By Salina Williams, Executive Coach
The moment the door closes after a job loss can sometimes feel like the end of the road. You may find yourself filled with disappointment, frustration, and self-doubt.
After giving yourself the opportunity to grieve this loss, and feel the emotions related to this event, what if you viewed it as an opening to reassess your goals and ambitions and create your best career trajectory possible going forward?
You have been given the gift of time to explore, plan and execute the best possible version of yourself and your career at this moment in time.
A growth mindset allows you to approach this new challenge with curiosity and resilience.
Here are the keys to developing and maintaining the right mindset, ones that can support unlocking success in your job search.
Actively Seek out Positive Influences
You may have noticed that after a conversation with a particularly upbeat friend, you feel more motivated and hopeful. This phenomenon is rooted in social psychology as we’re wired to mirror the emotions and attitudes of those around us.
Engaging with positive people can create a ripple effect in our lives helping us cultivate a more optimistic outlook and energizing job search activities.
Positivity is contagious. Positive relationships contribute to our overall mental health and studies have shown that strong social connections are linked to lower levels of stress and anxiety.
When we are surrounded by people who genuinely care for us, we feel a sense of belonging and support transforming feelings of despair into opportunities for growth and success.
The people we surround ourselves with can have a profound impact on our mindset. Negative influences such as those who constantly criticize or complain drain our energy which can lead to feelings of self-doubt and hopelessness.
In contrast, positive individuals uplift and inspire us, they encourage us to pursue our goals, celebrate our successes and support us during challenging times.
A “job search buddy” (someone you admire, who is wise, supportive, and has a positive mindset, even if they don’t work in your area of expertise) is a great step to positively impacting the success of your job search.
Become intentional and discerning about the media outlets/social channels you consume, the environments you inhabit and the information you ingest.
A diet high in social media can be the equivalent of consuming junk food and doesn’t serve your career goals and overall well-being. Social media provides snapshots of an individual, and often not the whole truth of their lives.
It can lead to comparing that is often not helpful. To compare is to despair.
Embrace Self-Assessment and Self-Reflection
The initial phase of a career transition is strategic versus executional in nature. It requires self-reflection and market research. Reflecting on your current strengths, interests, and values and how to articulate them in the context to your career transition is a good first step.
Engaging in conversations with trusted friends or mentors can be a form of self-reflection. Seeking feedback from those you consider trusted advisors can provide valuable perspectives on your skills and strengths that you may not have considered.
These discussions can help you gain clarity about your goals, values, strengths, and aspirations as well as the current direction, needs, and job market.
Self-reflection enables us to learn from our experiences both positive and negative when we take the time to analyze our successes and failures, we gain valuable insights that can inform future decisions.
Cultivate Mindfulness
Decisions about your next career step should not be driven not by fear or anxiety but by thoughtful research, self-reflection, planning, and wise advice.
By cultivating mindfulness, you can become more attuned to your internal landscape creating space for self-awareness which can be especially beneficial when navigating complex emotions allowing you to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively.
Mindfulness meditation can help maintain your balance in making wise career transition decisions.
Structure Your Days
Wisely structuring your days during a job search is crucial for maintaining productivity staying motivated and maximizing your efforts. Not having the order and structure that comes with having a job can be overwhelming and reduce one’s ability to function well.
Set clear parameters for your schedule, getting up each day at the same time and going to bed at the same time, much like if you were working in a job.
Looking for a job is your new job. Set specific achievable micro goals for each day to keep yourself motivated and on track.
Research shows that setting goals can increase productivity and performance by providing a clear direction and purpose.
Divide your day into dedicated time blocks for job search activities such as self-assessment, resume development, networking, researching companies, job applications, and following up.
Schedule regular breaks to rest and recharge. Incorporate time for physical exercise, healthy meals, and adequate sleep into your daily routine.
Dedicate time to networking both online and in person. Take time each day to enhance your skills through online courses, workshops, or certifications relevant to your industry research.
Almost all the positive emotions you are likely to experience in your life will not be a consequence of attaining things, it will be the consequence of seeing that things are working as you proceed towards the goal you value.
Embrace Rejection
The job search can be difficult due to the rejection involved. Applying a positive and growth mindset will support your journey through your career transition.
Every “no” means you are closer to a “yes.” Rejection is a natural part of this journey and there is learning that occurs along the way.
Growth includes discomfort. You will learn about yourself, the job market and where you best fit.
A “no” after a job application or interview is only a temporary setback toward success in finding your next job.
Think about famous individuals who have encountered significant setbacks yet transformed those experiences into stepping stones for success. For example, Stephen King’s first novel was rejected 30 times before being published, but he still became one of the most successful authors in history.
Each no could have easily discouraged him, but his perseverance in the face of rejection illustrates that setbacks can often be the precursor to breakthroughs.
Similarly, consider the world of sports athletes frequently face injuries, losses, and defeats however many use these challenges to come back stronger and more determined.
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Instead of giving up, he dedicated himself to improving his skills and became arguably the greatest basketball player of all time.
His initial setback taught him the importance of hard work, resilience, and perseverance – qualities that propelled him to greatness. The lessons learned from such experiences can cultivate a sense of determination that drives individuals to achieve their dreams.
Job loss is an event; it is not who you are and does not reflect your value. Your experience, talent, strengths, and value don’t leave you because the job has ended.
A new chapter is beginning, and it could be the best yet when you take charge and learn how to navigate this significant transition.
You are the author of your own career story, and you get to write this new chapter, possibly to create a more fulfilled and successful version of yourself that is stronger, wiser, and more resilient.