Seven Steps To Take When You Lose Your Job by Deborah Knox
If you have recently lost your job please don't take it personally. How else are you supposed to take it you might ask? Well the first thing to do is to take stock and remember to tell your spouse, partner or best friend. We have heard horrific stories about people who have acted as if nothing were any different. They get up at the same time, but instead of going to the office, they may go for coffee, then hit the library or the local networking group, all the while not having come clean with themselves let alone others.
Here are some things you can do to take the heat off, while you get your bearings. Remember, you are more than your work identity and these action steps and reminders will help you manage this period of time as productively as possible.
1. Take this time to find yourself first and don't apologize for whatever amount of time it takes. You do need to be realistic, practical, and honor yourself by doing the necessary emotional healing work.
2. Realize that finding a new job is a complex process like any kind of life change. It involves a RANGE of activities which include completing self assessment exercises, preparation of materials or collateral (resume/ cover letter, andimplementing the many and various job search strategies. Each activity is valuable at some point and can be a full time job at different stages along the way.
3. Do update your resume and Linked in profile to let people know you're alive! Seriously, get a good friend, or hire a career coach to immediately assess, prioritize and update your most immediate past experience with your previous employer. As a Career Coach I always insist my clients create a new resume as soon as they land a job and start to list some of their new responsibilities, even if it is only a two-line summary. But you'll have it to build on and you'll hopefully update it on a regular basis - every six months is good.
4. Do indulge in revenge fantasies but keep them as FANTASIES!! This is an integral part of the healing process mentioned in step one. Your feelings of anger or resentment often can increase if you don't immediately experience success. Recognizing and releasing anger appropriately is key to keeping a positive attitude.
5.Conduct a review immediately of your accomplishments, skills and knowledge acquired,experience gained, relationships formed (who knows whether they will last.)
6. Find a buddy or companion and create a structure for giving and receiving honest feedback from one another on a weekly basis. Don't expect this will be the first person you mention it too, but it's worth it to have coffee with someone with this as a goal.
7. Learn to separate your work identity from your self in order to start anew. Because the job ended doesn't mean you have to disappear as well. This is the perfect time to find yourself and put that to work if you haven't already!
So if you've recently lost your job or think that might be a distinct possibility, why not start now beginning to rebuild your professional profile, learning all you can about yourself, and applying for jobs, or creating new opportunities that never existed before. Which of the 7 steps will be your first?
Deborah Knox, http://www.lifeworktransitions.com is a Career and mid-life transitions coach specializing in helping people find meaningful work, and identifying what needs doing in their world. To take a FREE Career Satisfaction Survey, go to http://www.lifeworktransitions.com/career-satisfaction-free-survey
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