I have lost my job - what do I do now?
In this blog post, our guest blogger Businessfrau. ch is giving advice, on what to do when losing a job.
Losing a job can be a very traumatic event. In Switzerland, Sweden and many countries in Europe, we are insured through unemployment insurance. However, if I lose my job, I also lose my daily tasks, income, status and network. For many people, this can lead to a personal crisis in the worst case. It is important in this situation to find professional help.
What happens in and with us when we lose our job?
The brain starts working. The questions are piling up. "What's going to happen to me?" "Can I pay the rent?" "Can I find a new job?" A layoff that we did not choose ourselves means for most people that we lose our financial security, and this often leads to a personal crisis with various reactions such as fear, shame, guilt depression and even anger. Some people have very strong defence mechanisms, such as refusal. This can mean that they do not talk about it at home or with friends, but even go out of the house in the morning with the computer as usual and pretend to go to work. On the other hand, spend the day in the library or in a café. It is clear that we react differently. For some, the announcement can even be a relief, a chance for a new beginning.
How do I get ahead?
It is important that you seek help to process the grief and overcome the shock. Allow yourself to process the facts. To be sad when you need to. Talking to someone about it if you need to. Losing the job unintentionally can be equated with a grieving process. You lose your work colleagues, work tasks, identity, etc. In a crisis situation, we usually experience four phases.
- Not-admitting - shock phase, "Help what happens!" Rejection is common at this stage and it can also be difficult to absorb information.
- Breaking emotions - reaction phase. This phase is often characterized by various emotions such as sadness and anger. In this phase, you should process the events emotionally. Talk to family, friends or a professional. They are often very tired at this stage.
It takes energy to process the situation.
- Search and disconnect - healing phase. Here you get more perspectives, begin to heal the wounds and gain more acceptance for the situation.
- New self- and world-reference - reorientation phase. Now you see the light at the end of the tunnel. They begin to recognize new goals and opportunities and become more active.
It is good if you can quickly clarify the situation with a professional interlocutor or psychologist. Sometimes even the employer offers these possibilities. How long the process takes varies from person to person. It can take weeks, months or even years. The faster you deal with the topic, the faster you will master the situation. Some want to look for a job again immediately. It is recommended to use the time to process the events individually for you. For some, it becomes an opportunity to stop and think about what you really want in life and work. If you are looking again, then you already know where you want to go.
Some tips for this time
- Eat regularly and healthily.
- Do something for the body every day, it will put you in a good mood.
- It is important to have a structure in everyday life. When do you get up? When are you going back to bed? When do you eat? etc.
- Make an overview of your financial situation. Optimize costs when necessary.
- If desired, seek help from a professional to talk about your situation.
- Continue to meet friends, family, and others in your network.
- If you are looking for a job again, schedule time in the diary for it.
- Take your time to find the right job.
We wish you all the best during this time.
