Losing Your Job: 9 Tips for Overcoming Job Loss
Workplaces are, almost by nature, demanding and often competitive environments. These characteristics were exacerbated even more by the 2020 coronavirus crisis. Due to the pandemic, many businesses found themselves forced to either shut down or let employees go. If you have experienced this, you probably agree that losing your job can be one of the most upsetting things to happen in life. Whether your job loss occurred due to redundancy or other circumstances, you'll want to overcome the negative emotions around it and look ahead with hope and optimism.
Keen to find out more? Just keep reading our article to discover nine tips to achieve this.
1. Try Not To Take Your Redundancy (Too) Personal
We know it's easier said than done. How could you not take something like job loss as a personal defeat? However, in the vast majority of cases, the fact that your employer chose to let you go has nothing actually, or very little, to do with you. This is especially true in the case of redundancies. During and after the coronavirus pandemic, many companies had to resort to letting staff go through redundancy packages. Sadly, this was due to a sudden lack of business, financial resources, and security for the future.
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2. Give Yourself Time and Be Patient
In a way, losing a job involves some grieving process, just like any other loss. Don't rush yourself into any expectations of feeling better instantly because that is probably not realistic. Instead, focus your time and energy on processing your job loss in the most empowering way possible, and start to look ahead with optimism.
3. Be Realistic About Your Job Loss
Meaning: try to find any silver linings about losing your job. Maybe, you used to work long, unsociable hours, or your boss was a nightmare. Perhaps, the office was very far from your home, and the commute was becoming unbearable. Write down a list trying to recall all the negative aspects of the job you have just lost. This will enable you to gain a fresher, more objective perspective, which will help you feel better about the overall situation.
4. Treat Yourself To Some Well-Deserved Self-Care
You might not feel like it right now, but trust us on this: you should set aside some time soon, to do something nice and relaxing just for yourself. What this is, is entirely up to you. It could be as simple as taking a long, indulgent bubble bath with scented candles and chilled music, or something more creative or extravagant, like taking on that little home renovation project that you had abandoned a long time ago.
5. Confide in a Trusted Friend or Family Member
When you are going through trying times, talking to someone you love, and trust is always a great idea, don't be afraid to bother your friends or family members if you feel like confiding in someone. Pick up your phone and ask for advice and support. An even better idea is to speak to a trusted person who has been through a similar experience in the past and has overcome it with success. Hearing from someone who truly understands what you are going through can be invaluable.
6. Consider Talking Therapies, Mindfulness, and Meditation
Job loss can be so traumatic that family and friends' help is not enough for some people. If that's your case, then you might want to think about talking to a professional therapist who might be able to offer the type of help that a loved one isn't able to.
7. Get Motivation From a Careers Advisor
Have you ever thought that, perhaps, the job you just lost wasn't the job you really wanted to be in, in the first place? If so, then a change of career might be just what you need. You could either think about this independently or seek the expert help of a professional careers advisor.
8. Jazz up Your Resume
The best bit? Once you have completed your re-write, it will be apparent what great things you have accomplished so far, how many talents you have, and what a fabulous asset you will be for whoever is smart enough to hire you next. We also have an example for you if you are writing a cover letter that mentions your redundancy.
9. Become a Pro at Job Hunting
Remember that finding a new job, mainly when you are out of employment, is, in fact, a job in itself. So, treat your job hunting as you would any type of task on your professional to-do list. Set yourself some "job-hunting working hours", allow for some coffee breaks and brainstorming sessions (with yourself!), and you'll notice your motivation and efficiency shoot up. A good start would be updating your LinkedIn profile.
Overcome the Negative Feelings of Losing Your Job and Look Ahead With Hope
Losing your job can bring up all sorts of upsetting emotions. However, if you follow our tips above, you will be able to overcome these negative feelings and reframe your job loss in a more positive, or at least neutral, light. If your redundancy has left you feeling deflated and demotivated, then it's a good idea to seek some career advice. And remember to take your job hunt as seriously as possible: this will enable you to land a great role soon.