In Part 1 of this 4-part series on “How to Survive and Thrive After a Job Loss”, we saw the big picture impact of this major life event. You need to take time, regroup, and get back on your feet.
This approach helped me to not only “Survive and Thrive”, but it also led to my landing 3 full time roles while I was still in my 50s. They were all on the same career path, but eventually I found my passion which led to a new path for me as a Career and Executive Coach.
Time to Regroup
You’ve made it this far in your career because you have value to offer. It’s time to focus on your strengths and forgive yourself for your “weaknesses”.
If you’re feeling negative, bitter or angry that’s okay… for a short time. Let’s face it, it feels good to vent and to get it all out… and you should. Personally, I wrote it all down, reread it a couple of times before deleting it both literally and figuratively… not overnight, but eventually I put the anger in my past.
Start planning for your future and think positively. Consider your financial needs, personal needs, and your ambition. What is it that you’ve enjoyed doing the most throughout your career? What is your passion? What career path do you want to take?
It’d be nice if you could find a way to earn a living from your passion, but it’s not always possible and it’s not necessary. You should, however, take time to think about your work history, the jobs you’ve had, projects you’ve been involved in and the skills you enjoy using the most. Take inventory of your strengths and positive attributes. Focus your job search efforts where you want it your career to go.
Set Realistic Goals
Often, the job seeker measures their success against the ultimate goal… landing a new job. This can make the difficult task of job hunting even more difficult.
One way to reduce negativity is to set realistic goals for yourself. What are your goals for the day? How many emails will you send? How many calls will you make? How many new contacts will you make through your existing contacts?
Be very detail oriented and you can measure your success each day, week or month based on your short-term objectives. Your daily success will not and should not be based on whether you got a new job or not.
What about YOU!!!???
You also need to take time away from your job search. It may come in the form of a morning meditation, it may be a daily exercise routine and it may include short 10-minute mind-clearing breaks throughout the day. This is critical to keeping focused, positive, and energized.
The nuts and bolts of a job search are obviously critical, but it’s important to lay the foundation first to put you on the right path to land your next opportunity. Take the time to get your head right, (re)confirm the value you have to offer and develop a focused job search plan.
