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Failure To lose one's job is initially a bummer.
What matters is what you make of it.
Women, just like men, have been developing careers over the past decades, but they often have to also manage their families.
Arlie R.
Hochschild has termed this dilemma "the second shift".
Nevertheless, it is important for women to maintain steady careers.
Thus, developing the right perspective after a job loss matters tremendously.
Framing it as an opportunity to move on to new shores instead of as a failure is initially difficult to do, but it's not impossible.
Ask yourself "What do I want to do next?" instead of "Why did I lose my job?" Emotional Challenge In "The Disposable American", Louis Uchitelle describes the psychological consequences of being terminated from the job and finds that the transition from employment to unemployment often comes with emotional damage.
Many people's self-esteem decreases, the willingness to take risks can be impacted.
Uchitelle also points out that incapacitating emotional illness as a result of being laid off is not well-recognized by the public and by scholars.
In other words, it is perfectly normal to experience negative emotions after a job loss, and to acknowledge and accept that is the first important step to empowerment.
Practical Challenge Being laid off is an incision in your career that you must overcome.
This is especially challenging for women.
Sociologists Frank M.
Howell and Deborah R.
Bronson reported in a study that women tend to hold jobs closer to their home, often because they also have to manage childcare tasks.
If you cannot simply accept any job offer because it conflicts with your responsibilities as a mother or caretaker, start activating your network which can support you in many ways.
Your friend picks up her children from school? Ask if she would pick up yours as well.
Asking for help has nothing to do with not being self-sufficient; it's a smarter way of dealing with the complex world we live in.
Concrete Steps If you cannot look for jobs throughout the whole country, make personal contact with employers.
Most importantly, don't wait around for job openings to be posted on the internet or the local newspaper.
Identify potential employers in your area and call to make an appointment with the department manager or an HR person.
Go in to find out more about the company.
Ask yourself why an employer should want to hire you and create a strong professional profile.
That includes expand your professional network, keep track of what's happening in the business, keep up former working relationships and nurture them.
Moreover, be realistic about possibly losing your job.
In comparison with other developed nations, the US workforce is relatively unprotected against layoffs.
Receiving the pink slip is virtually always a possibility.
The less you indulge in the feeling that your job is secure and safe, the less you'll be hit when you're given notice.
Be Inventive If bills are lining up and can't wait to be paid but a concrete job offer is not in sight, think outside of the box.
If you can't do it alone, ask family and friends to help you.
You are good at maths? Create an online profile with any of the many tutoring agencies and start teaching.
You have an open and friendly personality? Check on Craigslist if people need dog sitters for their vacation.
If you find yourself at a dead end and you've always wanted to do something else, look into educational opportunities.
Be prepared Everybody can take steps to be more prepared to deal with a job loss even before it actually happens.
Having a job is one thing, keeping it another.
It is always beneficial to nurture relationships outside of the current workplace.
Get in touch with former colleagues and show interest in their work life.
Expand your network by joining social media and finding people who have similar job interests.
Don't let it get to the point where you'll have to deal with a job loss unexpectedly.
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