7 ways to bounce back after job loss

Losing your job whether due to performance or redundancy is hard and can be a huge kick in the gut. The challenge is not only dealing with job loss but also the emotions that arise from the result. This ranges from depression, humiliation, shame, vulnerability or even self-pity. However, how you respond to these setbacks and challenges determines whether you’ll regain your sense of self.

Here are a few tips to help you bounce back to a job or even to a better one.

Give yourself time to adjust

Give yourself some time to recover and avoid negative self-talk. Take your time to think about your actions in the past so that you can learn from your mistakes and move on. It’s good to surround yourself with people that will make you feel good about yourself during that situation.

Take time to grieve

Give yourself time to go through the grieving process after you have been laid off. Accept that you cannot control what happens in corporations and there is nothing you could have done to avoid this. Don’t deny or ignore your feelings and your grief as burying your emotions can cause depression, anger or even shock and denial. The healing process is meant to prepare you for the next interview.

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Explore new opportunities

Re-evaluate your options now that you have more experience than when you were applying for your previous job. Think about where your interests lie and how your career experience, previous work background and education can serve those passions. You can also visualize changing your career or, if you current finances allow, think of being self-employment.

Network

Interact with professionals and agencies that specialize in your area of practice in order to learn of new opportunities in the industry. You can also reach out to friends, colleagues or family members to help you in the job search. This will double your search efforts and increase your chances of you securing a job opportunity.

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Manage your finances

Losing your job may cause a significant change in your lifestyle, at some point you might be forced to make life-changing decisions to avoid experiencing financial troubles. To avoid such, make a budget where you prioritize the most essential things in order to avoid making unnecessary expenses that might render you broke.

Treat the job search like a job

Create a job search plan with achievable goals and invest your time on it. Make use of your support network team to help you in sourcing for job opportunities.

Don’t let your job status define you

Your job should not determine your self-worth, understand that losing your job was an unfortunate occurrence that provided an opportunity for self-growth rather than some personal failure or inadequacy. This will help you to brace up and start looking for a job with a positive attitude.

Losing your job is one of the depressing moments in one’s career, especially because in most cases, you don’t see it coming. However, with proper planning, one can dust off and prepare for a better tomorrow.