Wellbeing is critical to pursue your goals. But without goals our wellbeing suffers, so where do you start?
I lost my job when the shutdowns started in March.
I know I need to look for another job, but I haven’t because there really isn’t much point. People with more skills than me are looking for a job.
I have limited work experience, I am unskilled. So no one will want to hire me. I have no qualifications, so I’m really starting to panic.
I don’t even know where to start. I feel like there is zero hope for people like me to be able to get a job.
We are living in unprecedented times and many people are on the same boat but in a different storm.
“ It’s not whether you got knocked down, it’s whether you get back up“ Vince Lombard
Research says that the biggest psychological barrier people have to overcome when losing a job is their attitude and mindset in conscious ways affecting both how they look for work and what their chances of success are.
That’s why it’s important to balance your emotional and psychological wellbeing that could be hindering your efforts so you can understand and correct them.
Struggling with unsolvable problems make people question their abilities and induces feelings of helplessness that sabotage their ability to succeed at finding a job.
If you are convinced your efforts to find another job won’t succeed you feel helpless and paralysed as a result.
Is it natural to feel hopelessness and pessimistic in your situation? For sure!
But if you want your job search to be successful, you have to address your negative feelings and fear so they don’t sabotage your efforts.
The key to overcoming feelings of helplessness and pessimism is to regain a sense of control — because feeling in control is the direct opposite of feeling helpless. And the best way to regain control is to have a plan.
Specifically, you need a short-term plan for getting a job now. You also need a long-term plan that will help you identify potential job or career opportunities in a post-COVID economy.
What can you do:
Discover your strengths and skills
What energises and nourishes me when I’m at my best?
Listing your strengths will remind you of what you have to offer an employer and thereby boost your confidence. It will also help you identify your transferable skills and relevant experience.
Reconnect with your networks
To live a thriving life and to boost wellbeing, humans need to connect and develop relationships with others. Your contacts will make you feel appreciated and respected, which will boost your sense of belonging. And may put you in contact with someone who has a vacancy.
Create a narrative around your achievements
You are measured by your achievements at work. Even getting a smile from a customer is a success. If you get a smile every day this has to count as an achievement. There is something you are doing right. Think about the actions you performed to achieve results at work. Write down the stories, including the situation, the actions and the achievements. Explain the actions you took to achieve good results in your interview. This narrative describes who you are at your best.
However, you also need to consider the potential long-term impact of Coronavirus on various industries. For many people, the Great Pause may also be a great opportunity to step back and reset. Right now you’re focused on getting another job that pays the bills.
However, this moment also presents an opportunity for you to consider the bigger picture. Do you think your last job is sustainable? Do you see yourself having a longer career, or is hosting a job you fell into?
Remember: The reason your employment options and compensation are currently limited is because you’re considered unskilled labour in the job world. To improve your prospects, you could learn or develop a skill, preferably one that is likely to be in demand going forward.
That might require training in web design, pharmacy tech, plumbing, the list goes on. Ideally, try to find a career with a ladder to climb that has more than one step on it.
Losing your job is a big psychological blow. Addressing your fixed mindset will help restore the very initiative, optimism and hope to regain the courage in your job search.
Bailey, T. C., Eng, W., Frisch, M. B., & Snyder, C. R. (2007). Hope and optimism as related to life satisfaction. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(3), 168-175.
Peterson, C., & Park, N. (2009). Classifying and Measuring Strengths of. Oxford handbook of positive psychology, 25.
