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JOB FAIRS

Losing a job is one of life's most stressful experiences. It ranks up there with divorce and the death of a loved one. Worry sets in:

• How will I pay my bills?
• When will I get another job?
• How am I going to recover ?
• What will people think?

After losing a job, people go through three major stages:

1. Acknowledgment (psychological)
2. Review (research and reflection)
3. Action (the job search)

During these stages, a wide range of emotions can be experienced, including:

• numbness (disbelief)
• denial (this can't be happening!)
• anger (why me?)
• depression (it's hopeless!)
• relief (letting go)
• acceptance (I can get through this)
• curiosity (search for a new direction)
• a surge of energy (moving on).

When you have lost a job, your life has changed--permanently. William Bridges, author of "Transitions", calls the transitional phase the neutral zone. You are in between roles, and don't know where you are going, which is uncomfortable for us. The sooner you accept that you will go through some pain, the sooner you can put yourself in a more positive state.

How can you compensate for your loss?

• Put things in perspective; acknowledge its impact and move on.
• DON'T isolate yourself.
• Expand your social circle; expand your potential business contacts
• Join a support group; ask for help; people have gone through it; they'll understand.
• Align yourself with community organization that will support your job search.
• Put energy into your job search; read books about job search.
• Take the time to analyze where you were, and where you want to be.
• Design a campaign for success; set short-term; medium and long term goals, and take small steps so as not to get overwhelmed and discouraged
• Take time to nurture yourself; update your skills; take classes.
• Examine your attitude: IS IT POSITIVE?

Job loss can seem like the end of the world, but it's not. Job loss can be a new beginning. It all depends on how you look at it!