Professional in a Pandemic: Job Loss
Gentle reader, I confess the global pandemic sparked a prolonged case of writer’s block for me.
I’ve been wrestling with the questions:
· How to write about growing, developing and chasing your ideal career in a time of large-scale job loss?
· When one should be grateful for having a safe and secure job, does dreaming of anything more sound unappreciative and tone deaf?
Yet, the search for fulfilling and fruitful work persists for many of us. Almost everyone is experiencing serious workplace changes. As ever, our content cannot speak to everyone, but we hope it will serve a few.
I would love to hear from you about how the pandemic has affected your job – your work environment, your sense of stability, your earnings, your peace of mind. Email me at thevocationist@gmail.com with your stories, concerns and questions.
For now, I want to break my writer’s block with some humble tips for professionals facing job loss as a result of this pandemic.
Ensure you are maximizing internal protections and supports unique to your workplace, for example, a redeployment pool, priority re-hiring/continued access to internal job postings, severance packages or retraining supports.
I understand these are privileges not available to many, but do review your company’s HR or union policies to ensure you are receiving all benefits available to staff who are laid off.
Do you get health insurance up to the end of the month? If so, consider getting a dentist, optometrist or GP appointment while you are still covered.
Apply for government support, either regular employment insurance programs if you qualify, or emergency support programs. Do not delay. For your own peace of mind, get your application done ASAP so you can receive funds to support you during your transition.
As a Canadian, most employees are paying into the Employment Insurance (EI) fund throughout your working life. Now is the time to tap into these resources to take care of yourself and your family.
Your now ex-employer should provide any documentation (such as your record of employment) you need to complete the application.
Take stock of your finances
If you have a budget, scan it for all non-essential items – your Spotify / entertainment subscriptions, gym memberships, donations, restaurants, etc. Pause or cancel all non-essential expenses to reduce your costs in the month(s) ahead.
If you do not have a budget, this is a good time to make one. Click here for budget-making tips from The Financial Diet: https://thefinancialdiet.com/10-easy-steps-to-creating-a-budget-spreadsheet/
Looking at your bills, credit card and bank statements for the past couple months will help populate your budget accurately.
Facing your costs and loss of revenue may be scary right now, but ignoring this task will only increase your stress.
Explore employment opportunities. The pandemic’s effects on employment – and the economy – have been uneven. While many industries have been hit hard, others are experiencing growth and job creation due to pandemic conditions.
I am not saying this to dismiss the stress of job loss, or to imply securing a fulfilling new job is easy, but to highlight that despite the stresses on many, jobs are still being created in certain sectors, so see if there’s a place you can use your skills.
Take care of your self-confidence. Even if you were let go due to economic and social conditions beyond your control, you may find your confidence low and your anxiety high.
Job loss can cause you to internalize a sense of inferiority or impostor syndrome.
List all the things you did well in the last work. Write down your highlight reel of accomplishments and positive relationships from your most recent job.
If you need a bit of help with this, you can always ask a former boss or close colleagues for examples of how you make a positive difference in the workplace. Don’t lose sight of your strengths and gifts. Refer back to your list of accomplishments when you are writing job applications or feeling discouraged.
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I recognize this is an insufficient offering to those facing the stress and fear and exhaustion of job loss and the job hunt in such a time as this. If you are suffering as a result of job loss, email us at thevocationist@gmail.com about the challenges you are facing, and what information would be useful. We will do our best to develop content that serves you.
