Keeping Your Self-Esteem after a Job Loss

If you have lost your job, there is no denying that it can be a devastating ordeal. It can be a real burden, especially when your whole family depended on that job and the income it provided. I have personally been there and speak from the first-hand experience.

However, you can find the strength to recover from a tragic job loss. Sometimes it is not easy to find the silver lining, but it is always there waiting to be discovered.

Focusing on Your Self-Esteem

Your thoughts are very powerful. Sometimes you may think that you do not have control over your thoughts, but you always do. Of course, you should give yourself time to recover from the initial shock of a job loss, but it is how you choose to react afterward that makes all the difference.

When you focus on developing positive self-esteem, you will be able to think clearly and confidently to figure out what your next steps are going to be. You may even use this new opportunity to follow your dream job finally.

Have these tips in mind to keep your self-esteem intact:

1. Give yourself time to grieve. Sometimes you don’t think of job loss as being the same as other types of loss, but the shock can be the same, and you should allow yourself some time to go through the standard stages of grief. You will eventually recover from the shock but give yourself an appropriate amount of time to absorb the situation.

2. Look for a support system. You might feel mostly alone after losing your job. Your initial reaction might be to run and hide and keep your emotions inside. Be sure to fight this feeling and, instead, rely on your support system. Remember: it is okay to ask for help; if there was ever a time to leverage your network, this is it!

3. Keep up your motivation. After the shock has worn off, it is essential to strive for a certain level of enthusiasm and motivation to find another job. You must believe in yourself before a hiring manager will. Remember that your new job might be even better than your last one!

4. Looking for a new job. When you are ready to start the search, consider all your options. You may want to consider whether you enjoyed the field you were in before. Consider your job loss as a new opportunity. Maybe you would like to try bringing your life in a different direction.

5. Keep an eye on your finances. When you deal with job loss, you must also deal with the financial realities. Determine your current financial situation and how long you have until you must return to work. Maybe you must find a job right away, or perhaps you have enough savings to consider other career options. Whatever the case may be, you should know what the financial implications mean to you and your family.

New Life: New Opportunities

After dealing with job loss, the best thing you can do is think of it as a new opportunity in life. Sure, you did not choose to embark on this path, but it is important to roll with the punches.

Do not be afraid to take risks. Also, do not be afraid to adopt the attitude that everything happens for a reason. Bad things happen in life, but good things happen too. Stay healthy for yourself and your family, and your self-esteem will prevail.

You have invited to join the Deep End Job Search Facebook group, a community of job seekers, and those safely on the other side, with daily tips and weekly training.

Learn about our next Career Change Workshop.