There are many reasons to lose a job. Traditionally, layoffs and firings were the most common ways to be let go. In the last couple of years, pandemic-related closures and supply chain issues have caused several unique job loss scenarios, as well.
Regardless of the reason, losing your job can be devastating. From dried-up income to emotional trauma, being let go from a position can leave you feeling listless, despondent, anxious, and depressed.
If you’re going through a job loss period and you feel stuck, don’t worry. You aren’t alone. Nor do you need to spin your tires as you wonder what to do next. There really is hope for a brighter future.
Here are a few suggestions to help you pick yourself up and begin moving toward a more hopeful tomorrow.
Start with Your Mindset
The first thing that you want to do after losing your job is to focus on your mental state. Fighting the battle in your mind is the best way to set yourself up for future success.
This doesn’t mean you have to maintain endless positivity or go into denial about the past or present. However, you should focus on a few key things:
- Let yourself grieve over past trauma.
- Don’t dwell in the past once you’ve processed your emotions.
- Don’t internalize or personalize past injustices.
- Keep an eye out for cognitive distortions that can cloud your thought processes.
- Ask for help (including professional help) if you need it.
If you can start your post-job-loss journey on the right mental and emotional footing, it will make the entire process much easier.
Address Your Finances
Once you’ve addressed your personal condition, consider the logistics of your current situation. Particularly make sure to address your finances.
The loss of financial security can be profound when you’re in between jobs. Rather than making emotional decisions — like going on a reckless vacation or taking out a high-interest personal loan — sit down and strategize what to do next.
Ask yourself this question: how can you proactively avoid a financial crisis? This might come through tightening your budget. It could also come through forbearance or debt relief. You might need to lean on some savings for a while. Whatever you choose to do, though, make sure it’s a thoughtful and wise financial decision.
Consider Your Career Path
Now that your emotions, mental state, and finances have been addressed, it’s time to consider the future. This can be intimidating. You may feel that you’re adrift with little idea of which direction to focus on.
If that’s the case, you may want to take a moment to consider your larger career path before you start pounding the pavement looking for a job. Ask yourself these questions:
- Were you happy in your previous job, industry, or line of work?
- If you were, is there any way you can improve your career within that context?
- If you weren’t, are there other viable career goals that you can pivot toward?
- What are your long-term goals, careerwise?
By going through these questions, you can ensure that you’re working toward an unbeatable career position that is personally satisfying. After all, a job loss can also be seen as a natural crossroads in your professional life. Take advantage of the opportunity.
Assemble Your Job-Hunting Toolkit
Once you have a general direction in mind, you have to begin to hone your job-hunting toolkit. This includes:
- Updating your resume;
- Revamping or adding to your portfolio;
- Practicing your cover letters;
- Sharpening your skillset;
- Lining up references.
If you’re staying in the same general career path, you may only need to refresh or update these items. If you’re making a pivot you may have more work to do.
In either case, take the time to prepare before you start applying. That way you’ll be able to put your best foot forward with recruiters.
Find the Right Jobs
Once you’re ready to apply for jobs, you need to find the best jobs to apply to. After all, what good is landing a job if it’s not the right fit for you?
The best way to do this is to head into your job search with the mindset of a strategist. In other words, don’t just follow the formula. That will merely make you look as good as any other candidate — which is to say, you’ll look mediocre.
Instead, put yourself in the employer’s shoes. Make a genuine effort to understand their pain points and problems. Then consider how you can relieve them. By looking for these kinds of scenarios, you can shave weeks off of the job-hunting process.
Set Reasonable Expectations
At this point, you’ve put yourself on firm mental and emotional footing. You’ve also safeguarded your financial position as much as possible. From there, you’ve seriously considered your career path and the opportunities that a job loss presents. Then you gathered your job-hunting tools, found the right jobs, and applied to them.
Now you have to wait. However, don’t fret as you check your email every 10 seconds for a possible response from a recruiter.
Instead, take this time to set some reasonable expectations for your efforts. Start with your goals. Are your objectives reasonably attainable? Or are you setting yourself up for disappointment?
Try to set SMART goals that you can actually reach. You may also want to create potential “plan B” scenarios to focus on if your initial round of job hunting doesn’t pay off.
Once again, by thinking proactively, you can avoid slipping into negative patterns of thinking. Instead, you can stay positive and focused on the future, no matter how bumpy the road might be to get there.
Turning a Job Loss Into a Golden Opportunity
Losing a job is never easy. It can lead to turmoil, stress, and even despair. However, if you work hard to take your situation by the reigns and regain control, you can turn a job loss into a golden opportunity.
Use your situation to grow mentally. Let your emotions mature as you process what you’re going through. If you can maintain a positive mindset throughout the experience, you may ultimately see this time as one of the most pivotal moments in a long and illustrious career.
