In my previous article, I briefly discussed losing my job to the recession. This time I’m going to delve into its emotional impact because I believe it’s important for students and recent graduates to know what their peers are going through.
It’s certainly surreal now, three months later, looking back on that day. I didn’t expect the news I received despite whispers around the office which had managed to elude my ears.
The president called me in for a”meeting” and informed me they were going to have to let me go, citing the struggling economy and the company’s own organizational downturn.
Experts say losing a job can affect a person as deeply as losing a loved one.
In that moment, I only remember one emotion: shock. And then, I simultaneously saw all my time there flash before me.
In hindsight, I understand on a rational level the decision they made. But, as many experts will tell you, losing a job is one of the most stressful events a person can endure, comparable even to losing a loved one.
It was exceedingly difficult for me to recover. I was fortunate to have a number of supportive colleagues around me, some who had also lost their jobs and others who were facing a professional reality without their peers and friends around them.
I leaned on my family and friends as well and found solace in their kind and optimistic words but realized this was something I would have to overcome.
One thing was certain: everyone knew things would never be the same.
With the news came the inevitable anger and resentment, and I relentlessly wondered: Why me?
I have learned, mainly by letting time pass, I will never know the answer to that question and harbouring anger about it only hurts more.
Getting laid off also came with the fear of detachment. The fear that, in the future, I would not be able to completely commit myself to an organization or employer. In one respect, my loyalty has been somewhat tarnished and, in another, I am better prepared to face my future.
The truth about layoffs is you can never understand the impact of that loss until you have suffered it.
I had the misfortune of experiencing it early on in my career. I believe it will make me tougher. Make me stronger. Make me appreciate what I have and what I can experience.
This optimism was not easy to muster. Only now am I able to look back on that day with some semblance of peace. Part of me wishes it never happened, but the truth remains that it was — in every sense of the cliché — out of my hands.
I look back at my time there and I do not regret a single task, project, relationship or choice. Perhaps that is more than I could ever ask for, despite the fact that my time there ended so abruptly.
About.com choose 3 websites where job seekers got the best results –
http://www.linkedin.com (networking for professionals)
http://www.indeed.com (aggregated listings)
http://www.realmatch.com (matches you to the perfect jobs)
For those looking, good luck!
That sounds really rough Simren. I'm glad you are looking for the lesson in everything.
I can definitely relate. I lost my first job out of university only 3 months after I went full time. I was absolutely DEVASTATED at the time but in the long run, I realized that it was the best possible thing that could have happened to me! I ended up finding a great job about 2 months later that gave me the right experience to advance my career. It was rough at the time but it definitely turned out (more than) OK.
Hi Simren!
Thanks for being so honest in your post. I've also been let go from a job. Ironically, it was from a coffee shop almost in the same spot that the Egg Carton (our TalentEgg office) is currently located. Even though it was a part time job, I was really hurt and definitely shed some tears, so I can only imagine how you must have felt.
From your other post, it sounds as though you've come along way and your next, awesome experience is likely just around the corner.
This is one of my biggest fears. I've only been working a year, and I worry a lot about losing my job in an area where unemployment is high and the job market is saturated with experienced, highly talented people in my field. All the same, it's so good to hear about this from other people, simply because it helps you to know that a layoff is survivable. Thank you for blogging about this. I at least really appreciate the insight.
You seem like a superstar, Katie! Hopefully you won't get laid off (fingers crossed), but if something like that does happen I'm sure you'd be able to find something within no time.
P.S. Welcome to the Incubator community! Hopefully we'll see you around here often.
Katie, your fear is understandable and unfortunately warranted given the current times. And though the loss was almost indescribably difficult it most certainly is survivable. I learned a lot about myself in the months between my last job and my current one — time I wouldn't have had if I was still working there. Look for that inner strength because I guarantee you it is there.