What is associated with losing one’s job are often much more than financial. For some people, these challenges can mean losing identity, the routine in daily life, and relationships with coworkers. The future might seem uncertain. People react to losses and increased uncertainty in their lives in different ways, some positively and others not. Taking the actions below can help change your life during these traumatic times positively.
Reduce spending: Take immediate steps to reduce spending. Review all income and expenditures, and develop a new budget that ensures that all necessary bills are paid and all unnecessary expenses are curtailed. Avoid buying on credit except to meet critical needs. Learn new ways to be frugal and take pride in stretching your money.
Share the news with your family: Whether you realize it or not, your spouse or partner and children are affected by what happens to you at work. Explain what happened so that everyone understands the situation, can express his or her concerns, and can support one another.
Develop a job-hunting strategy: Put time and energy into planning actions that will lead to another job such as preparing a resume; registering with several employment services, and recruiters; posting your resume online; calling employers about job openings; and responding to print and online advertisements. Turn to friends, relatives, and former workers for job referrals and employment opportunities.
Don’t panic: The initial loss of a job is stressful, and it often makes us lose our clarity and focus on planning the next steps, says expert. But you don’t have to descend into an anxiety spiral. There are always options, and the key is to let yourself have the time and space to determine what those are, expert says. You won’t be able to move forward without a clear head and an open mind.
Accept your situation: Avert panic by stepping back and taking stock of your own feelings. We’re human being. We have a right to feel unhappy. Once you’ve given your emotions space to exist, you can start to see the big picture more clearly, enabling you to act in ways that will help you and your career.
Reorganize your priorities: Once you’ve established a particular standard of living, it can be tough to adjust that downward, but expert says it’s crucial to separate your wants from your needs and make the necessary changes to reflect your new financial reality. Particularly if you’re living off of your emergency fund, you’ll need to think about where you can cut back so you don’t eat through your savings so quickly.
Finally, unemployment can be extremely tough, but remember, it’s almost always temporary, by leaning on friends, family, and your own inner fortitude, you’ll brake the storm and come out stronger in the end.
By: Tiamiyu Adio Ismail