Layoffs: The Disaster, The Aftermath, & The Victory
Employment today is a blessing for many, be it in a multinational company or a startup. With the job stability and reputation often comes along a good salary package and a team of adept colleagues. However, today’s day and age has brought along heavy competition. In every domain, corporate survival modes are becoming increasingly strict. Consequently, unexpected layoffs are becoming infamously frequent. In 2022, this happened to more than 1,60,000 unsuspecting employees all over the globe
Layoffs can cause high levels of financial and emotional stress. Receiving such news can be devastating! Being one of the employees being laid off means that suddenly, you lose all your financial income despite having a family to take care of back home. You might lose your sense of security and confidence in your skills, because unexpectedly, you are told that you have lost your job! This news can be completely life changing - like a raincloud, your stresses break down upon you. Your thoughts start racing and you can’t help but think about your child’s school fees, your home loan EMI bills, your parents’ medical bills, your personal loan obligations, and whatnot, making it all the more difficult for you to deal with the situation. Within just a few minutes, your mental peace, monetary stability, and self-confidence come shattering down.
It is but natural to experience distress when this circumstance hits you. No matter how emotionally stable you might feel, a little help here always does well.
4 Ways To Deal With Your Mental Suffering Caused By Layoffs
1. Acknowledge
The first reaction that you might have to being laid off is going to be that of shock, confusion, and sorrow. That is completely natural and understandable. Feel yourself going through these emotions. Give your mind and body the time to absorb what is happening to you. The next step once you receive the unfortunate news is to sit down, breathe in, and grasp what is happening to you.
As per the 1969 book, ‘On Death and Dying’ by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, there are 5 main stages of grief that can help you remain sane once comprehended:
1. Denial, that this cannot happen to you.
2. Anger, because of the injustice.
3. Bargain, to not let your job go away.
4. Depression, causing distraught.
5. Acceptance, to move on.
Whatever pace your mind moves at, let it. Don’t push yourself too hard on the path of revitalization. Stay optimistic about the future and see this as an opportunity to re-evaluate your life and career. Treat yourself kindly.
2. Network
The best support that can come your way is a reliant network that can understand the emotional and financial strain of job loss. Remember to never feel embarrassed about your position or guilty about your circumstance. Data shows that employee referrals can be so useful that they account for up to 50% of all hires, so reach out to as many people as you can who can help you. This can include your colleagues, team leaders, clients, batchmates, or even previous colleagues from organisations that you worked with. Ask for strong testimonials or letters of recommendation from people who you have reported to in the past. Leverage your network, even if it is scarce, to get in touch with HRs looking for a job or brands offering possibilities of growth.
3. Plan
I know you’re going through a rough patch, but nothing will worsen the pain than delaying action. Here are 5 steps to go about your job search plan:
1. List down all your technical and personal achievements.
2. Make a list of people from your network who can help you.
3. Keep an eye out for vacancies on as many job portals as possible. Apply with your resume whenever you get the chance.
4. Message relevant professionals. As per a study, of every 4 cold messages you send, at least 1 might get a reply!
5. Follow up with your network on updates regularly.
Don’t let doubts encroach your mind during such a time. Remain positive and think ahead for the best! Never lose your patience. You might not get a reply for your first few messages and emails. But it’s okay. Take a deep breath and never lose confidence in yourself.
4. Satiate
Satiate your mind with as much knowledge as you can gain about your industry through courses and certifications to remain relevant. Relevance is the best tip to remain at the top of the market recruitment demand. Hence, build your skills to remain relevant.
Satiate your heart by taking up hobbies. Stress that comes with layoffs can take a heavy toll on your physical being. Hence, prioritise self-care. Do what makes you happy - at such a time, you must take care of yourself before thinking about money. Cook, paint, dance, run, or write. Let your mind be free and your heart be full. Also consider reaching out to someone who can help you with what you are going through. This can be a counsellor, a therapist, or a family friend.
Though this might sound philosophical, look within and embark on 3 main journeys:
1. That of physical health: Eat better, exercise more, and sleep better. These simple acts of caring for the self can bring about high productivity and focus during the regular course of the day.
2. That of personal development: Learn a new course. Take up certifications from reputed online or offline establishments proving your domain expertise in the niche you want to get your next job in. Start learning if you wish to accelerate your job search.
3. That of mental fitness: When you learn how to control your impulsive reactions, maintain a confident and calm composure, and master command over distracting thought, you become a better leader. This will not only help you counter the current state of disturbance but also help you crack interviews and land jobs better.
Conclusion
In 2022 alone, big tech giants let go of more than 50,000 worthy warriors. This is a horrific statistic to come to light. Layoffs are easy for none - neither for the employee, nor for the company itself, because no company hires and invests time and resources just to ultimately lay you off. The pain is two-way, but as it is very commonly said, you often have to cut off the hand to save the rest of the body. Through such a time, think logically and no obstacle will stop you from moving forward in your career. Wishing you the best during such rough times!
