In this article, you will learn about the features of the behavior when losing and looking for a job, how to get out of this state in the best way, and what to consider when going for retraining. Job loss is an event in a person's life that causes strong negative emotions associated with a loss of self-importance, often leading to a crisis stress state up to depression and apathy.
Features of the experience of losing a job
The reaction to the termination of labor activity in each individual individual manifests itself in different ways and depends on the psycho-emotional type, temperament, character, financial stability and the availability of support from the outside. Feeling the stress of losing a job, the body tries to cope with annoying information in all available ways: justification, withdrawal, lowering the level of self-esteem, etc. The subconscious mind identifies the loss of a job as a strong sensory experience that affects life, sleep, fears, and the state of a person as a whole. In the period that lasts from such a received negative to its full awareness and acceptance as a given, a number of psychophysiological reactions occur.
The features of the experience of losing a job in stages look like this:
- Complete disbelief in what is happening … A person is inclined to deny what happened to him, he abstracts from the problem, and it seems that the person has lost himself, there is a complete "depersonalization". This condition can last for about a month.
- Anger, aggression … At the second stage, there is a primary awareness of what has been lost, a strong emotional stress arises. The stress of losing a job can be so strong that there is a desire to do something: to spoil, take revenge, somehow change what happened in your favor.
- Significant exchange or "bargaining game" … A person offers a non-existent subject of his subconsciousness a set of actions, the implementation of which can, in his opinion, return work. In this case, the designation of its own significance from the outside is expected. This stage ends with disappointment.
- Depression … In this state, a person needs help from relatives and friends who can help regain faith in themselves, increase their own self-esteem and importance in the labor sphere. In severe cases, psychocorrectional work of a psychologist, psychotherapist, and in the most extreme - a psychiatrist is necessary.
- Acceptance or full awareness … The person is fully aware of what is happening. He perceives himself as being in a stressful situation "here and now", when disappointment is replaced by the desire to correct the situation.
Having low self-esteem is an important marker in the recognition and formation of depression after losing a job, so it is worth paying special attention to ways to raise it in a professional way.
For an unemployed person, the methods of an early exit from a depressive state are: self-improvement in the labor sphere, passing refresher courses, a complete change of work activity.
The main reasons for losing your job
Management must have good reasons why it can fire its employee:
- Inconsistency with the position held (the employee does not cope with the assigned tasks, which brings the team and management down);
- Non-observance of professional ethics and subordination, appearance at work in an inappropriate manner (without a dress code, in alcoholic intoxication, etc.);
- Actions leading to administrative or criminal liability (financial fraud);
- Staff reduction (planned or unplanned);
- Personal conflict with superiors;
- Retirement age;
- Temporary or long-term disability (an injury that interferes with going to work for a long time, which raises the question of dismissal or transfer to easier work).
Also, the reason for the loss of a job may be a personal unwillingness to continue working. This can be a consequence of emotional burnout, which, among other things, is reflected in a decrease in self-esteem, motivation and self-realization of the individual.
The subtleties of job loss behavior
Depending on the type of temperament, a person, when he loses a place to earn money, can react in different ways to a traumatic situation. Someone gets depressed, others, on the contrary, are trying to take advantage of the current situation and find the occupation that they have long wanted.
Choleric
Strong, emotionally unbalanced type of temperament, prone to outbursts of anger, aggression towards the authorities. Such people often take the initiative into their own hands, find extraordinary ways to solve problems. They are charismatic, easy to make decisions and, carried away by work, go to the end, are irreplaceable in the implementation of theoretical projects in life.
They experience a storm of negative emotions if the job was important to them, and they can leave absolutely calmly if they get bored and they have another type of occupation in mind.
Such people often leave because of a personal conflict with a colleague, partner or supervisor, as they do not stand up to criticism at all. They value the social importance of their person for the employer, therefore, when she is in doubt, they can bring themselves to dismissal.
Personal problems in the family and with relatives can also lead to reduced efficiency and job loss.
In a situation of unemployment, they can become depressed, which negatively affects their health. When such a person reveals the first signs of a suppressed mental state, it is urgent to find something for him or to encourage him to look for work, while motivating that he is a unique, irreplaceable personality. In this state of affairs, choleric people quickly find a job and completely forget about old failures.
Sanguine
A strong, emotionally balanced type of temperament, which is distinguished by enviable optimism and love of life. Usually he fits well into the team, is executive, does not strive for conflict situations, easily solves tactical problems and confidently moves towards the intended goal.
Such people, having lost their business, are not too upset, they live according to the principle "Whatever is done, everything is for the best!" In such a situation, they have the need to make a certain decision, but negative thoughts do not appear. Most often, they start looking for a new occupation immediately and without outside help, or they can arrange an unexpected vacation with the money they earned.
Individuals of the sanguine type do not fixate on the loss of a job, but can turn its absence into the realization of their dreams, the possibility of reaching new heights and horizons. They fall into depression extremely rarely and in especially difficult cases, when a series of failures knocks them down.
Sanguine people are able to unload themselves from problems, being carried away by their favorite pastime, and thus emotionally relax.
Melancholic
Weak, emotionally unbalanced type of temperament, characterized by excessive sensitivity and isolation.
They are creative introverts who are able to perform monotonous work that requires high concentration of attention for a long time. They easily obey, but it is extremely difficult to experience failures in life, fall into severe depressive states, which they cannot always get out of on their own.
The sensual nature of the melancholic most often makes him work for himself, without bosses and total control - these are artists, musicians or deep thinkers.
But if the melancholic still works in a team, then a separate office or a secluded place will suit him, which may not be provided. Then conflicts with the authorities often begin, which can lead to the dismissal of the employee and the humiliation of his dignity.
Experiencing dismissal, they feel humiliated, give up, the desire to find a new job is completely absent. Low self-esteem is further aggravated, this leads to withdrawal "into oneself" and a complete loss of reality.
Such people need the help of friends or relatives who will make melancholic people believe in their own strengths and take up their careers.
Phlegmatic person
The calm, emotionally balanced type of temperament that phlegmatic people are endowed with dictates the following features of their behavior:
- Slowness;
- Inertia of mental processes - calmness and emotional balance;
- Accuracy and consistency in business;
- Perseverance and hard work in the performance of the task;
- Conflict-free in the team;
- Pedantry in solving theoretical problems;
- Attachment to your occupation.
It is for a phlegmatic person that the loss of a job entails difficulties in finding a new activity, since there is a fear of change. The habit of a certain lifestyle does not allow phlegmatic individuals to quickly navigate. These people most often post their resume and are looking for a new business for themselves via the Internet, avoiding personal communication.
Regardless of what type of temperament a person belongs to, when difficulties arise in work, he experiences stress and anxiety, in severe cases, depression. Someone is afraid not to find such a high-paying or good job anymore, others may be disappointed in their abilities and give up, some immediately start looking for a job. But absolutely all people need the understanding and support of their immediate environment: spouses, parents, friends. Support and adherence to the recommendations described above is the key to a successful exit from depression.
Job search strategies
How to survive the loss of a job, many people who have lost it are pondering. This question also arises from the closest relatives who want to help. The ideal scheme for resolving issues of dismissal is the immediate search for a new place of employment according to the following strategies: an attempt to find any occupation or similar to the previous one, retraining and a new job.
Quick search for any job
A person, having become unemployed, must think about plans for the future. This helps to understand your situation, thus, the process of experiencing a stressful situation is completely completed.
This behavior strategy is characteristic of choleric and sanguine types of temperament and is suitable for a quick exit from a stressful situation. That is, for reactive, mobile individuals who are not afraid of a new environment, an unfamiliar team and another position, with the duties and characteristics of which they are not familiar.
Such planning for a job search is chosen by people who are experiencing financial difficulties due to the loss of their previous job, who are responsible spouses (in the case of a wife's decree, when the husband is the only earner of livelihood) or are simply not used to sitting around.
For quick employment you need:
- Submit your online resume. There are many sites for finding work, both office and remote, with already built-in resume forms that are filled in upon registration.
- Call all your acquaintances who can help with employment. Establishing personal contacts is a huge plus in the future and the earliest possible solution to employment issues.
- Contact your local employment center where you can take short-term courses or apply for unemployment benefits. You can find out the location of the employment center by navigating on the Internet, there you can also get acquainted with the main areas of training for specialists, as well as with a package of documents for unemployment benefits.
- Spend 8 to 10 hours searching every day. Only by devoting the whole day to this can you achieve an early result.
Finding a job similar to the previous one
Such searches will be resorted to by a phlegmatic person accustomed to order, organization and stability. And a melancholic who will look for an opportunity to quickly restore emotional balance through activities in which he has succeeded. This ensures that there will be no failure. Individuals with a different type of temperament will consider this option due to the prevailing circumstances.
Finding a job requires painstaking work on the selection of proposed vacancies both on the Internet and on the streets, in print media, from acquaintances.
It is necessary in your resume to clearly argue why you should fill this vacancy. The process of finding a similar job is usually not very fast and time-consuming, but it is worth it. This is important for continuous work experience in the specialty.
Search for a new job and retraining
This is one of the cardinal ways of finding a job, which changes not only work activity, but also the life of a person as a whole, so it will suit irrepressible and decisive choleric people who are in constant search of something new and interesting.
If a person wants to do a completely new business, then he needs to take into account the following factors:
- Retraining takes time and money.
- Is there a possibility of study trips, if required.
- Gaining practical experience is a long process, so you will have to work for a minimum salary.
- The risk of not being successful as an employee in a new field of activity due to a reassessment of one's own abilities.
Remember that in a job search situation, you need to choose the most optimal strategy and move according to the developed plan to achieve your goals!
How to quickly find a job - watch the video:
Thus, it is very important for those who have become unemployed to decide as soon as possible what to do with the loss of a job and the difficulties that it creates in a person's life - emotional experiences, up to the deterioration of mental and physiological health. Surviving a layoff without serious consequences for yourself is possible if you adhere to some rules in finding a new profession and ways to deal with depression that are effective for your type of temperament.
