5 Tips On How To Navigate Your Job Loss
A year ago yesterday, if you were to tell me any of the following:
“Hey June, congrats on making it to Job Scan’s Annual List of Top Job Experts To Follow On LinkedIn”
“June, I just saw that you were featured on LinkedIn News, amazing!”
“My gosh, June, how does it feel to be interviewed by the Senior Editor of Job Search and Strategy, Andrew Seaman?”
“Yeah sure, you’re kidding, right? Do you have the right person?”
The truth is because, before COVID, as a Recruiter, I only looked at LinkedIn as a Job board and a tool that I used to source and recruit potential candidates for different tech companies. Never did I think I’d use this platform to share my story, offer career advice to job seekers, and dare to make TikTok dance videos - I mean, TikTok dance videos on LinkedIn!? But, as I write this article, I have to tell you, A LOT can change in just a year and I’m living proof of that.
Yesterday was my layoff anniversary, and I have so much to reflect on and have so much to be thankful for. And although I am proud of the business I built this year and proud of the community I have created, I can’t help think about the emotions I felt that exact day and reflect on how challenging this past year was.
The past few weeks leading up to yesterday, I was experiencing major deja vu. As I think about the other millions of people approaching their Layoff-Versary, my heart goes out to the people who have recently lost their jobs and are having challenges navigating through their recent job loss.
Because losing a job SUCKS.
And when you lose a job during a global pandemic and add virtual learning in the mix, it just screams STRESS. But don’t worry, I’m not here to remind you of the stress that a job loss brings. I’m here writing this to help you plan your comeback.
Before you start your job search, allow some time to grieve and sort out your emotions.
1. I want you to know that it’s normal to tie a massive part of our identities to our careers, and when it’s stripped away from us, it’s a traumatic experience. In fact, the emotions you feel when you lose a job are very similar to losing a loved one or experiencing a breakup.
Often times, when you experience a traumatic event, you’re likely to go through five stages of grief:Denial
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
*sigh*
Just typing the five stages is giving me flashbacks because I remember, very vividly, going through each of them myself. I want to remind you that, it’s ok to feel all these emotions. They’re completely normal and just know that you are not alone. It’s essential to have some space to breathe and give yourself some time to acknowledge those feelings.
2. Rebuild your confidence and connect with your inner child.
After losing a job you may not know what to do next, and that’s ok! A lot of the clients I’ve worked with used their recent layoff as an opportunity to reconnect to their old passions or pick up a new skill. If you’ve ever thought of making a career pivot, upskilling yourself, or trying something new but never had the time to do it, this is your moment!
For example, let’s say you’re looking to level up yourself, there are many free resources online, including Free Google Workshops, where you can learn different digital marketing and project management skills.
Here’s why you might want to learn a new skill:
It will help you reduce your anxiety
Improve your mental health
Boost your self worth and confidence
Help you stand out as a candidate when you start job hunting
3. Create A Routine
Now that you have all this time on your hand, it’s easy to spend your entire day watching Netflix or listening to Clubhouse when you’re unemployed. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to create a routine for yourself. Creating a routine will help you manage stress + anxiety, stay productive, and feel more confident in your job search.
If you don’t know where to start, I’d recommend you try to have specific days in your week dedicated to a mix of the following activities:
Applying for new positions
Networking
Learning a new skill
Incorporating time for self-care
4. Build Your Community & Find Your Accountability Partners
Take this stat in for a second:
Over 60 million people filed for unemployment last year.
Meaning, you are far from being alone in your journey and this the perfect time to find community + accountability partners.… and this is where LinkedIn comes in!
For example, a couple of weeks after I lost my job, I attended my first LinkedIn Live webinar hosted by Wonsulting. As I was watching the show, I started noticing that people were very supportive of one another via the comment section, sharing high fives and funny comments. Jonathan, the host of the event, knew all the attendees by first names and would often give people shoutouts.
It was just amazing.
Then I realized something really important…
LinkedIn wasn’t just a job board, it’s a community where you can find mentorship, collaborate with other like-minded people, and even make long-lasting friends!
So, if you’re currently unemployed, make sure you take the time to not only find your community on LinkedIn but also get yourself an accountability partner. It’ll make the whole job-hunting process more fun!
5. Do an inventory check of your skills and superpowers before you jump into your job search
At this point you have…
A new sense of confidence
Picked up some new skills
Made some friends on LinkedIn
You might think your next step is to jump right into job search mode, right?
NO!
Before you get out there and hit the ground running, make sure you take the time to narrow down the types of positions and industries you’d like to work at. On top of that, do an inventory check and ask yourself if you’re missing any key skills that you’re next job is looking for.
The majority of my clients have a tough time identifying their strengths and superpowers, and that’s completely normal! I’d recommend you take the High 5 Test to help you identify your strengths and what makes you unique. The High 5 Test is my favorite because it also provides recommendations on what type of work environments you will thrive in, which good to know especially if you’re thinking of pivoting industries.
The last thing I want to leave you with…I hope these tips I shared with you helped.
And, before I let you go, I also want to remind you that…
You are more than a job title, and that your career does not define you! How you navigate through the struggle, your character, and how you treat people does!
If you enjoyed this article and want more, tomorrow I’ll be joining Andrew Seaman, Senior Editor at LinkedIn News, at 9 am PST/12 pm EST, where I’ll be sharing additional advice on how you can navigate through your job loss.
And, if you’re interested in working with me to help you navigate your job search, feel free to get on my waitlist over here.
Lastly, did you know I have a newsletter? You can sign up here to get the tools and resources you need to build the career of your dreams!
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