Job loss due to any reason (other than misconduct or poor performance) is not your fault and just a temporary phase. Do not take it personally and blame yourself.
2020 has been one hell of a year (literally). Pandemic has shaken up most of the industries, economies, and business models. The overall number of job losses across different sectors is scary. If we only look at white-collar job losses in India. Almost 5.9 million white-collar professionals lost their jobs between May-August 2020. Unlike western countries, there’s a social stigma attached to job loss or unemployment in India. We have already heard many tragic stories of professionals who were used to handsome pay packages committing suicide. If you or someone you know is going through such an unexpected crisis. Always remember, Job loss due to any reason (other than misconduct or poor performance) is not your fault and just a temporary phase. Do not take it personally and blame yourself.
Let me share an experience.
Storytime.
A decade ago, I traveled to the US to transition work back to offshore (India). We travelled in groups and were super excited to learn something new and grow professionally. The majority of us were travelling outside India for the first time. Everything intrigued me, be it the professional behaviour in office, people driving in lanes without honking at each other, or how everyone’s privacy was respected. This was a 180-degree flip. No wonder it amused me and also made me appreciate it.
During a meeting, one of my mentors told me that most of the folks who were training us have been asked to leave. I was shocked and didn’t know how to react or respond. We were their replacements, and they were training us. My mentor was quick to observe the guilt on my face. She said it’s not your fault, It’s due to recession and job losses are part and parcel of life. Hearing those words, I was filled with admiration for my US counterparts. Wow! Such honesty and transparency. Imagine something similar happening back home. It would have been chaotic. The way we deal with job loss has a lot to do with the cultural norms we follow. It’s time we move out of them.
Moral of the Story.
I learned a great lesson that day. You are not your “Job.” Job is just a part of your life. We should not attach it to our personal identity. Imagine you leave your company for a better opportunity, and the owner of the company sulking; it’s all our fault that the company lost a brilliant employee. What are the odds of it being real? Yes. You are correct, almost impossible. It’s about sustaining the business, and during recessions, organizations are bound to make tough decisions. Moral of the story – Job Loss is not your fault. We should take complete ownership and deal with the situation while keeping our chins up.
How to Deal With a Job Loss?
- Be Pragmatic – Do not take it personally; look at all aspects realistically while staying optimistic.
- Switch to Survival Mode – Do a dip check on your overall finances, cut down on your unnecessary expenses.
- Be Open to Change – Change is inevitable, and even the current situation will change. It’s okay to switch your area of work and try different domains that might be new to you.
- Seek Help – Do not shy away from asking for help. It’s okay to call or drop a message to someone who might help. Social Media can also be of great benefit due to its broader reach and quick connectivity.
- Keep Looking for Opportunities – You never know when you hit the jackpot, and the current loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps you were meant to do something different and more significant.
Feel free to share the message with others. Most importantly, if you are in a position to help someone, this is the right time to become the “Super-Hero,” you always wanted to be.
Do you have a similar story or thoughts? Let me know in the comment section.
You may also like this article that talks about positive impacts of pandemic.
Great story and what a analyzation of situation
You are not ur job a great statement and says it all
Great share .. require more of these to have positive mental state
Thank you Kamal. The least we can do is be emphatic and help each other.
Wow , that’s a great article.
Job is just a part of your journey. One should take jobless as a sign to start something new .
Thank you. True every hardship brings a new opportunity.
Very nice observed and written……a very deep thinking portrayed and very well said job is just part of life…..i left my job after 15 years and for about a month i had no idea what next but as said its a sign from god to start something new…..its been 5 years and no looking back
Thanks for sharing your story Nidhi. This is a great example how it’s okay to move on and start afresh. Glad you could relate to it.
Superb one….loved the pointers you mentioned.
Very well written and relates to the current situation going on. Be Open to change and always look for Opportunity as that wud definitely be for something good to happen.
Thank you Binsi. One of my friend pointed another good point that I missed. We need to keep learning and upskilling ourselves. So whenever opportunity is there we are ready.
Wow..this is one of the best which I had been reading till now!
Good job buddy ☺️
Thank you Suprit. It means a lot. Appreciate it. Keep providing your valuable support.
The experience you shared was heartbreaking yet serves multitudes life lessons. To me this article is not just relevant but also help reflects on lots of behavioral & attitude changes needed to move ahead in life.
Keep on writing G
Thanks much Juan. Couldn’t agree more. The changes are required to stay relevant with time. We can’t keep following culture that is flawed. Keep spreading the good vibes.
Wow! Feeling really motivated☺️
Wonderful. I’m glad !
Very well written Gaurav. This motivation is required in current scenario. I really liked the way you have explained your points regarding how to deal with job loss. In fact they are beneficial in any financial crisis. Keep writing and keep sharing.
Thank you Amita, I agree to deal with any crisis we need to have an optimistic mindset. Do share with others who might need some kind words.
Very nicely jotted down today’s scenario. It is actually the current situation why almost everyone is facing such or the other situation. But positivity pays.
I remember few years back one of my peer faced similar situation of job loss, and he was quite furious with the management. But a year later he got an excellent opportunity and joined one of the company which everyone was dreaming off and he got his own stream of work.
This shows anything what happens …. Happens for good. Be positive, believe in self and God and everything will be much better as expected.
Best line … ” You are not your “Job.” Job is just a part of your life” and ofcourse the 5 ways to deal with…
Great going Gaurav…. Keep writing… 🙂
Thank you Pramod. Glad you liked it. The story you shared is absolutely fantastic. This must have happened with so many folks around us, and the least we can do is share such examples with others and spread positivity around.
Very well narated by keeping this current situation. We should understand that this is a phase and it will go soon. But we should keep the positiveness within us and use this as an opportunity for a better future. Keep writing…. 🙂
Thank you Bebina, Couldn’t agree more we need to keep a positive mindset.
Wow..I really love this article…because once in our career we all went thru this kind of situation and that time we were panic and frustrated. I really like the phrase “You are not your “Job.” Job is just a part of your life”.
We should not depend on our company/client for job but we should make our company or client to be dependent on us or on our capabilities/talents.. lovely and very encouraging writing. Keep it up!
Thank you for providing such an informative and well-researched blog post. Your expertise on the subject matter was evident, and I enjoyed learning from your perspective. To gain further insights, click here.
Thank you for the read. The self help book catalogue looks interesting. All the best!