By David Torrealba, a Venezuelan journalist, illustrator, and SEO writer. He has been creating content for blogs, social media, newspapers, and websites since 2016.
The year 2020 shook us all to the core, with the pandemic disrupting our way of life. Unfortunately, many lost their jobs amid the economic recession, even some people who felt very secure in their work positions. Nothing in this world is certain, but don’t let that get you down.
Whatever the reason for your unemployment, surely the situation has rocked your world in more ways than financial stability. However, focus on this very encouraging fact: losing your job is not final. Yes, it’s a rough time, but you need to get moving again, and soon enough you will be back on your feet. Here are some aspects to consider.
Why It Happened
This does not mean blaming yourself or wondering what you could have done to prevent the situation. What you need to define is the motive for your employer’s decision. Is the company going through a rough patch? If so, is this due to their particular circumstances, or is it an industry thing? Has your specific work position been affected by the current world situation? Why did your job become disposable and not somebody else’s?
Once again, this is not for you to dwell on your mistakes. These questions will help you understand the state of your industry within the pandemic, and thus give you a realistic perspective in your job search.
What Needs To Change
After having analyzed the logic behind losing your job, turn that information into concrete facts. Then use that information to trace your new career path, adapted to the times we are living in.
Let’s say, for example, that you lost your job because your place of work did not survive the blows of the pandemic. This happened to a lot of people in the restaurant industry, for example. What is this telling you? You need to move on to an industry that survived the pandemic.
The safest bet right now is tech. It doesn’t matter if you want to join the team of one of the big players in the game or combine your current skills with the tools of the future. Acquiring tech skills is going to guarantee you work in the future.
Reconsider Everything
If you’re looking for a new position, this is the time to consider where your career is headed. It’s now that you must consider whether you liked your old job if you saw opportunities to grow. Ask the hard questions, and something good will come out of this terrible situation.
Take this time also to think about what exactly you are looking for in a job, besides a good salary and fulfilling work. Perhaps you are looking for a position that leaves you with more time for yourself so that you can spend time with friends and family or explore a new hobby. Maybe you want a job that doesn’t involve the same stress levels as the previous one. Whatever the case may be, this is the best time to decide what your next job must look like
While you might feel a sense of urgency in finding a new job, there’s no point in finding something that will make you miserable. Allow yourself to stretch beyond your comfort zone. Besides, in the current state of things, it’s more than likely that you will have to be flexible to find a position. So, get ahead of the game and define what else you can do.
Stay Open to Opportunities
It may take you a couple of months to find the type of job you’re looking for. In the meantime, you must reach out to your network, and let everybody know that you’re on the hunt for a new position.
When you tell people about your situation, make sure to highlight your skills, assets, and expectations. Do not focus on what position you held before. By doing this, you might find occasional odd jobs to work from home or online. Don’t close yourself up to those opportunities. Besides adding to your income, this will allow you to explore other career paths. Stay open-minded.
Self-care
Now you have the time to do all that important personal work that you were ignoring because you lacked the time. Use this time to develop healthy habits that will help you cope with your current situation and thrive once you find a job and resume a normal life. Do you have a good morning routine? If not, now is the time to develop it. This morning routine can include meditation, reading an inspiring book, and writing in a journal.
Developing healthy habits won’t just benefit you at a personal level. Employers are looking for individuals with positive habits because they tend to be more stable and productive and improve the office environment. We recommend that you come up with a list of the habits that you want to develop and that you start practicing right away. Trust us; you’ll feel the difference.
Conclusion
Losing your job is not easy. It’s a forced change in the delicate balance of life, on top of all the things Covid-19 has made us deal with. But it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. You need to hold on to your confidence, work on your patience, and get moving. Keep calm and learn the lessons you need from these situations. Eventually, when you least expect it, what you need will come along. Your task now is to be ready to receive it. We don’t control what happens to us, but we do control how we handle it. There lies your power.
