Your year is breezing along with expectation of more great things to come. You wake up feeling extra happy with the way things are going. The goodness of the day just seems to be spilling over as you enter your workplace. A cup of coffee in hand and focus on the tasks which lay before you.
Shortly after fully engaging in the work, the boss needs to meet with you. You know there is much to get done as you head off. This will most certainly put you behind, but you can make it up in the afternoon you tell yourself.
As you enter the room, your inner sense tells you something is wrong. Your outer shell puts up all defenses in anticipation. The company has decided to "Go in a new direction. Thank you for your services." Wait, did you just hear that correctly? The company you have given your heart and soul to is 'going a new direction!'
U.S. employers cut 2.6 million jobs in 2008, the most since 1945, pushing the unemployment rate up to 7.2 percent in December of 2008. As of the end of January 2009, the rate will most certainly be higher with recently reported job cuts. It is quite likely that double-digit unemployment rates are nearing.
The 'macro' environment of this economy is out of any one person's control. You can only concentrate on those things that you can effect. With sudden job loss, some people get generous severance packages, which are few and far between these days. Others may get a month while there are many that receive nothing.
And what is it exactly you can do when this happens to you? First, take a few hours to self-pity, cry, worry and maybe vent about the condition. Then you have to pick your self up and get on with the business of survival. Nothing will be achieved by holding onto the pain and frustration. It changes nothing, it doesn't make the former employer regret, it doesn't stop the bills and it only serves to keep you down.
Now take time to assess what your current financial state is. What are the bills that need to be paid monthly. Don't worry about the overall debt, focus at this point on the bill payments. Prioritize them according to survival; home, utilities, vehicle, food. Remember, if you are going to work, you need a place to live and a way to get to that job.
Look at ways to cut out all other spending. The Internet you may say is vital to job search but public libraries offer free Internet access all over this country. Cell phone, find ways to cut the bill to minimal service and lose the home phone. There are many other ways to cut your spending if you look hard enough.
A few words on cutting personal spending; economists and leaders say that is the worst thing you can do for this economy. If everyone cuts their personal spending, it worsens the problem. The thing is, it isn't your job to save the economy at this point. Bill collectors are not going to forgive easily non-payment of bills because you are doing your part to 'save the economy.' It becomes a point of personal survival. The greater economy will sort itself out eventually.
Now chart out a 6-month, 1-year and 5-year goal. Set out simple tangible goals for the 6-month goal; working in a stable job, salary enough to cover my reduced expenses. The 1-year goals should contain items such as how to start reducing your debt load, ways to start you on a course for the long term goals. The 5-year goals are the vision of where you want to be; new home, more reliable vehicle, new love, job advancement, etc.
The locations are laid out in front of you with these goals although no roads exist showing you how to get there. But each is a definable item and all of them look overwhelming. Reduce your focus now back to the immediate; job searching. This is your most crucial goal. The rest such as paying bills are irrelevant if you have no money, so your energy, some call it 'worry', should be on finding a job.
There are many good resources on the Internet, simply walking into businesses and applying in person and keep networking with people as much as you can. Pride should not be an obstacle at this point. Everyone has a piece of fear in them regarding job loss. So most will do what they can to help you in little and sometimes big ways.
In ending, I do not pretend to believe any of this is simple. In fact it is hard and will test your emotions and resolve. My word to everyone is 'faith', have faith in yourself, have faith in others and more importantly, have faith in God's ability to help guide you. I normally stay away from religion in my articles, but there is something to be said for trusting your faith.
A job or change in your life can be traumatic, whether it be job loss, divorce, a death of someone close, but it doesn't need to spell the end of things. It spells the beginning of something new. Trust in your abilities, have faith that you were given those abilities to succeed and you will.
Through this dark and stormy night
Faith beholds a feeble light
Up the blackness streaking;
Knowing God's own time is best,
In a patient hope I rest
For the full day-breaking!
- John Greenleaf Whittier
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