quantity of every order against the database,” she said.

Her responsibilities also involved lifting boxes and carrying out other physical work outdoors.

For someone who had spent most of her professional life in desk-based roles, the change was significant.

Lee said the physical nature of the work was new to her but ultimately refreshing.

Antarctica job paid less than her HP salary

The move also meant accepting a considerable change in income.

Lee said the Antarctica position paid substantially less than what she had earned at HP.

However, she found the work satisfying and valued the experience it gave her.

The job also offered a completely different social environment from the corporate world she had known for decades.

No phones, more conversations in Antarctica

One of the things Lee particularly enjoyed was how disconnected the workplace was from everyday digital distractions.

She said people were not constantly looking at their phones and instead spent time talking to one another during meals.

“This was refreshing because it meant nobody was on their phones. Everybody sits and talks with each other at meal times,” Lee recalled.

For Lee, that sense of community became one of the unexpected highlights of her Antarctic experience.

From HP desk job to physical work in Antarctica

Lee's career change meant adapting to tasks she had never previously performed professionally.

Her work involved operating a forklift, moving cargo, checking inventory and lifting boxes, a major departure from her years in technology.

Yet the experience gave her an opportunity to try something completely different after decades at the same company.

Although her position was seasonal and ended after a set period, Lee is now preparing to return to Antarctica for another role.


Inputs from agencies