Last week we passed the two million unemployed mark in the UK – something we haven’t seen for nearly two decades. The recession is setting in, but it will come to an end; hopefully by the end of this year if we are positive and resilient enough as a society. In the meantime, what should people do if they have lost their job? The most important thing to do is to stay positive and be active. Losing one’s job is similar to the grieving process; shock, anger and despair are all common. And the term ‘redundancy’ says it all; because those affected often feel like they are literally of no use, not needed as a result of what’s happened to them. (In fact, it may be time for a new phrase to describe the process that is more helpful and constructive for people who find themselves in this situation). However, those affected must tell themselves over and over again, ‘it was my job that was made redundant, not me as a person!’ With so many people losing their jobs, it is important for people to stay as purposeful and positive as they can, even though it may seem easier to see what has happened as rejection. ‘Purpose’ is a key word here – because a job can give us all a strong sense of purpose and having it taken away can be very demoralising.
There are a variety of ways of staying positive though… and they are all about being active. This does not only mean active job seeking behaviour, which is of course vital, but also engaging with opportunities for gaining additional skills through one of the government’s training or retraining schemes; or going to night school to learn something useful (e.g. a language); or doing voluntary work in schools, hospitals, hospices or in some local community project. The more people do during their job hunting the more their self-confidence will grow and the better they will start to feel about themselves. And by helping others (e.g. when volunteering) the unemployed can start to contextualize their own problems leading to more positive and optimistic feelings and emotions. The government provide fantastic resources for the unemployed on the www.direct.gov.uk website – including information about volunteering, job opportunities, benefits, training and more.
If people still find it difficult to get a job after a long period of job hunting, it may be time to consider retraining, starting a new business or about taking their skills to a new sector. Losing a job can sometimes be the turning point in terms of actually doing something new that one may have been thinking about for a long time. If this is the case, it’s important for people to think carefully about what they would like to do next, what skills and competences they have and what new skills they need – then it’s time to do something about it! Success here is all about taking control and being active – this approach will pay personal dividends in terms of your job search and any new venture you decide to pursue.
Thanks a very good article. Staying positive in today’s economy is being a real challenge to all.