How to Regain Confidence After a Job Loss

Losing a job can cause severe financial stress, particularly if you have not saved funds to carry you until you secure a new job. You may worry about paying bills, keeping your home and car and providing for your family's needs. However, a job loss can also affect your personal confidence -- it can lead to feelings of unworthiness, self-doubt and depression. Simple strategies can help you rebuild your confidence after a job loss, which can help you recover from your setback more easily.

Instructions

1. Make a list of the skills and talents that make you an attractive job candidate. Putting your strengths in writing can help you remember what you have to offer future employers, which can reduce the confidence-eroding effects of a job loss.

2. Seek support from friends and family members. Talking about your feelings regarding your job loss can help you identify and let go of negative emotions that lower confidence. Your friends and family members can provide encouragement to keep you from becoming overwhelmed by your situation.

3. Look for job seeker support groups in your area. Connecting with others in similar situations can remind you that you are not the only one struggling to regain confidence after a job loss. Support groups can also lead to networking, which will help you find a new job more quickly.

4. Develop a plan for your future. Losing a job may give you the opportunity you need to start down a new career path, or obtain a more lucrative job in your current industry. Developing a plan allows you to look toward the future instead of wallowing in the disappointment of the past.

5. Engage in exercise every day. Even taking a 20-minute walk each day can help you release negative feelings. Exercise also improves your physical health, which gives you the energy you need to search for jobs and attend interviews.

6. Take time away from your job search to engage in a personal hobby or activity. Volunteering at a local school or food pantry, drawing or painting, reading and gardening can all take your mind off your job situation, giving you the mental break you need to rebuild your confidence.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that most workers deal with job loss at least once in their lives. Losing a job does not mean that you will never work again -- through networking and talking to friends and family members, you will discover that people like you have recovered from job losses.

References

• "The Washington Post"; Dealing with Job Loss; Dr. Lynn Joseph; March 2009
• "Job Loss"; Jane E. Snyder; 2005