Sometimes knowing the future isn’t the gift we think it is. As much as we would love to know when our unemployment journey will end, more often than not, that knowledge would hinder, rather than help our development. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things you can to to speed along the journey.

Gaps on resumes used to be the kiss of denial to job seekers. But that is an outdated way of thinking. In today’s employment landscape employment gaps are not just accepted, they are expected. This was part of the great conversation I had with reporter and journalist Debbie Garrick for her outstanding article, “What are the stereotypes associated with unemployment?”. Catch the full article on the website Welcome to the Jungle. And keep coming back to learn more about thriving while out of work.

Welcome to Part III in my series of The First Five Things to Do After You Lose Your Job. Previously I wrote about the importance of addressing the immediate emotional impacts of losing your job by advising you to take a moment to ingest your situation and to make sure that you share this event with others. This time I want to point you in a different direction and advise you to take charge of your and your family’s healthcare. It is important at a time like this to be strategic and not only address the emotional issues you are facing but to also take care of the more practical matters at hand. This step is extremely time-sensitive and of all the areas where I counsel clients, this is where I save them the most money and heartache.

Re: Telling Letting others know you are unemployed —

Telling someone about your misfortune is a way of reducing the power unemployment has over you. The more you share your situation, the easier it will get for you to talk about it and the overwhelming feelings of helplessness and disbelief will subside. Letting others know your situation opens the door for them to support you.

You will have plenty of downtime in the next few weeks and fully absorbing your situation is a gradual process. Emotions should not be rushed. Anyone who says that they were immediately OK after losing work is likely covering. The immediate drinking in your situation is something that should not be skipped. How you do this step is as unique as you are. But there are a few recommendations to help you get through this initial phase of your re-employment.

Unemployment can be one of the loneliest and isolating experiences a person can have. And only you can change your situation. However, you are not alone. By building your resistance, Re: Working can help make this time a time of building strength and confidence.

One of the questions I am asked most often is how Re: Working came to be— how I chose the name and also, “What’s with that punctuation?”. Read the story here.

Re: Discovering Reading— Now is the perfect time to not only get lost in a book but also to find a book that will help you learn and develop and even a book that will bring you nothing but enjoyment. Here is a COVID-inspired reading list for the bookworm in you.

Many corporations use Wellness Wednesday as a day for employees to spend a little of their workday catering to their own wellbeing. Let’s shift that paradigm a little. Few things matter as much to a person out of work as knowing someone cares. Make Wednesday the day you reach out to someone, anyone you know who is looking for work, and make a small gesture to let them know they have support.

Never let a manager, a person, or an organization control your story. You are the keeper of your life and no one can take that away from you. The way to prevent others from controlling your life is to take control yourself.

I want people to rethink unemployment and change it from being a period of gloom and stagnation to building strength, confidence, and resistance. I hope that you will join me and let me help you on your Re: Working journey.

Often leaders find the task of separating an employee from the organization to be awkward and overwhelming. By realizing that they can control the dignity and humanity with which an employee leaves the organization, leaders can lead by example and give their employees dignity and humanity at a time when they need it most.

Losing your job is like being hit by a bus. We are numb and lost. Unfortunately, there are several time-sensitive steps you need to take after losing your job in order to protect yourself and your family. I have listed the first major steps you need to take after losing work in order to minimalize the negative impact on you and your loved ones. Taking action now is one of the best ways to begin to take back the control over your life that you lost when you lost your job.

As tempting as it is to take a little time to yourself after you have lost your job, the truth is you have no time to waste. You are at least eleven to twenty-two weeks away from your next paycheck! Let’s look at the timeline and begin to look at the steps you need to take to minimalize the negative impact being unemployed will have on your wellbeing.

It is amazing how what used to be a symbol of shame under trying times, is looked back upon as a badge of honor. That is how I felt about the many benefits I used while unemployed. I originally looked at being unemployed as an embarrassment, but now I look back at the strength I showed during that time and am so proud that I managed to get through it. I want anyone who is out of work to realize that although you are being tested, you can and will come out of this stronger than ever.

Feeling down and disheartened while out of work is normal. One of the best ways to snap out of the blues is to remind yourself of your prior success. It provides an immediate sense of achievement and also serves to remind you that there are future successes ahead.