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Surviving Job Loss: strategies to get your career back on track
In last fortnight’s article we identified that the one job for life principle rarely exists in today’s workplace and that workers should expect at least 3, 4 or even more job and career changes throughout their working lives. You only need to hear on the news about companies downsizing due to the financial crisis being experienced globally with many unfortunate employees finding themselves out of work.
However, rather than bringing more doom and gloom to the situation, we’d like to share some practical steps with you, so that you can begin to take stock and refocus on moving forward more positively.
Losing your job can also bring about other losses, such as changes to income, to your lifestyle, changes to your personal and collegial relationships and the feeling of security.
One of the things that you have to realise is that you are not the only person who is experiencing change and therefore losses, but that this is also impacting those close to you, such as your family.
Practical Issues:
It’s important to understand that your immediate family may also be going through their own grief and loss process as they too have to adjust to the situation that losing your job creates. Particularly changes to the weekly household budget with the loss of a steady income potentially putting added pressure on the family unit compounding the entire situation. So just remember that you are not alone in your grief and that those close to you may also be going through their own grief process through the practical issues that job loss can cause.
Strategy 1:
Initially it may be a wise strategy to set up some safety nets, particularly with regards to your finances so visiting a financial planner who can advise you what government entitlements you may be eligible for; whether you can contact your mortgage providers to see whether there are any provisions in your contract to lessen the mortgage payments for the short-term; and how to wisely invest any redundancy payouts to lesson any potential financial impact.
Easing any financial responsibilities may then prevent you from having to take the first job that presents itself, thus allowing you some time to review your situation and plan how you are going to move forward in terms of your career focus and eventual job search.
So please take advantage of a financial planner’s expertise to assist you in working through the financial and practical issues.
Emotional Issues:
In terms of emotional issues, quite often losing your job can cause you to have doubts about your skills and talents impacting negatively on your confidence and self-worth and therefore perhaps causing you to feel despondent and somewhat apprehensive about moving forward.
People who have been thrust into unemployment can quite often find moving forward extremely difficult particularly if there is added pressure by friends and family for them to “just get out there and find another job.”
Strategy 1:
It’s important to maintain a positive attitude in order to energise and motivate yourself through the short term as you undergo further self-exploration, skills development or as you plan your future career move and job search.
The saying ‘Where your attention goes, your energy flows’ is so true so try to remain positive in your outlook. Ensure you get plenty of exercise and look after yourself physically and avoid hiding yourself from the rest of the world.
Maintaining a positive attitude may not always be easy, but it is important. Recognise that you have good moments and not so good moments, but avoid getting stuck in the not so positive moments – rather allow yourself to get back on track with your job search positively.
Strategy 2:
Develop a support system whether this be family, friends, former associates or a career coach or counsellor. Being able to speak to someone who is not directly involved in the situation (such as immediate family who will also be working through their own grief and loss process) - someone who is unbiased, non-judgmental and can provide you with the support you need during this time.
Strategy 3:
Some people find journaling a very good method to assist them through the grief process, where they write their daily thoughts and feelings into their personal journal. Being able to express this, even in written form can be helpful.
Join us next fortnight when we present some practical steps on how to move on positively. If you or someone you know has experienced job loss and you would like to speak to someone about this, please contact either Keith or myself at: info@a-e-c.com.au
Till next fortnight!
To your success!
Annemarie
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Watching the news bulletins on TV last night, I would have needed an extra pair of hands if I were to have counted the number of times I heard reporters mentioning the word ‘crisis’. 
