Transition is Hard
The current economic climate is harsh, and many are being confronted with losing their jobs: layoffs are widespread and frequent in most markets and businesses. This situation occurs periodically in modern economies, and many of us are directly impacted.
There was a time when lifetime employment with one company was common and layoffs were rare. In those days, there was a stigma on those affected, and they were sometimes ostracized. In today’s world, with layoffs common, the stigma is gone. The impacted people are viewed more as victims of a business decision rather than as having been selected for individual reasons.
Pick a destination, or a direction
When you discover that you are no longer employed, it’s natural to experience fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). After all, this is now the unknown. Often, a grieving process is necessary. Hopefully, you will soon come to realize that this is actually an opportunity, a chance to seek out and find your next great destination: that role, or team, or company that will provide joy, meaning, and substance for your working hours. It could be a continuation of the path and career you’ve been on, or it might be something new, unrelated to your past. This is a ideal time to contemplate your life goals, your passions, and your dreams. And it’s also time for a reality check. Economic shifts can change the landscape of opportunity for some skills, geographies, or companies.
In my experience, networking is the essential skill and tool to land your next opportunity. There are many resources available to job seekers, both in your local area and on the Internet. Be sure and re-connect with all of your former co-workers and friends. The LinkedIn social network is a tremendous resource.
Cartoon Physics Can Help
If you’ve spent much time watching animated cartoons, especially classics from Warner Brothers Looney Tunes, Hanna Barbera, and others, you’ve noticed that those characters don’t follow our world’s idea of physical laws. When a black hole is painted on a mountain, the hero can run into the tunnel to escape, while the villain either hits the hard rock or gets hit by a train exiting the tunnel.
But the cartoon physics law to use here is suspension of gravity. Whenever a character runs off a cliff or building into thin air, they never fall until they notice that they are on nothing. As long as they don’t look down, they don’t fall!
So, my analogy for job transition is this: while you are employed you are walking on a mountaintop mesa. When your job terminates, you walk off the mesa and continue walking on air. Your next position is across the canyon, another mesa in the distance. As long as you focus on that destination and keep moving, you will cross the canyon safely. Only when you look down and discover your predicament will you fall.
So, if you know someone in job transition, be sure and tell them “Don’t look down!” Of course, with the puzzled look on their face, you’ll have to explain how cartoon physics relates to their situation. If you’re in job transition, “Don’t look down!”