5 Steps to recovering from job loss

Photo by Anna Auza on Unsplash

Copyright 2019             Aleasa Word

​As the year-end comes, so does the idea that many companies will decide to trim the proverbial fat from their books for the year. It’s not a new phenomenon, yet when it happens the impact on humans can be devastating. Let’s face it, the majority of people who are working for companies are there because they need the job instead of just wanting it. The unsettling part to that is many define their personal value by the jobs they occupy.
When the job no longer needs people, it’s like getting sucker-punched in the gut sometimes. There are other times when people can see the handwriting on the wall and even in those instances the reality of losing the job can be tough to handle. So what should people do to get past the emotional toll of losing the job and moving on to a productive mindset of recovery?

• Accept the reality of grief – losing a job is truly like losing part of your everyday life. It’s your norm to go to work, see your work colleagues and be part of a work family. Any loss is going to make one feel a sense of detachment and can cause fear. It can cause a host of emotions to rush all at once and if you’ve ever had any issues of loss from your childhood it can unknowingly trigger emotions from that as well.
• See it at face value – remember that layoffs are usually not personal at all. This is a business decision and you need to see it as such. The company needs to survive and so do you. Think of your new status as a business decision and ask yourself what does the business of “you” need to survive?
• Step back – take a few days if you have the luxury to do so to step back and breathe. Acting off of emotion will only make things worse as you may make emotionally charged decisions that aren’t helpful. Give yourself a moment to breathe.
• Assess your situation – take a real-world look at your financial situation to see what needs to be dealt with first, what your current assets look like and what you need to have to survive financially each month.
• Develop the game plan – it’s time to take action.  Get your resume out and update it asap! Make a list of potential employers. Sign up with job sites to begin receiving hits and to start looking. Call people you know in the industry to see if their companies are hiring. Stay positive by telling yourself to keep breathing….you are going to be ok.

 
The road ahead may look daunting but be sure to take it one step at a time. You got to where you are through hard work and you can do it again! 

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