Change is one of the most difficult things we face. Change can come in many forms; job loss, moving states, career changes, kids, death, the list goes on and on. Today I am just going to focus on job changes. Why is change so hard to deal with? For me, its the fact that I get comfortable where I am. I am one of those people that is loyal to a fault and will stay where I am longer than I should. Getting comfortable is the enemy of progress. It is SO easy to just say I know what to do and how to do it so I will stay even if I don’t love it. Even if its time to move on. Even if the job no longer fits your lifestyle. If you are like me, having an unexpected job change can feel like a truck just hit you. It’s overwhelming and cause intense anxiety. As I’m going through this process as we speak, I hope these tips will help you change jobs with success and as little stress as possible.
1.) Take time to deal with your feelings.
If you are laid off, fired, quit, etc; take time to deal with the emotions that come. Before I was let go, I had worked at my job for over 6 years and had formed many friendships with coworkers. It was hard to hear that I would no longer have my job and would be leaving the company in the coming months. Even though I had a feeling they wanted to move the job to the office out west and I knew the job no longer fit the lifestyle that we had, its hard to hear that news. So I called my mom and cried. And once my husband got home from work I took time to talk through it. You need to take a few days to work through how you are feeling. Remember that no matter how you are feeling, that your worth has not changed. You are still worthy of all the good things in this life!
2.) If you can, don’t rush to find your next job
If you have the capability, don’t freak out and take the first job that comes your way. My knee jerk reaction was that I needed to find something immediately or I would be a failure. Yes, there was the money side but a lot of it was the idea that I would be seen as less than by those around me. That people would look at me with pity if I didn’t have a new job lined up. I actually didn’t tell anyone besides my parents, sister and husband for almost a month, I just couldn’t bring myself to talk about it. I mean who wants to admit that to someone? It takes a lot of humbling of your pride to say I am not going to take the first opportunity and wait and make sure what I do next is best for me and my family. Remember, you may be at this next job for just as long, make sure its one you want to be at!
3.) The Work From Home – Go to the Office Debate
Am I the only one who had the serious debate of what would be best for my family, go back to an office or find a way to work from home? Going back to an office job would probably bring in the most money right away. I would be able to find something comparable to what I do now and bring in the same income. However, there are the downsides of taking my daughter to daycare, daycare costs, commuting costs and the emotional side of not seeing my daughter most of the day. Plus my husband has a high stress, crazy hour schedule that makes it hard to tag team an office job if things come up. So for me, finding a work from home option was really our best solution. You can use job changes to adjust how you work so it fits whats best for you and your family. Evaluate where you are in life, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and demand the option that’s best for you!
4.) Make a Career Field Change
Maybe this is the time to make a change in what field you are in. Were you feeling burnt out at your last job or feeling depressed every Monday you had to head into work? Maybe that’s a sign that this move might be the best thing because you can change career fields and find something that invigorates you once again! I’ve read endless articles over the years about people who are laid off from their jobs and end up finding their true passions not long after! It’s because being laid off and having that immediate job changes forces you to reevaluate things and make decisions that you have been putting off. If you have a dream that you want to fulfill, don’t wait, go ahead and use this time to start!
5.) Find the Excitement
Now this feeling comes every now and again for me but its getting stronger by the day. I’m actually excited for the next chapter. If you are anything like me its easy to get comfortable in a job. When you get comfortable in a job it can be almost impossible to move on on your own. This job change I am currently going through is something I don’t think I’d be able to do on my own. I needed this to push myself out of my comfort zone and into something new. Who knows, maybe I will find the thing I’m really meant to do. Finding excitement in the next chapter of my career was the final step to dealing with my sudden job loss. I hope that wherever you are in your career, that you end the reading of this post with excitement.
Job changes are inevitable. Whether you quit or are laid off, it will happen. Don’t forget to take time to deal with your emotions, choose options that are best for you and find what makes you excited for the next chapter. I believe in you and know that the next stage in your life will be the best yet!
What’s your best advice for those facing a job change? Let me know in the comments below!
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