Suddenly unemployed – now what? | stedtnitz. design your life
You walk out of the conference room in a daze. Your hands are sweating and your heart is pounding. You sit down, stare at your computer screen but see nothing. You can’t believe it: you’ve just lost your job.
Now what?
Losing your job is always difficult to deal with, regardless of your employer’s reason for letting you go. Aside from the initial shock, becoming unemployed can have long-term effects on your health and wellbeing. A recent study at the University of Berlin confirmed that unemployment leads to significant decreases in life satisfaction. They also found that individuals who are transitioning into unemployment experience sadness and anxiety more often and happiness less frequently.
Time and time again, clients come to us who are in the process of losing their jobs, who are looking for support to gain orientation and a new perspective. The following are some of the key points we like to focus on in our work with clients in this situation:
The most important thing you can do during this time is to look after yourself. If you need to, take the time to relax and enjoy a well-deserved break after this difficult time. Losing a job is just that: a loss that you need to come to terms with, and that will take time. However, set a definite timeframe for this break and stick to it. Just like a holiday, you can emerge from this break feeling refreshed and motivated to work on your next steps towards employment.
Put the time you now have available to you to good use. Most people have a few ideas or projects they have always wanted to do, but didn’t have the time for. Now is the perfect opportunity to start learning that foreign language or finally take that cooking class. Maybe you’ve always wanted to test your inner Roger Federer or let your inner saxophonist come to light. Go for it! Not only will a new hobby keep your brain active and increase your self-confidence, it also looks good on your CV.
Use your new perspective to set fresh or updated goals for yourself. What are your priorities? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Set long-term aims for yourself and work backwards from there, building small steps on a ladder that will lead you to where you want to be. Creating a vision for yourself strengthens motivation and drive and will influence your decision-making even now.
Aim to transform your recent bad experience into a constructive learning opportunity. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck found that people with a growth mindset believe that their qualities are things they can cultivate through their efforts. Although everyone shows differences in personality, talents, and interests, everyone can change and grow through application and experience. What that means is, experiencing failure is a specific and effective learning opportunity that you will benefit from. What did you enjoy in your last job? Which parts did you dread? Where did you find yourself always procrastinating? Make a note of these and use them to refine your career ideal. Remember, even knowing what you don’t want can be a valuable lesson.
Successfully dealing with a difficult and emotionally traumatic situation such as losing a job will leave you with new perspective, skills, and the necessary grit to keep on going when the going gets tough – all of which are excellent qualities with any work endeavor. This setback is a sure step in the right direction to finding a fulfilling job that you enjoy.
Remember: “The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” – Stephen McCranie, Writer
If you feel like you could some support as you explore new perspectives, click on the link to view our coaching packages for adults, or, use the link below to sign up for a free intro-coaching session, either here in Zurich or online. We would love to hear from you!
Sending you sunny greetings and warm wishes,
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Photo by Razvan Chisu on Unsplash