Losing your job is not an easy thing to digest and it is often a critical and sometimes traumatic moment to go through. Staying calm, being active and keeping your spirits up is very important to find a new job option.
In 2019, the unemployment rate in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 8,1%, meaning that nearly 25 million people were unemployed and looking for job opportunities, according to the report Latin America and the Caribbean Labor Outlook 2019, of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
2020 will be affected by the current global health crisis, says ILO Regional Director Juan Hunt,“The situation on the labour market is complex”.
Being unemployed means that we have to use our time and budget differently on a daily basis. Staying still and feeling sad is not good for your new goal of finding a new job. It is normal to go through certain moods such as frustration, stress, anguish and anxiety, but it is important to understand that it is a temporary state and focusing the mind on it is the first step.
“Even though it may seem like it at first, unemployment is not the end of the world. It is just a necessary transition between two jobs. It is advisable to take advantage of the first week to rest, reflect and communicate the news to family and friends. The next step is to be very clear that looking for work is a job in itself, which implies establishing a productive routine, with a method and a schedule that allow this process to be as professional as possible. The most important thing is to give meaning to this task, so as not to fall into despair.” explains Marcos Chicot, an expert in occupational psychology.
Although it is difficult, we must see this situation as an opportunity to redefine life goals and find what we truly love to do. We must be resilient in the face of this fact and emerge stronger.
During this period of unemployment we recommend following these 5 tips that will help us feel well and find a new job:
- Planning your job search: The worst thing we can do is sit still and wait for a miracle. We need to plan a strategy to find a new job: look at websites that specialize in the subject, make a list of people we know who can help us move our CV, visit job boards in public and private entities, etc. This is urgent!
- Update and improve our curriculum: It is our letter of introduction. The formats have changed, they are now lighter and with precise information; it is very important to update the information, include what we consider relevant to our objective and think about the aesthetic part.
- Be positive: Maintaining a good attitude is essential to get a new job. This is not the time to overshadow our skills; on the contrary, it is the precise moment when we most need to be convinced of our capabilities and skills. It is necessary to project this into the search that we are going to begin.
- Acquire new skills: It's a new opportunity! We can invest this time of unemployment in acquiring new skills and updating the ones we already have. Being better prepared is a plus on our resume. There are dozens of virtual courses and workshops, free and paid, from the most prestigious universities in the region and the world that we can take advantage of.
- Take care of health: To get through this moment, it is necessary to be in good health; we should take advantage of the opportunity to exercise, eat healthily, meditate and read. This will help us pass the time better, but it will also affect our physical and emotional state.
Given the stress and anguish that can be experienced when we lose our jobs, it is “It is also important to strengthen family and friendship relationships that can prevent feelings of loneliness or isolation,” recommends Angela Socastro, a psychologist at the Complutense University of Madrid.
It is not time to feel defeated, a good attitude will help us get out of this temporary rut.
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