The weakening of the covid-19 pandemic has revealed another silent epidemic: thousands of workers have been involved in a massive wave of unprecedented layoffs since the beginning of the year. Technology companies have led the workforce restructuring processes, along with other sectors such as the media, finance or electronic commerce. The increase in production costs due to inflation, the return to face-to-face activity after teleworking or the cessation of public aid are some of the reasons that have led to the expiration of even the jobs of the most qualified professionals.
Unemployment, although it may seem normal to the general public, has significant consequences on the mental health of those who suffer from it. Anxiety and worry characterize the behavior of people who are going through a bump in their career path. Recovering from this trance is in any case an introspective task for which experts suggest adhering to positive psychology. This discipline offers tools to the victim that will help them focus on their strengths to get out of the way relatively quickly.
Take your time to assimilate what happened. Even if your most immediate reaction is to go looking for a new job, it is important to stop to see the situation in perspective. With the loss of your job, you will lose a lot of ties with which you interacted on a day-to-day basis, so it is important that you take the opportunity to look for new sources of socialization and make an effort to recover or establish new personal relationships. A coffee or a quiet walk with friends will provide you with quality free time that will allow you to vent and maintain emotional well-being.
Another consequence of having lost a job, especially if your colleagues have kept it, is the tendency to self-sabotage and transfer a setback from work life to the personal sphere. Questioning your qualifications or your aptitudes to develop a job is a big mistake. Building a healthy support network will also help you build your self-esteem and remind you that you have the skills to get the job you want.
Set aside a few moments during the week to make constructive self-criticism after the dismissal: what did you not like about your last employer, what are the roles you do not want to play again or where you decide to direct your professional career. Try to encompass the different achievements you have achieved in your career and avoid concentrating on this last experience so as not to fall into a cycle of negative thoughts. The trick is to detect what you do well and avoid your shortcomings.
Sadly, an exemplary dedication is not a guarantee of job stability. However, moving forward requires you to set realistic long-term goals. A good exercise is to ask yourself where do you want to see yourself in a year? And from that answer, build a list of weekly, monthly or quarterly goals that will bring you closer to your new personal and professional goals.
