PUBLICATION

Maintain - even enhance - a healthy sense of self. It’s hard work ahead. Individuals must determine the objective moving forward, write a resume, submitting applications, go through the interview process, network - all this while grieving. To both grieve and engage in finding a job, requires us to be at our best. The loss of a job after dedicating years to an organization is frightening. It may require that we find activities to do that will help us to remain calm while sorting out feelings and thoughts. The point is, whatever the feelings, there’s no doubt that they are appropriate and shared by others in the same situation. There is no clear right or wrong way to feel about the loss of employment. Don’t underestimate the importance assigned to having a job; it runs deep - so does the impact of not having one. Losing a job is just that - a loss. Most significant, is to develop and maintain a positive, forward-thinking, goal-oriented attitude. This is best achieved by dealing with, not denying, that mixed bag of feelings.

There are some simple steps to take care of ourselves so that we remain healthy - perhaps even become healthier - for the challenges faced. For example, having the “luxury” for quiet time in the morning; for improving diet and exercise regimen; for sharpening our sense of self-discipline with regard to time. This is the time to review our work history and identify skills and areas of expertise that are not necessarily limited to our given “field,” but instead translate into other fields where we can find fresh challenges and new opportunities. This time of unemployment offers the opportunity to identify ourselves by “who I am,” not just “what I do.”


Bring closure to your recent work experience. What is grieved in the loss of a job is the loss of a familiar routine. This may include the usual commute and listening to the news, the casual (and not so casual) exchanges with coworkers or the environment of our workplace - all the details that constituted the usual “work”routine. Even if the loss of a job brings a sense of relief - from certain circumstances that were stressful - individuals still feel the loss of the familiar.

Grieve responsibly. When a job is lost, individuals experience a broad range of emotions - from anger to fear to embarrassment to self-righteous annoyance. These are normal emotions, and each one needs to be dealt with responsibly. Individuals will not heal and move ahead if emotions are used as excuses for irresponsible behavior. For example, placing blame on certain people or situations - coworkers, bosses, the government, the stock market - for our situation will not help us take productive steps toward becoming employed again. Being embarrassed about our unemployment will inhibit the willingness to network - a critical aspect of job-hunting. Any of these emotions, in fact, can surface in future job interviews and actually weaken our presentation as a potential employee.