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9 Important Things to Do When You Lose Your Job

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Losing your job can be a stressful and difficult experience, but it is important to take action and start making a plan to get back on your feet. Firstly, take some time to process your emotions and cope with the loss. Seek support from family and friends, and consider talking to a professional if you are struggling to manage your feelings. Once you are ready, start assessing your financial situation and cut back on unnecessary expenses. Look into government benefits or unemployment insurance that you may be eligible for. Next, update your resume and start actively searching for new job opportunities.

Losing your job can be a stressful and difficult experience, but it is important to take action and start making a plan to get back on your feet.Click To Tweet

Breathe

It may feel like the end of the world, but for most, it is not. As an adult, you structure your life around your work schedule. You are your job. When you unexpectedly lose your job it wreaks havoc on your emotions. Your self-esteem suffers. Your relationships suffer. You feel miserable. Don’t do anything. Now is not the time for action.



Grieve

Yes, grieve – the death of your job. Allow yourself to mourn similarly to how you would for that of a loved one. Crying is normal. Anger is common. Blame, is very common. Any feeling you experience is normal – remember this if nothing else.

Plan

What are your options? Start by listing everything that comes to mind and sort, reject, or expand on your ideas as necessary. A planner or a pad of paper and pen will help you capture thoughts and ideas that will help you develop your plan. (Computers are awesome, but at this point won’t be as helpful to you as the old-fashioned way).  Also, read Job Search Planning

needs

Identify Needs

Once you have the beginnings of a plan you will find that you need to do or get things. What don’t you have that you need to get yourself back on your feet? Hopefully, your résumé is up to date, at least! Otherwise, you may need to update that, certainly. You may need names and contact information for people that can help you.

Enlist Help

Who can you tap into to network yourself to a new position? Help can come from friends and family or from a professional. Now might not be the time to rely on an aunt who serves as the family’s “guru.” If you lost your job due to being an example.  Also read: Fighting FIRED with FIre

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03/29/2024 02:41 am GMT

Revise the Plan as Necessary

So you have a plan in place and you are working on it – great! Right? Maybe not. It is good to reassess your progress periodically as you work on your return to work plan. Weekly usually makes good sense in most cases. Are you getting return calls? Are you getting interviews? If not, why not. Examine each prior week for anything upon which you could improve.

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03/28/2024 02:12 am GMT

Work Your Plan Consistently

Keep your goal uppermost, whether it is to get any job or if you have more specific goals. The more you focus on what you want the greater the chances that you will see opportunities that you might not otherwise. Every activity and communication can move you closer to your goal.

Follow Through and Follow Up

Some people are able to follow up effortlessly while most have to work at it. Keep your activities organized in a way that will allow you to follow up on opportunities that might present themselves. If you are asked to call back in two days, call back in two days. If you submit an online application or resume, follow up to be sure it was received and ask for an interview.

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Celebrate Your Return to the Workforce

Just when you think it will never happen you will get a job offer.

Healing After Job Loss: 100 Practical Ideas
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Full of practical, time-tested counsel, this handbook offers simple, useful tips and activities to counter the typically negative reactions to job loss, such as loss of self esteem, and explores thoughts and feelings with the goal of healin

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03/28/2024 08:41 am GMT




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