Being in transition of any kind can be unsettling. A job transition can be even more
frustrating as it will not only impact the family finances but also gets into
the actual persona, the identify of the person.
Men continue to identify themselves more often with their
job than women. Studies have shown that
men identify closely with their trade, profession and even the company that
employs them. I can relate as I had
over twenty years with Ford Motor Company and it took years for me to
understand I was more than what it said on my business card.
The common practice of saying someone is in ‘transition’
rather than ‘temporarily out of work’ is an indication how weird this
transition can feel.
Here are some lessons I’ve learned from not only personal
experience but also in years of observation and hopefully some times of
encouragement as I’ve met with so many people that are in some type of job
transition.
1. Take the opportunity to take stock of skills,
education and training. All too often
people rush to immediately find a new job when a little introspection and
self-examination can reveal opportunities that wouldn’t have been considered
without the transition, no matter how unfair or unexpected.
2. Think ‘network’ rather than ‘application’ as one of
the most important and critical elements in finding a new job. Ask people if they know of jobs that may be
available rather than asking for the job itself. It’s an easier ask and if you are qualified
and they have something available, they will tell you.
3. Have faith, which creates a positive persona and
attitude rather than fear, that creates anxiety and according to physicians,
memory loss. Memory issues are not a good thing when interviewing for a new
job.
4. Have patience.
Having patience is difficult when there are bills to pay and money is
short. Having cash savings equal to
three-months of regular income is really required these days.
Forbes magazine says that the average job stay is about four and a half
years. If only half of those are
unwanted vs. opportunistic job hopping, most employees will find themselves in
a transition on average once every ten years.
Patience allows the person to make wise decisions, create opportunities
for themselves and their families and perhaps even make lemonade from a serving
of lemons.
