Being an adult involves dealing with a variety of situation and emotions. Some are sweet and memorable, and some could leave a long-lasting damaging effect. Of all the negative experiences that come with life, losing a job is second only to being bereaved. Most salary earners live from paycheck to paycheck and having their employment terminated could have an adverse effect not only on the person but immediate family too.
Apart from the emotional disappointment attached to job loss, a core part of living like mortgage, bills, and children welfare could suffer a major blow. There are a few ways of handling job loss, but the most effective way is to start preparing for this eventuality from the very first day of work when there is absolutely no threat to your position. As you get along with your job, you will see clues to the potential danger to your job if you pay enough attention and if you prepared from the onset, you should be well equipped and able to live with minimal fuss until you get another job.
Early Warning Signs of Job Insecurity
People are hardly fired from their job without proper warnings, if you can read the handwriting on the wall, you will know when your position becomes threatened. Early warning signs of insecurity include the following:
Low or No Increment
There are many reasons why a worker’s salary is not increased. It could be because of poor performance by the company or a financial hit. It could also be because your time in the establishment is nearing an end. There is no way to be sure it’s due to your job insecurity unless other notable signs accompany it. One way to go about it is having a conversation with your employer or HR, if the reasons are not related to the company’s performance or lack of it, it might just confirm your biggest fear.
Losing Projects
Another sign of potential job insecurity is the inability to win projects by the firm, losing too many projects means losing much money, it may cost a few staff their jobs especially those working in the departments culpable for the loss.
You are Stagnating
If you fail to get necessary promotions or your job description doesn’t change for a couple of years, it might be because the firm has lost faith in you and your boss is contemplating laying you off.
Bad Relationship with Boss
It is important to avoid altercations and confrontations with your employer, unnecessary arguments with your superior can lead to lack of trust and a broken relationship, the result of which could be being fired. This is not to say you shouldn’t make your points and explain your view, always try to do so with utmost courtesy and respect.
Company Cutting Cost
A certain trigger to dismissals, the Immediate way of companies reacting to losses or accumulated debts is to reduce the wage bill. If you have the knowledge of your company struggling financially, brace yourself for a few dismissals.
Machine Replacing Man
Improving technology means machines can now do the job of human, thanks to robotics and Artificial Intelligence. It is estimated that over 30% will lose their jobs to a machine in the 2030s in the United States. People holding basic banking positions and customer service related posts are most susceptible to this.
What Should I Do When My Job is Under Threat?
It is essential not to press the panic button when there are signs you might be losing your job soon. It is crucial to remain professional in the middle of job insecurity while you prepare for your future. While you prepare for the future, you should:
Don’t Speak Ill of your Boss or Firm
You should always stay professional no matter your job security, part of being professional is respecting your employers and boss by not speaking foul of them in public or around your workplace.
Show Up
No matter the situation, always dress up and show up on time, don’t let warning signs discourage you from being punctual.
Don’t Quit
Never think along the line of ‘I will quit before getting fired,’ never quit because you think your position could be under threat.
Update Resume and Apply for Work
Always update your resume and be on the lookout for better opportunities. This can significantly reduce the period of which you will be jobless if you eventually get fired.
Save Up
Save some percentage of your salary for the raining days. If you save every month from your very first month, you will ha e something tangible to fall back on when and if you get fired.
Keep Learning
No matter your qualifications or quality of your resume, you can always improve yourself. You can always get more degrees or some professional qualifications to improve your chance of getting a better job.
Keep a Positive Attitude
Choosing joy can have a major impact on your health – mind, body and spirit.
Get Yourself Another Source of Income
Bills and responsibilities come in folds, it is only logical to have several sources of income to cope with that. Getting extra sources of income should not be dependent on your job security.
Build a Professional Network
Building a strong network of professionals in your field will keep you informed about job availability in the industry. Join a team of people who are growing successful businesses.
Lead
Always try to play a leading role when assuming responsibilities in projects every day task at work.
Don’t be a Bad Influence
Even if you feel your sacking is imminent, never set any bad professional example, stay punctual to work and meetings, send and reply mails as appropriate and go about your day to day activities with minimal fuss.
What Should I Do After Being Fired?
The three words that are most dreaded by workers worldwide is ‘you are fired’.It could be heartbreaking and painful to take, but if you have prepared for this moment since your first day at work, adapting and coping with the situation could be a little easier. It is important to keep your cool and not get too emotional. In the immediate aftermath of your dismissal, you should do the following:
Know the Reason
I know it is quite difficult to have conversations about your dismissal immediately after, but that’s precisely what you need going forward. Firstly, you need to establish if your dismissal was as a result of your incompetence or it is just the company cutting cost. If the reason for your dismissal is because the firm is reducing the cost of operation it might make you feel a little better, and if the reason is you, you would have learned about something to improve on when you set for your next role.
Learn If There is Another Position Available
If the reason for your termination was no fault of yours, the company could be willing to accommodate you in another position within the establishment.
Leave on Good Terms
Never leave an ex-employer on a bad note, take your dismissal in good faith and cooperate with every step about your exit. You might be opportune to get another opportunity with the same firm in the future and as well need their recommendation in your next engagement.
Unemployment Benefits
Depending on your geographical location, you might be entitled to benefits as a result of your joblessness. Conditions vary from state to state, but usually, you get benefits if your dismissal was as a result of the budget cut, lack of skills, or poor performance. In most countries, you don’t qualify for benefits if you are fired for a cause. Being fired for a cause means being fired for criminal activities like fraud, embezzlement, and theft. In some companies, failing a drug test could qualify as a cause.
Reflection
Whatever the reason for your termination, you might need some time for reflection. A period to let everything sink in and prepare physically and mentally for your next job. Reflection should center on improving from the last appointment by taking all the positives and improving on the shortcomings as well as engaging your mind by learning and reading.
Self Care
While you await your next job, don’t forget to look after yourself. Filling your days with activity might be challenging without your job that takes the large chunk of your time. Use this opportunity to improve your physical and mental health by doing the following:
Eat well
Job loss can leave you distraught, and self-care might be a challenge. Don’t let your emotions stop you from eating well. Try to eat a balanced diet and find time to make that delicacy you haven’t eaten in a while. Include plenty of vegetables and fresh fruits, like the acai berry. You could try the amazing acai berry juice that we love, Monavie Active.
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Exercise
It is essential to keep fit no matter your unemployment status. In the case of someone who just got fired, regular exercise is exactly what’s needed to fill your days with activity as well as improve your heart health. Be sure to drink plenty of ph mineral water to replenish your body after a sweat session.
Meditation
We are constantly faced with stress as adults, and the stress could only be heightened with a jobless situation. Dedicating 30 minutes every day for meditation will not only reduce stress but also improve focus on what lies ahead.
Yoga
Another way of easing stress and improving focus, Yoga will give you calm and improve your general health.
Spend Time with Loved Ones
Joblessness is not all negative, it has a few positives that you might want to enjoy. Being employed might be an opportunity to spend time with important people in your life whom you might not have time for otherwise. Spend quality time with your immediate family and have dinners and lunches with your parents.
Go on a Vacation to Clear your Head
Part of preparing for your next role might involve going on a trip to clear your head and absorb new scenery and environment.
Update your Resume
It is time to add experiences of the last few years to your resume, what you can add to resume include training undergone while in your previous employment, projects executed, skills learned, and qualifications acquired.
Search for Job
When you are certain your batteries are recharged, and you have entirely recovered emotionally, the next step is to seek a new job. Identify the industry where you will like to continue your career and apply for as many jobs as possible
Improve your Skills
You must ensure you arrive at your next job a better man than your previous one, highlight your strengths and make sure you remain strong in those aspects, know weaknesses and improve on them, learn new skills both with hands and tools like computer system, get additional certifications if possible.
Becoming your Own Boss
Many successful CEOs today became successful because they were fired, famous CEOs like Bill Gates and Steve jobs lost their job before getting it right in life. Identify what business or investment is perfect for you due to your knowledge and experience and explore. Options open to you to become your own boss include:
- Selling: If you have the knack for selling and marketing, you can start a business with a little capital with a clear idea of how to increase and improve with time.
- Develop a Software: Mark Zuckerberg, the owner of Facebook is one of the richest men in the world today, and he made his money by creating a software that is today used by billions of people worldwide.
- Blog: You can be your own boss by gossiping if you are dedicated enough, it involves getting the latest and trendy news and posting them on time. If your news are trustworthy and stands the test of time, you can become successful In few years.
- Writing: If you are skilled at writing, you can make a fortune from it, build your website where you can make your writings available to the public and get a publisher to publish your
- Make money as an Influencer: If you are vastly knowledgeable about a profession or field, you can make a fortune by educating and informing people about such field over the internet. If you know your onions, people will subscribe to your channel, and you can grow massively within a short period.
Losing a job could be shattering and damaging, it takes adequate preparation and alertness not to be caught off guard by a termination letter. Constant improvement and saving up for raining days are ways of preparing for this eventuality. If you prepare beforehand, coping with job loss could be a little more bearable, coping could involve adequate exercise, spending time with family, and looking after yourself.
After the wound has healed, getting another job is the next step, improving on your strengths and cutting the weaknesses is the way to go to avoid another termination. Getting back to work after termination is an excellent way to go. However, becoming a CEO or seizing a great business opportunity is the best way to go. It puts no limit to your earnings and ensures you answer to no one.