Job loss is one of the most stressful events in life; unfortunately it is what many of us would have to deal with at one point or the other. For many, it is an event that can cause devastation or woe and for some it is an event that changes their lives and career for the better. For every employee anywhere in the world, the news of layoffs can cause apprehension and panic; in a country like Nigeria where the job market is already saturated, the fear is even more. I had my fair share of job loss in the last quarter of 2016 with a telecom customer care division and I survived the very upsetting tendencies of layoffs by following some steps which I’m going to show you here. It was not easy but I’m glad it happened soon enough.
Take these practical steps to handle the emotional challenges of your layoff in the most effective way possible and you will soon see yourself back in job with full motivation.
Panic is the most dangerous incidental consequence of a layoff. You need to try and remain positive as much as you can and focus on finding a solution. You don’t need to allow your mind to spiral into many negative thoughts at such a time so as to avoid making rash decisions. The way you look at the job loss is what will really make the difference. Some of the reasons for panic is that many employee do not prepare their mind for an eventual layoff, While it may feel better to live in the moment (after all you are still employed) and hope for the best, there are things you can do before you lose your job that can actually help you move forward more quickly.
It is absolutely normal to experience fear, anxiety and depression after losing your job. Acknowledge what you are going through so that you can be able to deal with it. One of the ways to do that is to think about and write down everything that you have gained and otherwise while you were at work, things that you have always wanted to do but unable to do while working, and if you have written them down before, then pull them out and go over them. Make a full list of all the positive characters that you possess and read them openly to yourself as many times as you can, ask yourself do you have enough attributes to bounce back?
Being positive will determine your confession about your job loss, now it is important to acknowledge to family and friends about your situations because they are potential doors of opportunity for you; however, you must avoid telling people about the situation because you want pity. In my own case, some of my friends never knew I lost a job because I kept a positive mind while working on myself every time.
Being positive makes you feel confident about yourself and give you the tendency to expect the best in your situation, especially now that you will soon begin to search the job market again. I know it’s hard to be optimistic in a tough job market but it is important that you keep a positive attitude because the job may not come as early as you have hoped, weeks may turn into months and then you begin to despair and feel frustration. This may form an impression on your potential employers, so that’s why you need to keep being positive.
In the early period of my unemployment after layoff, I kept telling anyone that I was on leave whenever they ask me why I wasn't going to work as usual. When it prolonged, I told them I was on a terminal leave and later I told them I was now working on my own which is what I’m doing now. While this sounded like a lie, it had a positive effect on my mind and my optimism, I deliberately tricked my mind and it worked.
The period of unemployment can be a time for you to relax and take part in activities that you have missed while you were otherwise working. Take time to reflect on hobbies and interests that you have missed. You can take up yoga, jogging, walking or whatever is the most relaxing, apart from relaxing it will reinvigorate your health and get you ready for another job. One of the keys to surviving a layoff is to get involved in activities that help you reduce your anxiety and prepare you for renewal. Your last job probably took most of your time and you missed out on going to church, having a family weekend, going to your child’s school field trip and so on, the period of unemployment affords you the opportunity to bond and network with family and friends. Call up some of your old friends and have lunch together, you can make for the time lost when you were always busy working.
The period of unemployment is a period to prepare ahead for your next job. Whether you want to take up another employment or create a job of your own, this period affords you better chance to prepare and write down your strategies. A lot of time, employees don’t have time to do quality thinking about career change or setting up their own business because of the pressure and demands of their work. Even though some people try to do but majority hardly do. So this is the time to figure what you can do on your own or what value you will like to contribute in your new employment.
Learning a new skill is a very good way to add value to you and be marketable, you may not be able to do this while you are employed. You can look up free online courses that are relevant to your career and register, learning new things during this period makes you feel better about yourself. Apart from that, engaging in trainings affords you opportunity to network with others as well thereby widening your range of opportunities. People are potential opportunities.*
And if you have decided to start your own job, the gap of unemployment affords you the time to see things in your environment that you haven’t noticed during the hurried mornings on your way to work. You have the time to notice or encounter problems that require solution. Someone said “jobs are hidden in problems while money is hidden in jobs.” You can think of ways to solve any of these problems around you in exchange for money, that’s how businesses are borne. Having your own business will push you to the prosperity path. You don’t necessarily have to start with the big problems; you can start with the small ones.
Yes, you must decide what kind of job you want to do next. It is very important for you to decide your career path by yourself or if you can afford it, a career counsellor may be of help. There are free online career aptitude tests or a career counsellor that can also help you decide. Remember if you stand for nothing, you will mostly stand for everything. Deciding on your next career will help you to acquire relevant skills and also focus your job search on the area which saves you good time as well.
It is time to rewrite your CV; you need to edit your resume to include the list of your current skills and knowledge. Decide which skills are most valuable and marketable to your next job and adapt your work experience with them. And off you go to a new start.
One last thing, have fun! Take a chance and maybe do something free, something you know how well to do.
I hope there is something you have learnt here. If yes, then let us have your own comment and don't forget to share and upvote. Next week i will be sharing what you need to do before you lose your job, prevention they say it's better than cure, isn't it?
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