Losing a job can knock the wits of even the most sensible person. Other than the issues surrounding money, the feeling of security is gone while your self-esteem is somewhat shattered when you get laid off from your job.
You have all these doubts and questions to yourself.
- How now am I going to pay my mortgage?
- Will my savings sustain my family’s expenses for months?
- How long until I can find a new job?
And many other things enough to make you sleepless at night.
Despite the undesirable nature of the situation, there’s another way to look at it. You have the chance to show your resilience and learn more about the greatness within yourself.
That being said, there are things you can do to stay composed even after losing a job. Here are some tips that can help you regain strength to get you back on track:
1. Keep calm
When you receive the bad news, give yourself time to acknowledge what happened.
Don’t frantically start looking for a replacement as that can only increase your stress level. Instead, try to find some quiet to process and digress the situation.
One of the best ways to find your calm is by disconnecting. You’ll be able to understand how real the dilemma is which will allow you to start prioritizing.
Perhaps, you might learn that your apartment rental is still covered by your advance payment. Or maybe you’ll realize you have enough food and water supply to last you for a couple of months.
So, try to take a few hours or a day before you start to approach the situation again. You’ll find that keeping calm helps you gain a fresh perspective.
2. Write your thoughts
There’s an interesting study about recently unemployed professionals who coped up their loss through expressive writing.
The researchers found that those who journaled their thoughts and emotions after the job loss were quicker to find reemployment. This is in comparison to those who wrote about material not related to the trauma, or those who did not write at all.
Writing our thoughts is a way of self-acknowledgment. Putting our fears right where we can see them gives us a glimpse of how we can tackle them head-on. This is especially helpful when you’re not ready for others to get involved just yet.
Does venting out on Facebook have the same effect?
Well, not quite. When our thoughts are raw and our emotions in a rage, we risk saying things we don’t really mean. So best to keep things confidential, at least for a short while.
In the meantime, make a plan on how you will use social media as part of your getting back-on-track strategy. Capitalizing online channels for job search is your advantage so it would be wise not to waste an opportunity.
3. Talk to people
Time and again, losing a job feels like a romantic relationship breakup that leaves you with a sense of longingness. And as with most relationships, we naturally seek support from our people whenever there’s a fallout.
The news of how you lost a job might be hard to relay to your family or your friends. Especially when one is depending on you for support, financial or otherwise. But you must overcome it, no matter how uncomfortable the conversation might be.
People who are concerned about you would want to listen to you. They may not know exactly what you’re going through but they can certainly boost your morale.
An ideal scenario would be people giving good advice after you’ve confided about losing a job that’s important to you. Sometimes they could even open doors you didn’t expect like a new business idea or an introduction to a headhunter with you.
4. Develop a back-on-track strategy
Losing a job can make you think of the many possible scenarios to fill in a suddenly empty hole. So days following a change in your stature, try these steps that can help you develop a renewed sense of purpose:
• Re-evaluate your options
Was the job lost really the perfect job for you? Or is there something that you felt like you’ve always wanted to do but was afraid to try?
After you’ve taken a step back to see the bigger picture, it’s now time to put the pieces together. When your mind is on the clear, start listing all possible options by looking at your interests and the new skills you have acquired.
It’s also worth taking a second look at the hobbies you keep coming back to ever since you were young. You might soon realize that a side project you’ve been working on is now something you can do full-time.
Ask some people close to you what is one activity they see you most passionate about.
• Don’t fall into the boredom trap
Many a time when we suffer from a traumatic experience, we try to find an escape. Ther’s more tendency for us to rest easy and do things that require the least amount of effort.
However, try to keep away from succumbing to poor habits like binge-eating or drinking. Also, don’t spend a full day of online consumption. Watching Netflix may sound relaxing at first but doing the same thing every day will wear you out easily.
Instead, find a way to be more productive. Read a book, exercise, learn how to cook, or learn online courses; the list goes on. Anything but to keep you from a sedentary lifestyle if you want to stay focused on your next move.
• Put yourself in the market once you’re ready
Once you decide which company or role you want to apply for, it’s time to upgrade your online presence. At a time of a pandemic, everything has turned digital so you have to know how where to click the right buttons during a job hunt.
Remember to be mindful of your timing as well as observe wordings on your resume, cover letter, or social media post. This is especially true when you’re trying to land a corporate position though the same can be applied when launching a new venture.
Since you only have one shot to announce you’re on the market, you want to make sure all the parts are well-put to get desirable results. Make sure your online profile is up-to-date and that your primary photo is not a poorly-lit selfie.
In addition, you may find success easily by connecting with key people in your industry. With the right approach, they can help put the word out for you or even hire you on their team.
Final Thoughts
The effects of losing a job can only be short and temporary when you decide to take hold of your actions. Even if you feel like all is lost, you must keep a positive mindset and attitude.
Life might be teaching you something right now. You can choose to see it as a sign that it’s leading you to possibly a new track closer to your calling.
When you believe more in yourself, it becomes easier to get past the doubts. Know that something good is about to happen, and you just need to stay composed to claim it.
