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Job Loss and Unemployment Stress

Job Loss and Unemployment Stress https://boundlessiop.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/job-loss-blog-header.jpg 1920 900 Boundless IOP Boundless IOP https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad7ff2554a1fad501f4a28cdf066147?s=96&d=mm&r=g June 3, 2019 February 8, 2024

Job Loss: The Employee Perspective

What does it mean to go from employed to unemployed when you didn’t plan for it or decide it? When one day you are building your career and the next you are out of one? This short post discusses some of the effects that unexpected unemployment can have on the ambitious employee.

When a career-driven employee is forced to resign due to poor employment conditions, retrenchment, or due to changed personal circumstances, the disappointment can be rife. The employee can easily become completely despondent, disengaged from their career aspirations, and start to isolate. Going from employed to unemployed can have significant physiological and psychological effects, such as lack of sleep, loss of appetite, susceptibility to illness; increased feelings of fear, hopelessness, uncertainty and decreased self-confidence to name a few.

If this is you, how do you ensure that you effectively manage the possible effects of sudden unemployment for the period that you are unemployed?

HERE ARE A FEW PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR UNEXPECTED JOB LOSS:

ENSURE THAT YOUR CV IS UPDATED

Note down everything that you have done in your job in as much detail as possible, so that you will be able to properly discuss your responsibilities and achievements in future interviews.

START WRITING A GENERAL COVER LETTER FOR FUTURE APPLICATIONS

Your cover letter should tell a potential employer why you are the best choice for the job you are applying for, but, when you are down on your luck or dealing with the effects of unexpected unemployment, it can be very difficult to sell yourself on a one page document. Thus, write a general cover letter whilst updating your CV which you can adapt and edit when applying to various jobs.

ENSURE THAT YOU ARE LISTED ON RECRUITMENT & WORKPLACE PLATFORMSms

You may have registered on PNET five years ago and your details will not be current, so ensure that you list and/or update your profile on the various recruitment and workplace platforms. This is the best way to get spotted by recruiters or employers seeking to fill important vacancies.

REACH OUT TO YOUR NETWORK (OR BUILD ONE)

When people say “it is all about who you know” they know what they’re talking about. Ensure that you reach out to your network to let them know you are in the market, or if you have not built a network now is the time to start—create a LinkedIn profile and get connecting, attend networking events and seminars. You never know who you will meet!

KEEP YOUR BODY STRONG

When you are down on your luck or feeling despondent based on your changed circumstances, both your mind and body need a boost! Ensure to boost your immune system with extra vitamins and healthy food, and do some exercise (be it dancing in your kitchen or going jogging).

KEEP YOUR MIND STRONG

Your mind is such a powerful thing and it is important to not neglect it when you are going through a traumatic time. A good idea is to journal—when you have gone through a challenging experience such as sudden employment you will be sure to have many thoughts and feelings about what has and is happening. It could be beneficial to write these down; ensure that you verbalise (even if only on paper) what you are going through in order to reflect and move forward.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU

It becomes very easy to isolate yourself when you become unemployed, so ensure that you meet up with family or friends who care about you and can motivate you while you struggle to motivate yourself.

TAKE A BREAK

Whether it is a weekend away, a lazy day at home doing nothing, taking that trip to Bali that you never got the time for, it is important to take a break from the stress that you will be experiencing due to your changed circumstances. Do keep your finances in mind, though… you don’t know how long you may be unemployed and this might not be the time to travel around the globe unless you have saved up for it.

KEEP THE FAITH

Remember that becoming unemployed due to no fault of your own is not about you and does not define you. Even though you are not where you have thought you would be or wanted to be right now, doesn’t mean that you won’t get there in the future! Remain focused on your dreams, and devise practical ways to move closer towards them. While it may take a while to find another job that excites you, you still have something valuable to offer to the world of work.

Even though this is such a difficult topic to think about, realities sometimes change; and if yours unfortunately has to, I hope that you will push through it. Remember these words from Baruch Spinoza: “There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope.”