After losing my job at the beginning of this month, I'm fortunate to have a few interviews next week.

12 Comments

1. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 7:28PM UTC

   First. Network network network.

   Next, design a routine so you have structure.

   Volunteer to build up your confidence while you search.

2. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 11:31PM UTC

   Thank you, Anonymous. I'm adding structure to my day and setting hours to job search, reach out to contacts and network. Other times, I'm making sure to get out of the house, exercise, enjoy the weather and I've started volunteering with a local nonprofit. I appreciated your feedback!

3. Kristie WhiteJuly 1,2022 at 9:13PM UTC

   I would suggest creating a meditation practice. Years ago, when I first decided to venture out on my own, I found myself dealing with the fear of not having enough work to pay my bills was a daily stress. My fear kept needling at me until I was close to despair and I turned to daily meditation to fend off the negative energy. That practice has made me more spiritual and developed into a touchstone that keeps me grounded, grateful, and able to work through my negative emotions. I find my way back to the positive side daily through this practice. It's simple to build your own - 10 blank index cards and a pen. Write down the positive affirmations you want to remember every day, you can expand as you need / desire at any time and discard what doesn't feel right. Things like "I am grateful for..., I am a smart, capable person who can..., I am open to new opportunities and ready to..., I have faith in my abilities and am certain of..., etc. Do this every day, take the time you are comfortable with. Sometimes when I am struggling, meditation may last an hour or I may need it twice a day! Sometimes when I'm busy - 5 minutes. But do it consistently. It will give you strength - I promise.

4. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 11:30PM UTC

   Love this idea, Kristie. I'm spiritual but haven't tried meditation. I need to get out of my head and this sounds like a great method as I get caught up in what I can't control. I appreciated your advice!

5. Yichen ZhangJuly 1,2022 at 9:28PM UTC

   In light of the loss, you are jumping back into the fray. I admire this determination! It is difficult, but I try to tell myself that when one door closes, more doors open.

   As to the interviews, it helps me to think through what I want to know about the companies/teams interviewing me. It helps me feel that the process is less of a one-way interrogation, and gives me a way to put my learning from previous positions to use - what did I enjoy about previous work? What are my hard boundaries? How can I incorporate the most important pieces into this new interview?

6. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 11:28PM UTC

   Thank you, Yichen. I agree with your open door strategy. I'm so ready for something new. It took me a few weeks to get over the shock but I'm channeling that energy into discovering what's next. It's led me to opportunities that I wouldn't have considered otherwise.

7. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 10:11PM UTC

   Channel that energy into itemizing out what you want in a job, make a checklist. And make sure you are interviewing the interview panel to make sure they hit most if not all of those things. I would even encourage the request to do a 1-3 day shadow to get a glimpse of your typical work day to help alleviate some of those anxieties to give you better insight on what to expect

8. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 11:26PM UTC

   Thank you, Anonymous. I appreciate your advice especially in terms of making the interview a two-way street instead of integration. I normally don't mind interviews but I wasn't expecting to lose my job so it's shaken my confidence. Thank you for your feedback!

9. AnonymousJuly 2,2022 at 9:29AM UTC

   Thank you anonymous 2.0 just channel your inner shakira and be on your way to greatness again you can do it

10. Patricia ManroeJuly 2,2022 at 11:32AM UTC

    Try to stay positive. You will find a job, and probably a better one at that. Just keep sending out the resumes. But you can try sites like: Linkedin.com, ZipRecruiter.com, Indeed.com, Freelancer.com, Upwork.com, Bark.com, and many others.

11. AnonymousJuly 2,2022 at 11:53AM UTC

    There’s a lot of great advice here! Meditation definitely helped me to refocus my energy on what I have and what I want. There are guided meditations on YouTube that have the positive affirmations or focus on gratitude. Those will help you get into a calmer and grateful mindset. Refresh your LinkedIn to reflect the skills that you want to highlight to your potential employer. If you pick a career lane and stick to it, it becomes easier to focus your efforts. When I was changing careers, I also looked into the companies that caught my interest and made sure my personality would fit with the company culture. As much as you are looking for a good job, the company is looking for a good fit. You get to choose if these companies are right for you. This is a chance to get excited about where you are spending your time. Think a little down the line; some companies offer training opportunities to build your skills and some companies will even support you as you attend night school to earn a degree. It can be scary and overwhelming at times, so keep reaching out when you feel you need support and let yourself get excited about the new possibilities!

12. AnonymousJuly 13,2022 at 12:20PM UTC

    Great advice here!!
    As someone who got laid off in Dec 2020, I struggled to find a job for 6m, found one (not ideal but a paycheck) and kept plugging- FINALLY just got an offer that meets my financial and personal needs. My best advise is meditate, build a schedule for your days, include some training daily to increase your skills (LinkedIn and Alison have great free trainings), network and take time for YOU! It will happen, just have faith and keep plugging!!! Good luck!