Emotional Job Search

While most people would agree that losing a job is devastating, the actual dealing with job loss is more difficult and affects more areas of one's life than you may imagine.

Due to economic challenges, foreign competition and restructuring, companies have streamlined, downsized and right sized. While some businesses deserve kudos, many companies haven't been very sensitive to the impact of this change to the dispensable employee.

According to Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, a predictable sequence of feelings from job loss may include:

· Denial - "This can't be happening to me"...or "So what!...It's no big deal!"

· Bargaining - "Maybe if I do this....."

· Anger - "It's all their fault...I hate those people!" When we blame others we have a tendency to be angry.

· Depression - When we blame ourselves, we tend to become depressed. "Why didn't I see it coming?" If only I had kept my mouth shut." "I should have majored in something else!"

· Acceptance - We accept the situation as it is, accept ourselves and learn from the experience. We see a light at the end of the tunnel, are able to move away from the earlier stages and move forward.

What can I do during this process? Listed below are some suggestions from her book, "Back in Control-How to Stay Sane, Productive and Inspired in your Career Transition" Diane Grimard Wilson · Journal - "write your own story." This provides distance... and makes it clear that this moment is not your destiny, even if it seems like it...detach from the emotional angst--even for a moment.

· Breathe deeply and exhale slowly-imagine a moment where you felt deeply appreciated, loved and cared for.

· If spiritual, pray for a few minutes every morning.

· Visit nature and consider the wonders.

· Be inspired by your hero as a reminder of who you want to be and get energy from that vision.

· Enjoy music. Music may have a direct line to your spirit.

· Visualize yourself in a "good place."

· Surround yourself with people with positive outlooks, attitudes and optimism.

· Reflect on your personal as well as professional accomplishments and achievements.

· List five things a day you are thankful for.

With the holidays here to celebrate our blessings, unemployment has no season and our blessings seem few. We'd choose to isolate ourselves rather than socialize with others who may have a job and curse them if they love their job and get paid well for it. But instead, use these holidays to network.

For those that repeatedly ask, "Have you gotten a job yet?" respond to them with, "What do you think I'm good at?" or "What type of job do you think would be a good fit for me?" Each person you meet has a different life and work experience and they may know about jobs or careers that may befit you, but you are unaware that they exist. Also, be prepared to answer their question of, "So what kind of job are you looking for?" As well as having two or three job titles that you're seeking, be prepared to state your Personal 60 Second Commercial. Hold your head high, and say something like: "I'm looking for a position in customer service for a manufacturing company who values their customers and promotes exceptional personal service." I am able to calm customers and resolve their issues effectively and have historically saved company accounts and increased the company customer base with my successful customer service."

Now go out there and network and have a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

Copyright 2006

Bobbie Twa is a Career Coach and has sincere empathy when working with clients. She provides customized coaching for each client she meets with either on a 1 to 1 basis or long distance on the phone and email. She is also the author of The Compass Kit and Job Search Central-A Course of Action! Send her an email at bobbie@changing-directions.com or visit http://www.changing-directions.com

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