4 things my clients wish they knew about career resilience
4 things my clients wish they knew about job loss and career resilience
This may not be you now, or ever. But it may. And preparing now for a job loss will contribute to a more realistic mindset – and a more resilient response.
While we tend to think of job loss as sudden, the issue often evolves gradually. Over time, you sense the writing on the wall – and you feel that your job is in jeopardy. Whether it’s declining corporate profits, conflicts with your boss, or just a poor fit that leads to performance issues, you anticipate a change is coming.
You’re not alone. Even people with excellent skills doing great work can lose their jobs. And it happens to many people more than once during their career.
No matter how common a looming job termination is, it can be challenging from a psychological perspective. It’s difficult to overcome the feeling that getting fired means you’re not a good worker, or even a good person. After all, when you were hired, you got the impression that they really liked you.
The truth is that there are many variables involved in a job loss. You still have the skills that got you the job – so it’s a rare case where a job loss is exclusively due to absence of skills. That said, if a job loss is looming, you may have little control over the outcome. What you do have control over is how you’ll meet the challenge.
Here are four ways that can help you do it.
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Acknowledge that terminations can happen
Facts are facts. While you’re employed, your employer can make the decision to terminate your employment, anytime. It may not happen to you, but it’s important to acknowledge that it can, for any number of reasons.
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Focus on self-care and activate resilience protective factors
A pending job loss can be demanding cognitively, emotionally and even physically (not to mention the obvious, financially). Some find it completely draining. This is a time to focus on actions that will optimize your resilience. You’ll still have whatever emotions this brings up for you, but they’ll be better aligned with the level of challenge if your resilience is higher. This can include simple things – doing activities you enjoy, seeing friends, taking the “me time” you need to relax and get the sleep you need. But it can also include actions that directly target your mental and physical health. That means setting aside time for daily meditation, working in cardio and strength training exercises, and limiting your alcohol consumption.
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Stay ‘on-brand’ with who you are
Continue to work with the same quality and ethics that you’ve always brought to your work. You don’t know what the future holds – but you’ll carry your reputation with you. All the more reason to remain grounded in your professional values.
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Turn to what you have control over
Connect even more with your professional network, explore organizations or self-employment you may be interested in, update your resume and online professional profile. This active approach may not only lead to results, it’s also good for you psychologically to engage in ‘active coping’.
And if no termination is in the cards for you right now, this is a fantastic time to proactively implement these recommendations. Many of my clients tell me that if they had implemented these, the job loss scenario they experienced would have been much easier to navigate.
Marie-Helene Pelletier, PhD, MBA, is a workplace mental health strategist, registered psychologist and professional speaker who teaches at the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business.
