How are you approaching your layoff? If you’re sad, angry, or disappointed, that’s perfectly normal. Getting laid off is a huge loss and negative emotions are bound to come up. However, you may also experience positive emotions such as relief and gratitude. Some people actually welcome the layoff because they wanted to leave anyway. One might compare it to being in a bad relationship, hoping for it to end, but the other person filed for divorce before you did.
Regardless of your reaction, what are you doing with that emotional energy? Are you planning the next step in your career? Or are you going back to bed and pulling the covers over your head?
Now is the chance to reinvent yourself. What dreams have you put on hold? What is your heart calling you to do? Do you want to work for yourself? How about trying a different industry or another type of job? Sounds great, but how do you figure this out?
Try This Exercise: Write Your Ideal Job Description
Try this exercise. Draw a line down a sheet of paper. On one side, write the upsides of your previous job. On the other, write the downsides. Now using the positive attributes, write a job description. However, this is not an ordinary job description. It’s your ideal job description. Consequently, focus not only on what you’ll be doing but also how you’ll be feeling while you’re working at this new career.
For example, let’s say that you worked long hours at a mundane job. The ideal job description might include handling challenging projects while you’re continuously learning. You’ll feel energized and elated as the day zooms by. But most importantly, you’d be able to put aside the work at the end of the day and have plenty of vacation time to relax. You can even see yourself sipping a refreshing beverage on a white, sandy beach as you feel the tension leaving your body.
Try this and see what happens. A few minutes of your time invested now may pay big dividends toward a new, more fulfilling career.