One of the most emotionally crippling aspects of unemployment is the sense of powerlessness it engenders. Job layoff triggers financial pressures, emotional distress, family turmoil, and dashed career hopes. It is forced on us by unrelenting fate, an emotionally disengaged employer, and economic currents that have little to do with us personally. We feel that we have no control over our situation, our lives, our future.
As we work through the anger, resentment, depression, and fear which is the common lot of the jobless, we can take some steps to regain our balance, reclaim a positive focus, and reassert personal control.
1. Daily Routine.
We no longer have the structure of work to mold our days and give meaning to our leisure time. In a very short period of time, we start to drift. Our days are so much the same that we no longer remember what day of the week it is. The line between work and relaxation blurs. We don't work hard enough at our job search so we feel guilty which spoils our play time. Nothing has to be done immediately so we put it all off until tomorrow. Take back control by designing, and maintaining, your own schedule. Get up at the same time each morning, shower and get dressed as if you are going to work. Map out your job hunting activities and stick to the plan. Build in relaxation periods and stick to those too. Having a regular routine, and a defined purpose (finding work) helps you to continue to think of yourself as a worker and a valuable, productive individual, both critical in avoiding the descent into social oblivion prolonged unemployment so often brings.
2. Physical Shape.
We eat when we are anxious. We eat when we are depressed. We eat when we are upset. Couple these psychological urges to eat with the fact that we no longer appear before coworkers' eyes each day, have nothing to dress up for, and have seriously impaired self-respect, and our weight balloons out of control. Fight back by returning to a regimen of regular, healthful eating. So much of our lives is out of our control right now that it is a relief to find one area where we are in sole command. Cherish that opportunity by eating sparingly, reducing the amount of time spent in the kitchen, finding non-edible outlets for stress relief. At the same time, start a limited but regular exercise routine. It may not be something you enjoy but at last you have the time to do it and all that huffing and puffing is a wonderful way to temporarily banish your worries.
3. Personal Relations.
You don't really feel like socializing. You are so tense and on edge that you take it out on those closest to you: your family. Make the effort to compartmentalize your life between your career strains and that of your family and friends. If you allow the frustrations of the one to spill over into the other, you are poisoning your best source of needed support and heading towards the personal disaster -estrangement, divorce, violence - that too frequently accompanies extended unemployment and the wide-ranging destructiveness it spawns.
4. Job Search.
We have no control over when we receive a call for an interview or get that job offer we want so much. What we can control is where we spend our valuable energy. Submitting resumes for openings advertised in the classifieds or on line should be a very minor part of our job search. For every position listed, hundreds of resumes may be submitted. Do the math and it is revealed as similar to buying a lottery ticket - easy and fun to do but unlikely to change your future. Spend your time more wisely by networking with everyone you know (and everyone they know) and calling on employers in your industry to identify openings which have not yet been publicized. Your sense of control arises out of being proactive: putting yourself in the public eye, refusing to passively sit by the telephone awaiting the call which never comes. You may be exhausted at the end of the day, and frustrated if the negative reactions held no hint of possibility, but you do have the self-satisfaction of knowing that you have taken your fate into your own hands and will no longer be relegated to the ranks of those who simply "watch and wait."
5. Community Activities.
You may be relatively inactive in local events or deeply committed to your community. In either case, now is the time to intensify your level of activity. Since you can only productively job search for a limited number of hours per week, use the additional time to become connected. Volunteer for local charities, schools, union halls, hospitals, any communal events you can find. You control where you invest your time and efforts and being productive, even in a small way, can help repair your shattered self-esteem. Interacting with other volunteers is also a whole new opportunity for networking and may indirectly lead to that one golden opportunity you seek.
The world of unemployment, especially if prolonged, can be emotional debilitating. By reasserting control over some aspects of our lives, we can contain the damage inflicted on our psyche and face the future proudly, recognizing that job loss is a regrettable fact of life, not a personal failure.
Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, while serving as a respected Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers' Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive and emotionally supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can be reached at http://www.virginiabola.com
In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader's... Read More
This article relates to the Career Opportunities competency and explores... Read More
The Bachelor is one of the many reality shows that... Read More
These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More
A week out of work is a vacation. You can... Read More
I coined this word to draw attention to the nervous... Read More
One of the most common forms of background check performed... Read More
Today, it isn't that uncommon for some children and teenagers... Read More
I'm the type of person that considers a healthy, enjoyable... Read More
Several times a year, I hear someone complain about the... Read More
The answer may be easier than you think, but there's... Read More
You may be astonished to realize that retrenchment may occur... Read More
Hunting for a position in a new career field? Trying... Read More
As it does with every main life aspect, feng shui... Read More
Before you go into the interview, it is important to... Read More
A relationship expert once said that during an argument, there's... Read More
One of the trickier questions an interviewer might put to... Read More
Tough words... but I truly believe that folks who make... Read More
Ok, so you've determined that you have the right skills... Read More
In today's marketplace things are constantly changing and so are... Read More
Tips on writing your Skills and Achievement Based CV (ABCV)... Read More
One day I walked into my boss's office and said,... Read More
If you are thinking about starting your own house cleaning... Read More
According to statistics one out of every five pregnant women... Read More
A resume is a tool. It allows employers to see... Read More
Maybe "buck" is better referred to as the Boss' Challenge.... Read More
Medical billers and coders are in high demand among the... Read More
Thinking of a career as a proofreader? Then you will... Read More
An interesting combination of factors at this time in history... Read More
It hangs from the ceiling above your bed while you... Read More
When cyclists prepare for a big race, they always make... Read More
Mention "outsourcing" to a programmer and you may as well... Read More
Q. "I wasn't happy with my last performance review. Should... Read More
Ask survivors of the most popular reality television shows and... Read More
Many professionals and managers are so involved in day-to-day crises... Read More
Your resume will generally receive a 15- to 30-second scan... Read More
In the limited time an interviewer has with you, their... Read More
There is one little practice that is vital to generating... Read More
Hollywood helps those who help themselves! In you want to... Read More
Down-sized? Outsourced? Burned-out? Wizened up? That's what I said. Wizened... Read More
Don't let anyone talk you into going to college when... Read More
Losing my job in the last recession of... Read More
Career change is tough but rewardingThere are a number of... Read More
The resume objective statement is typically something that trips people... Read More
Despite what your grandmother told you, life is not supposed... Read More
In this ever changing world, we need to think out... Read More
Core value investing in your careerMany people walk through their... Read More
This is one of those broad questions that can take... Read More
Mystery shoppers visit businesses "disguised as normal customers," and do... Read More
I like Simon, one of three judges on... Read More
Is an International Resume still a Resume? This is a... Read More
For many people, interviewing is not a natural act any... Read More
Chances are if you're reading this you've thought about becoming... Read More
Q. I'm looking for a new job and plan to... Read More
If you're reading this article, I'm sure I don't have... Read More
Writing performance reviews can be an excellent way to earn... Read More
While identity theft is nothing new, the Web has opened... Read More
At every talk I give, I ask the audience to... Read More
It is important to prepare thoroughly for your telephone interview.Begin... Read More
My table-mates introduced themselves as the reciprocal protocol began. We... Read More
The dreaded job interview is the Number 1 source of... Read More
Best Strategy using Internet Job Search EnginesThere are hundreds of... Read More
Over 70% of single employees will become romantically involved with... Read More
Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are... Read More
During the job hunter's market of the 1990's, employers were... Read More
The subject is constantly in the news and may decide... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |