Life After Job Loss: Getting Back on the Wagon

Someone once said that if you don’t get fired at least once in your life, you’re not trying hard enough.

What that really means is that there will be at least one position in which you and your boss clash, you have other issues that crop up that make you a poor employee (you’re going through a divorce, your mom dies, you have a long-term illness which allows you to work but you’re not in top form) for a time period your boss determines is too long, etc.

Just about everyone is fired or laid off from a job at least once in a career, so if this should happen to you, realize that others have recovered from this hiccup in their job history and that you will, too.

Read below for some tips on how to get back on your feet quickly.

• You may think that it’s wise to take some time off before starting your job search because – after all – you deserve a break. You decide to take the trip you’ve always wanted. You decide you’ll start the job search after you repaint the house. While it’s OK and even wise to take a week or two to recover from the shock, if you want to find a job quickly, you should start looking for a job very soon after losing one. And start searching quickly, as no more than a week or two.
• Rather than dwell on your boss’s idiocy or lack of compassion, stay focused on the future. The past is past, never to return and it certainly can’t be changed. Instead of dwelling on the injustice, figure out your next steps. Think about who you know that can help you in your search. Set up a budget.
• Make your top priorities two things: looking for work and taking care of yourself. Don’t plant yourself in front of the laptop and watch Netflix all day. Exercise, eat well, volunteer, see friends, and watch your kids play sports. In addition, make your job hunt your job and work at it 6-8 hours a day.
• Stay away from negative people. If you were part of large layoff, avoid getting together with your former colleagues to vent (well, maybe once). If you hang out with two or three former co-workers regularly and one or more of them stays focused on bitterness and staying stuck in the past, consider spending less time with these people. Instead, go find positive people. Their positive outlook on getting over challenges will rub off on you!
• The best jobs are found through people you know. So reach out to friends, family, former colleagues, etc., and ask them to help you make connections with people who could help you.
• Don’t focus only on yourself. Have you ever said you’d love to volunteer more but didn’t have the time? Now you have the time. Volunteer. Be kind to people. Get out of your own woes and help others. Scientists have actually found that helping others a) takes your mind off your own troubles and b) produces “feel good” chemicals in your brain, helping to stave off too much self-pity and depression.
• Consider working temporary pharmacy positions, such as ours. These often turn into full-time work with our client companies and, if they don’t, they help keep income coming in and keep you from sitting around all day moping.

If you’re looking for new pharmacy opportunities, send your resume/CV to the recruiters at Rx relief®. We have temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire opportunities with many retail and hospital pharmacies. We look forward to hearing from you.