From Tech Layoff To Oyster Shucking: How A 24-Year-Old Found Happiness After Losing Her Job

Although Chea chose not to disclose her earnings from shucking oysters, she shared with the publication that it’s generally more than what she expected, and it definitely surprised her

She added that it is for luxury events, including corporate parties, weddings, and other high-profile gatherings

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Hannah Chea, a former data analytics engineer at Paramount in San Francisco, was laid off just a few weeks ago. The 24-year-old, who once earned a six-figure salary, has since turned to a new line of work—shucking oysters at upscale corporate events, where she entertains guests with fun facts about the chilled mollusks.

“I really like the novelty of it,” Chea told CNBC Make It. “I think it’s crazy to say I only do oyster shucking — in heels. I think I’m a very extroverted person. I really wanted to break the monotony of my remote tech job [and] just staring at a computer all day,” she added.

Although Chea chose not to disclose her earnings from shucking oysters, she shared with the publication that it’s generally more than what she expected, and it definitely surprised her, which is why she keep doing it.

She added that it is for luxury events, including corporate parties, weddings, and other high-profile gatherings.

In an interview with the publication, Chea spoke about her recent layoff, explaining that she had been anticipating it since last year when the company began downsizing. While losing a job is never easy, Chea chose to focus on the silver lining. She was left with four weeks of severance pay and a part-time gig to fall back on, having learned how to shuck oysters a year earlier.

Laid off SF tech engineer pivots to oyster shucker, and makes money doing oyster catering for tech events in SF. What do y’all think? 🦪🦪🦪 pic.twitter.com/9okmVJNstB

— Francis Chen (@fncischen) October 21, 2024

What Is Oyster Shucking?

Oyster shucking is the process of carefully opening the shell to reveal the delicate meat inside. Chea currently works with Oysters XO, a catering company, attending a few monthly events. While her earnings from shucking oysters aren't enough to cover her rent, she feels “lucky” to be in this position.

Chea shared that she is not in a rush to find a new tech job. She added that she is using this time to reflect on her life and what she wants to do next. “I do feel very happy to have relief from the stress and worries about my job. I think that was such a big stressor, working in tech,” she said.