How to cope in a world of uncertainty when you lose your job

You can feel it, you know that people in large corporations and small businesses are likely to say your services are no longer required due to the COVID19 impact.

You get the video call or message and you hear that you are being considered or you have been told you are no longer required because the business that you were in or are working for can no longer sustain keeping you being employed.

You know that this is happening to millions of people across the world and you start to consider how will you ever get a job. You know that until a COVID19 vaccine is found things will not return to any kind of normal and you feel things are out of control. If this is you, this article has been written specifically for you.

I have been made redundant a couple of times in my work life over the last 30 years so I know things will always get better in the end. Remember it is always better that the company survives and some people keep their jobs than the company closes down and everyone loses their job.

Here are some coping strategies I have used to help me when life throws a curve ball.

1. Review your cash expenditure and see what you can change to make sure you can sustain yourself as cheaply as possible.
2. If your country provides financial support ensure you apply and don't be too proud to do so.
3. If you have debts write to all of your debtors and ask for a payment break or renegotiate your payment terms. If they won't agree keep sending what you can afford every month. It's better to pay something than nothing. If you cant pay anything, then don't panic about the letters that will come, simply follow the processes and in your mind treat it as a non emotional transaction, do not let your mind negative chatter eat away at you.
4. If your country does not have any government financial support measures look to see if there are charitable organisations who can help with food and rent payments.
5. Don't feel ashamed or worthless, in almost all cases the job loss was never about you as a person it is simple maths, the company needed to reduce its cost burden and improve its cash flow to survive .
6. Be prepared and act quickly to adjust your standard of living and cut the luxury items out, live on the basics, when you go to the shops celebrate success with how little you spent and only buy what is essential.
7. Don't be too proud to buy second hand items
8. Once you have your financials under control then start to evaluate yourself and ask others what they think your good points are and what your growth points are. Write down the strengths you have as a person, where you have opportunity to grow further and look at the job market to see where the jobs tend to be while we are in a recession or seeing mass job losses. Alway try to learn something new to make you a better more marketable person.
9. Rewrite your CV to show your skill sets and try to ensure it differentiates you in a positive way. Don't apply for every job and spam your CV. Better to focus on quality than quantity.
10. Don't be too proud to take a pay cut or a step down, remember an arrow has to be pulled back to go forwards. You will go forward when the economy recovers and it always will.
11. Do not bombard your network or people on linkedIn with job requests, you will devalue who you are. Remember you have something to offer. It is a question of you focusing on what this is and contacting the right people, this can only be done with research and patience.
12. Use online platforms such as you tube and a platform like the following https://passmyinterview.com/21-great-answers-to-tough-interview-questions/?v=1ee0bf89c5d1
13. Always keep your mind positive, set goals and when you receive news of not succeeding don't now take it personally, try to learn what you can do better next time and keep getting up until you get there.
14. Never stop believing in yourself, negativity brings more negativity, positivity brings you more positivity. Keep positive. If you feel yourself getting negative find ways to break it.
15. Try to talk to people, keep connected with positive people, stay clear of doomers and gloomers, they will drag you down with them.
16. Never ever give up, when you look across your life you will see progressively over the years that in almost all cases your life has improved. Remember 5 years from now the issues you are facing right now will mean nothing to you other than COVID19 messed up the world.
17. Be grateful where you are and who you are and look to help others, Simon Sinek covers this beautifully in this Marine Generals eat last. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMeuk0ZtLM0 . We are all Marine Generals.
18. Watch positive affirmation videos and podcasts, meditate and focus on solutions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maNr_0zK5VQ to help keep you positive.
19. No does not mean never, it means not now
20. Put routine in your life and consider charity work
21. Never ever give up, and don't ever stop believing in yourself and others.