|
“In the
middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
-ALBERT
EINSTEIN
No matter what you may call
it… laid off, terminated, dismissed, outplaced, fired… the experience is a
hurtful one. It is not unusual that you may feel discouraged, frustrated,
isolated, fearful and depressed. You may feel overwhelmed and disoriented. You
may feel worthless. You may feel like a failure. You may feel like someone has
pulled the rug out from underneath you. After losing your job, you may
experience any or all of the typical emotions associated with any kind of major
loss, including the initial shock, the immediate anger, the subsequent grief,
and finally an acceptance of your situation.
Shock… You may feel stunned
or surprised that this has happened. You may have feelings of disbelief or
denial.
Anger... You may feel that
you have been betrayed. You may have feelings of resentment, rage, and fury.
You may feel like blaming or criticizing.
Grief… You may feel sadness
over the loss of friends and co-workers. You may have feelings of yearning.
You may discouraged, depressed, or in despair.
Acceptance... Finally, you
get to the point of adaptation and a willingness to get on with your life. You
feel a sense of resolve and a desire to focus on future possibilities. You’re
ready to move forward.
Among a
variety of life-altering events, such as death in the family, divorce, and
serious illness, losing your job ranks among the highest in stress-causing
situations. Job loss can have a profound effect on your emotional well being.
Being separated from one's job is extremely difficult. Many of us closely
identify ourselves by what we do for a living. When the job is taken away, we
can lose track of who we are and even why we are. Emotional issues aside, a
number of practical issues must be addressed. We must determine how long our
financial resources will sustain us. We must also decide if a career change is
in order. Then we must begin to plan for the future.
About Career
Planning: Coping With Job Loss
Love To Know:
Stress Management, Managing Job Loss
Dealing With a Mid Life Career Crisis
When the Mid-Life Career Crisis Hits
Good Reasons to Quit Your Job
Feeling
Stuck: Changing Career Paths Midlife
Breaking Into a New Career
Signs of a Midlife Crisis
How to Leave a Toxic Workplace
How to Avoid a
Mid Life Career Crisis
Signs You Should Quit Your Job
Career Crisis
Recovering Gracefully
“Every
success, every failure, if we let them, helps us in the future. We may not be
able to see how an experience helps right now but if we keep our eyes open we
will. Losing a job is a stressful time but within that stress is
opportunity. What a wonderful time to reevaluate what you want from your career
and life. Our road to our dreams is not a straight path but one with twists and
turns. Keep learning and moving and you'll get there!”
-LEANNA
FREDRICH
“Ask
yourself… What is good about this situation? What have you learned from your
past experiences that is helping you now? What step will you take today to get
closer to your goals? What do you really want in your next job?”
-LEANNA
FREDRICH
It is time for you to
consider how best to get back on your feet and move forward. You may want to
begin by doing whatever you can to at least get what is owed you.
Even though your head may be
spinning, make sure you ask your employer about severance pay, vacation pay,
medical insurance, and so on. If the employer does not offer you any of these,
try to negotiate some. Take advantage of absolutely everything your employer
offers you in a severance package, including career transition workshops,
psychological counseling, health benefits, and severance pay. Initially, you
might be too upset and proud to participate in any of these programs.
As with any loss, there will be a recovery period. Feelings of anger or sadness
may last for a couple of weeks or more. Give yourself time to grieve the loss,
and express your feelings in healthy ways so they will pass more quickly.
Job Loss: Reality Check
Successful Career Change
Career Crisis
Making the Most of Your Mid-Life Career Transition
Unconventional Mid-Life Career Change Tips
What Makes a Successful Mid-Life Career Transition?
Making a Mid-Life Career Change
Simple Steps to Mid-Life Career Change Success
Identifying and Capitalizing on a Mid-Career Crisis
Preparing for a Corporate Layoff
Facing Your
Mid-Career Crisis
“Success
is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.”
-GEORGE S.
PATTON
“The
obstacle is the path.”
-ZEN SAYING
Call to Schedule an Appointment
205-665-6262
Send an
E-Mail Message
|
|
Career Development Center
University of Montevallo
Station 6262 | Montevallo, Alabama 35115
Farmer Hall, Second Floor
205-665-6262 | career@montevallo.edu
Take Care of
Yourself
“The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our
circumstances.”
-MARTHA WASHINGTON
“Remember
that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore, avoid undue
elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity.”
-SOCRATES
Staying motivated and
keeping grounded is key.
Remember, this is only temporary. You will eventually get out of this
predicament.
Take
care of your mental and physical health. Eat well and
exercise
to stay fit and
lower stress.
Get proper
sleep,
and stay away from drugs and
alcohol.
You can join a support group, keep a journal or seek counseling. Take
time to enjoy yourself.
Stay active. Get out
of the house. Talk to people. Go for walks. Go to the gym.
Maintain
hobbies and social activities. Establishing
a firm daily routine can help you stay in focus, reduce stress, and
maintain your mental health.
Be
particularly careful with your finances during this time. Create a budget
with your family, and stick to it. If you have
debt,
figure out how you’re going to afford your payments. If you think you may
run into trouble, consult a
consumer credit counseling agency.
Don’t panic. Assess where you stand. Try to remain as calm as you can
and see exactly what the situation is. Ask yourself:
How much money do we have in the bank? How much are our monthly bills? How
much am I receiving for severance? What do we need to modify in the
budget?
And stay
determined and diligent in your job search, following up on every possible
lead.
Job Loss: Reality Check
Help Guide: Job Loss and Unemployment Stress
Pink Slip Slump: Inspiration & Expert Advice
Improving My Life: How to Deal With Losing Your Job
Traumatic Experience
"Getting the ax hurts.
It's a slap in the face. It feels like an attack on who you are and all
you've done. Yesterday you were safe, secure, you belonged, and the
future was promising. Today, you're out. You're on your own -- no
safety, no security, you don't belong, and the future is scary."
-DAHLSTROM /
Surviving A Layoff
"Involuntary job loss is
a fact of life today. Being fired is so common that the word has fallen
into disuse. Outplacement is what it's now called. As common as
it has become, and no matter what it's called, it will still always be one
of life's truly traumatic experiences."
-CHRISTOPHER KIRKWOOD /
Your Services Are No Longer Required
"When one door closes,
another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the
closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
-ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL
"I've learned that
getting fired can sometimes be the best thing that can happen to you."
-H. JACKSON BROWN, JR /
Live & Learn & Pass It On
Dealing With a Mid Life Career Crisis
When the Mid-Life Career Crisis Hits
Good Reasons to Quit Your Job
Feeling Stuck: Changing Career Paths Midlife
Breaking Into a New Career
Signs of a Midlife Crisis
How to Leave a Toxic Workplace
How to
Avoid a Mid Life Career Crisis
Signs You Should Quit Your Job
Support System
Begin
networking immediately. Use your available support system. Contact all
the people you know and request their help. Update them about your
situation. Don’t close yourself off to them. Now is a time to ask for
help.
You may
feel embarrassed or ashamed by what happened. Do not let that negative
thinking stop you from getting emotional support. Ask your network to
please keep their eyes and ears open for any employment opportunities that
they might hear about. Your friends and acquaintances can be very helpful
in brainstorming ideas and circulating your name. It's very important to
have a support system of friends, colleagues, former co-workers,
neighbors, and family members who can motivate you to jump back on the
horse.
You might need to not only find new long term employment, but to also find
a temporary job to pay your immediate bills. Until you find a suitable
fulltime permanent job, working part time can generate income and provide
you with a schedule that allows you to go on job interviews.
Open your
mind to different jobs. You need to cast a wide net, so don’t just look
for jobs exactly like your last one. Being too focused on one particular
job may decrease your chances of finding work.
Career Planning Resources
Career Exploration Tools
Job Market Tools
Resume Writing Resources
Skills Employers Value
|
