So, you’ve just been fired, or laid-off, or resigned. Despite the preceding situation, you have now found yourself unemployed. Are you feeling shocked, confused, or in a state of disbelief? Maybe you’re all of the above and you know what, you have every right to be! It’s unrealistic for anyone to tell you to immediately cheer up or “get over it” after losing your job. Similar to a break-up, it may take some time to recover.
Unemployment has an effect on other parts of your life, whether it be family, finances, or social life. The state of unemployment is not one that you wish to be in for long. Go for it! Cry your eyes out, go on a junk food binge, and “forget” to bathe for a day or two, but that’s all you get; a day or two. We’ve got some work to do. Operation: Bounce Back is in full effect and we have 3 sure-fire ways to bounce back after losing your job.
You might not know it yet, but getting fired could quite possibly be the best thing that ever happens to you. No, you don’t believe us? Sure, losing your job is a stressful time. You probably weren’t completely prepared for it, and you may have no idea what you’re doing next, but hope is on the horizon! Follow these 3 tips and you’re sure to bounce back from your job loss in no time!
1. Be Selfish!
Sometimes we jump from the ledge, other times we are pushed. Use this unexpected push as a chance to invest in you. It’s okay to be selfish! Be selfish with your time. Use this state of unemployment to do some self-reflecting. Ask yourself if there were things you could have done differently? Give yourself valuable and honest feedback. Be selfish with your activity. Reallocate this time to self-improvement. Once you’ve finished your junk food binge, it might be a good time to get up and work out. Stay active! They say, “an idle mind is the devil’s playground” so do not allow yourself to have idle time. Keep busy by volunteering and dedicating yourself to ideas, notions, and activities that will help promote self-improvement and future development.
2. Reconnect!
Now is as good a time as any to build up your professional network. Take a moment to review and clean up your social media profiles. Make sure that the person you are presenting for others to see is being marketed as an employable individual. Social media is just one of the many platforms available for you to connect with your professional network. Other ways to connect with your professional network include phone calls, face-to-face interactions, and email. Taking the time to build and nurture your professional network can open up new job opportunities that you never knew existed!
3. Chase Your Dreams!
What better time to chase a passion or dream? Chances are the reason you lost your previous job was due to unforeseen office politics or being a bad fit for that position. If the reason was the latter, it’s probably safe to assume you were not overly passionate about whatever it was you were doing. Don’t you want to wake up everyday and love what you do? Losing your job has given you that chance. During your time of self-reflection, volunteering, and reconnecting you have probably honed in on a clearer vision of what it is you want to do with your life. Now is the time to “Carpe Diem!” With a clear vision of your future in mind, update and tailor your resume to reflect the career you would like to obtain.
You’ve pulled yourself out of your unemployment pity party and now you must begin the hunt for a new job. Although there may be bumps along the way, do not be discouraged. Be open to accepting new opportunities, part-time employment, temporary work, and rejection as they may all be steps in the journey towards the end goal of full-time, steady, employment!
