Losing your job can be scary, frustrating and stressful. Before you freak out and write yourself off as a failure, read these ten things people don’t tell you when you lose a job.
1. Don’t have a cow, man.
It’s stressful to lose a job, but don’t let it get you down. Everyone has lost a job, and everyone has gotten past it – you will too! Try to see this as a time for positive change, and embrace the possibilities instead of letting yourself get depressed.
2. Give yourself time to figure out the next step.
Don’t feel pushed to get a job just to have one. Take time to figure out what you want to do next. Maybe it’s time to finally make that move to a bigger city you’ve been putting off. Or maybe it’s time for a career change, and you need to research your new field. Even if you stay in the same career, give yourself time to find the right job and not just the first job that pops up.
3. Make a plan.
Regardless of whether you’re staying on the same track or using this opportunity to change careers, make a plan. Set goals for yourself to look for jobs a certain length of time every day, or to apply to a certain number a week. Make plans about what you’ll do if you don’t find your dream job in a month. Plan for any options that might come up in your job hunt.
4. Don’t be afraid to accept a transitional job.
Don’t get upset if the only jobs you can find are transitional jobs, and don’t feel like a failure if you need to take a temporary job to make ends meet. There’s nothing wrong with working a job that might not benefit your resume in the long run, just to pay your bills in the meantime. Remember – it’s always good to stay in the habit of working, even if you’re not doing your dream job.
5. Change the way you apply for jobs.
A lot of people apply for jobs by just sending out resumes to any openings. Don’t do this and expect to get what you want. Read job listings carefully, make sure you want the position and would be a good fit, and then tailor your resume to each specific job. Write custom cover letters each time as well. This will keep you from making the mistake of sending the wrong company’s name in your letter!
6. Let go of your expectations.
Losing a job means it’s a good time to follow your dreams, but you also need to let go of your expectations. Maybe you thought you’d stay in this job for two years, get a promotion and keep moving up the ladder until you retire. It’s great to have goals, but you also need to know when to let go of these expectations and embrace the new opportunities.
7. Expect disappointments.
It’s important to remember you’ll encounter a lot of struggles along the way. Don’t let disappointments get you down. If you expect them instead of assuming everything will go smoothly, then these disappointments won’t throw you off course.
8. Don’t blame anyone or anything.
Don’t try to assign blame after you’ve lost your job. It happened and it’s in the past, so it doesn’t matter if it was the fault of anyone or anything. You need to focus on moving forward instead of holding anger about the job you lost.
9. Catch up on sleep.
While you’re unemployed, why not make the most of your time off and catch up on sleep? You’ve been stressed from losing your job and the job hunt, so why not keep your health up in the meantime? If you sleep late or take naps during the day, make sure you’re not sleeping away all your time. Be productive and don’t fall into a bad routine, but take your time, relax, and enjoy the unexpected time off.
10. Take a vacation.
You have a little money put aside from working so hard for so long, right? Why not use a bit of it for a vacation? Don’t spend so much that you put your ability to pay bills at risk, but see if you can fit a small trip into your budget. Who knows when you’ll have this opportunity again.
