Losing one’s job or career can be devastating, as we get such a sense of Self through our work–or at least many of us do. In fact, my book ChangeArtist was written in part as a response to an unanticipated ‘inflection point’ (a point of significant change) in my career path. I cannot express enough my sorrow if your change has been loss of a much needed-job, or loss of career identity. I can empathize!

ChangeArtist thus resulted from reflection on how I coped with the shifts life was taking. The book is a compendium of 77 sections which explain change, which discuss short-term coping strategies, and which describe long-term strategies as related to how I taught strategic options in business classes. Those long-term strategies are similar to those a business would use:

Market Penetration: serving the same markets with the same products. In your job-search approach, this would mean looking at similar businesses to where you worked, and marketing your existing skills.

Market development: developing a new market for your existing product. In your job search, this would mean trying to apply your existing skill set, but to a whole new industry.

Product development: developing new products for existing markets. For the job searcher, this means creating new skills but marketing yourself within the industry in which you just worked.

Diversification: new products for new markets. You may decide that you want a whole new career. You might learn new skills and go into an entirely new industry. You may become an artist, for example, where previously you were a stock broker.

I find this way of categorizing to be extremely helpful. Listing your options under each category can expand your thinking and get you out of the ‘freak-out’ stage of job loss.

In terms of short-term coping, I suggest anything that gets your mind off your troubles, anything that gets you actively working toward a solution, and anything that helps you cope, as long as it is not detrimental to your Self or others. Try to be positive! Try to only act in positive ways. Keep moving, such as exercising, or applying for jobs!!

I recently read about one person who was laid off from Yahoo, and then “twittered’ about his experience, which is some sort of texting on the Internet. He basically was creating an Internet diary of his lay-off experience. From that, I believe he found a partner for a future business venture. . . .One never knows what life will bring our way!!

Category: Career · Corporate Employment