Dealing with Job Loss While Maintaining Self-Worth

Being laid off can be a difficult and stressful experience, but it does not have to feel like a defeat. So how do you maintain a sense of pride and self-worth while looking for your next job? I believe there are a few approaches that can help:

1. Recognize your feelings, but remember the positives. It is natural to experience a range of emotions after losing a job - make sure you take time to acknowledge your feelings and process your experience. Depending on how the job loss occurred you may be angry, resentful, disappointed, confused, and these are legitimate feelings to own. Sometimes we don’t want to be honest about how we feel because it can be embarrassing or we think we have to be strong. But honesty can help with getting to a place of acceptance and moving on to your next opportunity in a healthy way.?

While you definitely want to acknowledge your feelings, at some point take time to reflect on both the bad and good you can take away from the experience. What did you learn? How can you navigate your career or the workplace differently in the future? As you focus on the positive aspects of your experience, remember that you still have skills, knowledge, and abilities that will be valuable in your next position.?

2. Remember who you are - beyond the job. It can be easy to associate our worth with our title and the company we work for, which can cause our identity and esteem to take a blow when we lose our job. If nothing else, take a moment to ask yourself, “Who am I - beyond the job?” Take inventory of what you do have in your life, your values, the important people in your life, and what gives you meaning beyond your occupation. This may be an exercise you haven’t taken the time to do before - the loss can present an (inconvenient) opportunity for you to reassess your core values and ground yourself, and provide a firm foundation from which you can take on your next position without losing yourself in it.?

3. Consider what you really want in your next opportunity - but be flexible. ?After you have taken some time to reflect on what you learned, focus on the future and your next steps. This is also a good time for reflection on your professional goals. Do you still want the same things you did when you started your last position? Or is now the perfect time to make a change? What does your ideal job look like?? By reflecting on your experiences, strengths, and talents, you can create a plan of action that will set you up for success.?

And while you’re building your next ideal role be realistic - do you have financial obligations that make it critical to land a job sooner than later? If so, could your next job be the interim position? (gasp - I know…who would admit that in an interview??) But seriously, there’s no shame in needing to pay your bills so do what you have to do until you can get to your ideal job.?

4. Leverage your circle. When you’re ready with your updated resume in hand, it’s time to officially start your job search. An easy first step is to reach out to your professional network and let them know you are looking for a new job. They may know of opportunities or be able to connect you with potential employers. Look for upcoming networking events in your area to attend and start doing some research on job boards. Go into your search with an open mind to new possibilities and opportunities that you can take on in this next stage of your career.

5. Put your overall well-being first. Losing a job can be stressful, so make sure to take care of your physical and mental health during this time. Maintaining a daily routine during job loss can be a difficult task, but having some consistency can help give you a sense of purpose during this time of transition. Make sure you are getting enough rest, making time for activities you enjoy, or connecting with trusted people in your life that can help you stay grounded and optimistic.?

This may also be a time to consider developing new skills, from additional training or education that can help make you more marketable in the job market, to something you enjoy personally but haven’t had the time to explore.?

Keeping a sense of pride and self-worth during a job layoff can be difficult, especially when faced with the uncertainty of what's next. Even if you feel like you've been dealt a harsh blow, remember that you are resilient and have the power to shape the future of your career.?

Thanks for reading this article! I'm Velera Wilson, a global speaker, author, and consultant on a mission to help women own their worth and increase workplace confidence so they advance their careers and thrive as leaders. Submit speaking inquiries , get a copy of my book, You're Absolutely Worth It , Women’s Workplace Confidence report , or connect with me on Twitter .