פאַרלירן אַ אַרבעט איז ווי צו פאַרלירן אַ ליב געהאט איינער. וואָס וועט העלפֿן איר פאָרויס?

“Why did I lose my job? What did I do wrong? I’m not good for anything!» You may have said this to yourself when you were out of a job. It seems that the situation should just be let go, but sometimes it covers us. Being fired can take a toll on your ego and mental health, not to mention your bank account. As quickly as a career develops at times, difficulties can suddenly arise along the professional path.

Sometimes after being fired, we spend months or years without a job, or grab whatever comes our way just to pay the bills. But the problem is more serious than at first glance. Losing a job can have a negative impact on mental health: increase the risk of depression, increase anxiety, and force you to go through the same stages of grief as with any other loss.

What happened is shocking. We are confused and have no idea what to do next, what to do when we wake up tomorrow morning, how to move on if we are possessed by anger or sadness.

Clients with similar problems often come to the consultation, I myself know what it is like. Once I was unfairly fired, and I felt like a fish washed ashore. A few strategies that help me and clients cope with job loss.

1. Give yourself time to process how you feel.

Being fired can evoke the same range of feelings as the loss of a loved one. We can go through the same stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. This period is like riding an emotional rollercoaster: right now we are 100% accepting what happened, and in a second we are angry. Recently, a client said she longs for her ex-employer to experience the same pain as her while looking forward to upcoming interviews.

And that’s okay. The main thing is not to rush yourself. When we get fired, we often feel ashamed and embarrassed. Do not suppress these feelings in yourself, but try to balance them with something pleasant.

2. Enlist support

Going through this alone is not the best idea. Reach out to friends or family for support, use old connections. Find forums of those who are left without work, seek advice from a specialist. Getting out of the situation on your own, you risk falling into depression.

3. Set mode

Most likely, you feel confused: you no longer need to get up at a certain time, gather for meetings, make to-do lists. Meetings, lunches with colleagues, all this is no more. It’s hard.

A clear daily routine helped me a lot: understanding what needs to be done and in what time frame, it is easier to move forward. For example, you can get up every day at the same time and start looking for a job, then go to interviews, profile events and meetings with people who could help. The mode will allow you to find balance and feel calmer and more confident.

4. אָנהייב איבער

Having lost a job, we automatically start looking for a similar one, in the same area, with the same responsibilities. Sometimes we suddenly realize that we no longer know what we want. What happened to you is a great reason to start all over again. Before you improve your resume, try to rethink your life, revise your desires and needs, fantasize about what you would like to do. The result may surprise you.

5. נעמען קעיר פון זיך

I know, I know, easier said than done, but your mental health and speed of recovery are at stake. Finding a job will make you feel better, but until that happens, take good care of yourself. You yourself know better what you are missing: physical activity or meditation, proper nutrition or good sleep, a healthier relationship with yourself in general.

You are more than a unit of work, it is time to remember this.