Losing a job is very stressful, and more often than not, you’ll feel as if you are on an emotional rollercoaster ride, bombarded with unexpected feelings. Other times, you’ll feel simply stuck, as if you will never recover from your job loss.
Lyndy van den Barselaar, managing director at ManpowerGroup South Africa, explains:
For many, a job loss isn’t just a job loss. One can also lose their financial stability and sense of security. This is why it is imperative to deal with it head first.
As you work your way through this painful process, and undertake the challenging task of getting back to work, you may find it helpful to implement some of the following steps along the way:
Undertake Some introspection: Evaluate your last job: What aspects did you like or dislike? Is it time to make a change? If yes, where do you want to go next in your career? Is entrepreneurship an option? Create a vision board/ or diarise where you would like to see yourself in three to five years.
Grow Your Network, one person at a time: These days it’s very difficult to encounter an adult who has not experienced a job loss, resulting in an ever-growing number of empathetic people out there who know how to help. If you feel as if face-to-face meetings are too much for you at this time, start the networking process online. Build your network of contacts on LinkedIn and other social platforms, and, as your spirits improve, begin to meet with some of your old and new contacts. Either way, start to get the word out. They can’t help you find a new job if they don‘t know that you’re looking for one.
Start or join a job club: Create or sign up with an existing job club to interact with other professionals who are in the same boat. Meet once a week to share ideas and act as peer mentors to each other. Meet at your local coffee house, public library, or check with nearby non-profit organisations, including churches or temples. Many, if asked, will be happy to offer their space for you to meet.
Volunteer: Is there a skill that you’d like to acquire or develop? Volunteer in a role that allows you to do just that. Is there a worthy cause that you have always wanted to support? Volunteer your time, which will give you access to others who support the cause, while keeping you moving forward, and involved with others who are working.
Provide Consulting Services: Let your network of contacts know that you are available to work on projects until you find a new job.
Practice Emotional Resilience: The job search process often takes longer than expected and it’s easy to become discouraged. Practice what Jack Canfield calls the Rule of Five – each day apply for five jobs, or connect with five people online, or schedule five face-to-face meetings, or research five companies. With this set of expectations in place, you can establish a sense of accomplishment in spite of not coming to the finish line.
Find ways to help others: You’ll be asking for a lot of favours during this search. It helps to know that you are also doing what you can to give back. Find ways to help others: send people in the industry the link to an interesting article that came up during your research. Drive your elderly neighbour to the grocery store. Volunteer to work at the sign-in table at the local professional association meeting. Close every communication with, “Now, what can I do for you?”.
“While a job loss can be devastating, especially in today’s uncertain economic times, it does not have to be the end of the road. Reach out to recruitment agencies and workforce solutions providers, to ensure your CV is on their records. Most importantly, keep pushing, learn as many lessons as you can, and do not give up hope,” concludes van den Barselaar.
