The Upside of Being Laid Off - How One Gen Zer Found Happiness and Creativity After Losing her corporate job

Losing a job can be a harrowing experience and has serious repercussions for both finances and future employment opportunities.

Opposed to being fired due to unacceptable workplace conduct, being laid off is usually through no fault of your own and could qualify you for unemployment benefits.

Independence

Gen Zers are known to be independent individuals who prefer managing their careers on their own terms, often forgoing higher education in favor of entering the workforce straightaway. Gen Zers also tend to be highly competitive individuals and take on new challenges with gusto that help advance their careers further. Their desire for independence can even be seen in how they prefer working - many prefer having their own office space rather than participating in collaborative workspace environments.

At first, being laid off can feel like a devastating setback for your career, especially if you're used to having an income coming in regularly. But it's important to remember that being let go doesn't have to be detrimental; sometimes it can even prove useful!

Under certain circumstances, being laid off can offer you an opportunity to reassess and alter your career goals. You might use it as an opportunity to start an unexpected side hustle or invest in courses to expand your marketability and skillset; plus it gives you time and space to network. Find a mentor that can provide guidance as you move forward.

One of the key factors to keep in mind when discussing termination or layoff is that these are two separate processes. Being laid off usually means your position has no longer been needed and has nothing to do with personal performance at work; being fired can be much more serious and detrimental to one's livelihood.

Be mindful that your former employer may not provide a reason for why you were let go, which can create anxiety. To combat this situation, prepare a scripted response to include the reason for dismissal - such as speaking to former colleagues or searching online news articles related to your old company - which will allow you to answer any potential employer inquiries in interviews and not take it personally while moving on with your career goals.

Creativity

Losing one's job can be devastating for any generation, but especially young adults. Not only can income be lost due to an extended layoff but it may also rob them of purpose and stability work can provide. Furthermore, it could result in mental and physical health problems such as depression and chronic pain for some individuals.

As a general rule, however, it's important to remember that being laid off differs significantly from being fired. A company can only fire you for cause related to job performance or attitude; layoffs typically result from external forces such as business decisions to reduce costs or issues within an organization that no longer necessitate certain positions within it.

Employers can aid their affected employees' transition by being open and honest about what's taking place. Managers should meet with those impacted team members individually to explain what's occurring and ensure everyone understands there's no malice involved. It may be beneficial to follow up this meeting with an email that reinforces what was discussed during it, and also remind your team of your EAP services should any support be required; encourage self-care practices if appropriate and support the practice of mindfulness as part of self-care strategies.

One of the hardest parts about being laid off is knowing whether or not you will find work again in the future. Although no guarantee can be given, many companies rehire laid-off staff if their needs change again later on; furthermore, some states offer unemployment insurance benefits specifically to workers that have been laid off.

Gen Zers appreciate the security and benefits offered by full-time jobs, but also appreciate having the flexibility of working from home or another location of their choosing. In addition, Gen Zers may pursue additional financial opportunities such as creating their own brands or becoming social media influencers for products they believe in.

Self-Discipline

Layoffs can be devastatingly stressful experiences. Amid uncertainty, anger, depression and anxiety that accompanies being laid off comes the opportunity to seize control of both your career and life by taking control of both.

An abundance of free time can be utilized in multiple ways: interview practice or revamping your resume are two things you could focus on during this period; building savings accounts or investing in professional development or taking a vacation may also be worthwhile pursuits. When recovering from being laid off, take your time regaining stability before feeling pressured into entering a new employment role immediately.

Gen Zers are an extremely diverse group, and expect their workplaces to reflect this diversity. Influenced and involved with macro social movements fighting issues such as racism and discrimination, gun violence, sexual harassment and climate change they don't hesitate to voice their beliefs and demand change if needed.

As such, it should come as no surprise that Gen Zers are somewhat disillusioned with corporate life. After witnessing their parents struggle financially during and post-recession economy, this has caused them to question capitalism and distrust its status quo. Thus they tend to have little patience for lengthy hiring processes and instead expect immediate action from employers when entering the workplace.

Covid-19 pandemic compounded the issue, forcing businesses of all sizes to lay off employees in mass numbers. Furthermore, more companies have turned to remote work and outsourcing tasks to contractors - leading them to create an unstable work force with many workers at risk of being let go any moment.

Revelio Labs found that software engineers who had been laid off had a 79% chance of landing new employment within three months after being let go from their previous role.

Networking

Gen Zers are faced with many challenges as they enter the workforce: from global pandemics and populist politics to their mental health struggles while trying to navigate an anxious and stressful world. Therefore, many Gen Zers rank ethical practices at the forefront of their priorities when making career and personal life decisions.

Gen Zers tend to leave their jobs early before being swallowed up by their company's slow decline and inevitable layoffs, according to a survey by Deloitte. Gen Zers are particularly likely among all generations to leave employers who do not share their values and commitment.

Being laid off can be devastating, but it is essential to remember that it wasn't your responsibility that your job was lost. Being laid off differs from being fired because companies no longer require your specific role - this may be for any number of reasons including corporate restructuring, downsizing or simply no longer having enough funds available for that position.

Even though being laid off can seem daunting, most workers who experience it find themselves in better position afterward. Revelio Labs conducted a study which revealed that 72% of those laid off found new employment within three months - in some instances even higher paying roles than before!

Finding happiness lies in understanding your personal priorities and making the most out of a difficult situation. Focusing on what brings you joy and setting goals to meet these priorities can help rebuild your life, helping reduce anxiety and stress in daily living.

As some can find happiness through hobbies and family, others have discovered that starting their own business venture or career can bring fulfillment. There are countless great opportunities available for those wanting to go it alone; Homebase provides an all-in-one app for team communication, time tracking, scheduling and more to help get things underway.