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Being downsized, retrenched, made redundant, dismissed, let go of or laid off is never easy. No matter how much information you may know about your company, industry or the economy, it's always a shock when you are the casualty. The emotions we experience at the 'death' of our job is exactly similar when someone near and dear passes on!
Experience the shock, grieve, hurt and anger that you are experiencing but don't get stuck in the feelings. Instead, focus on the future. Avoid dwelling on the past. The faster you can get over your grieve, the quicker you will be able to continue on your career journey. Remember losing your job is a comma, not a full stop to your life or career journey.
Mobilise.
Mobilise your resources. List every idea you have about what you think you will need to do. Get the ideas out of your brain and onto paper. Invest in an inexpensive hardcover exercise book or an unused old diary - call it your Mobility Book. Jot your thoughts on paper; it will help you with brainstorming, with strategising and with mobilising your resources. Immediate action is required; mobilisation is the step preceding action.
People.
List all the people you know and how to contact them. Make a plan about how you'll approach them, and for what purpose. How will you explain your situation to people, and what is it that you'll be asking for? Be clear about your needs so your communication with them is productive. Rehearse your 'script'. Practice repeating the sentences as you would say them to others. This will ensure they roll off your tongue naturally with the appropriate tone and reflect the correct emotion. Rehearse in front of a mirror. It will not only build your confidence but also enable to fine tune your body language. Try it out in front of your coach or mentor.
Share your anxieties and concerns with someone near and dear to you. You'd be surprised the morale support and encourage you will get from your spouse, intimate friend, your teenage children, parent or parent-in-law. And you thought they did not care? You'd be surprised that when you are in the 'trenches', they support will come from the least expected people.
Skills.
Think about the skills and talents you can tap from your previous jobs. Creatively brainstorm what jobs would easily incorporate these transferable skills. Educators and social workers have successfully transferred their communication skills into training, researching and marketing positions, and financial planners have successfully entered other industries as analysts or educators. Successful sales people frequently job hop industries -- their communication skills transcend the product or industry.
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