12 Things You Can Do When You Lose Your Job

​Economic uncertainty worldwide can lead to shifts in industry demands and company restructuring, which, unfortunately, often results in job losses. Losing your job presents a significant challenge for most people, which is why it is essential to take a step back and work out the best strategy for navigating the sometimes rocky path ahead.

How best should you approach this transitional employment period? What kinds of things can you be doing to aid in your job search? Is this a good time to upskill? How can you prepare yourself for the job hunt and get back on your feet? Let's examine the best ways to approach unemployment and how you can adjust your mindset, transforming this challenge into an opportunity!

1. Assess The Situation

For most people, financial constraints will dictate the need to secure a new job relatively quickly. Taking a realistic look at your current financial situation will mean you are better prepared for what's to come, while also having a clear understanding of what steps need to be taken to ensure financial stability – essentially giving you a sense of control in what is otherwise an uncertain situation.

This will include putting together a budget and factoring in things like redundancy payments, savings, mortgage payments, and immediate/ongoing expenses. While redundancy payments and holiday pay owing might provide a temporary buffer, finding work relatively quickly will be the top priority in most cases, so it is best to get straight into the job hunting where possible, even if it’s only something temporary.

2. Reevaluate

Losing your job may be the perfect time to assess your career goals, salary expectations, skills and experience, or maybe you’ve always had underlying career aspirations - but never had the opportunity to pursue them? Are there any opportunities to upskill or reskill?

Building on your current knowledge and qualifications might set you up for a different career path and expand your employment opportunities considerably. Is temp or part-time work an option while you upskill? Assessing all of your options is the best way to plan ahead and make informed decisions.

3. Ask For Help

Leveraging your existing network of contacts can help you uncover hidden job opportunities, allowing you to tap into referrals from family, friends, and former colleagues. The simple fact is, sometimes the best job opportunities can come from friends and family (or people they know), which can provide a relatively quick solution to unemployment, even if it's just for the short term.

Depending on your situation, you may also be able to apply for financial assistance from government sources or organisations. For more information on job seeker support in New Zealand, please see here.

4. Refresh Your CV

It may have been a while since you were active in the job market, so one of your first steps should be to refresh your CV. Be sure to add any new skills, experience or qualifications you have gained recently, and update your references. Tailoring your CV to specific roles is also recommended, so working on creating several different versions is a good idea, especially if you are applying across various industry groups.

Style and appearance are important too – your CV is essentially your chance at a memorable first impression, so make the most of it! Make sure you stand out from the rest by choosing a more modern or industry-specific template or consider submitting short form video with your application (a popular additional option for many businesses when screening new candidates).

5. Keep Up To Date

While you may not have the budget for official training or certification right at this time, something as simple as watching YouTube tutorials on various topics related to your industry is an easy way to upskill on your own while also keeping track of the latest in the industry. Plus, it shows initiative and the desire to learn!

Staying informed of industry trends and developments will future-proof your career options, meaning you are less at risk of losing touch and falling behind industry expectations.

6. Submit Your CV To Recruitment Agencies

Lost your job? Wondering how to find work fast? Recruitment agencies specialise in finding people jobs. They often have businesses asking for employees with the required skills and can connect you with contacts within your chosen industry. Aim for recruiters that specialise in your industry, such as construction, trades and engineering, manufacturing, or transport.

Bear in mind there are different types of recruitment companies, some that just work through the vetting process to narrow down a list of applicants, and others that provide more comprehensive job-seeker services, including access to a nationwide network, managing the paperwork, assisting with interview preparation and techniques, expert advice on CVs and even career planning!

7. Increase Your Online Presence

This wonderful digital world that we live in offers some relatively simple ways of self-promotion, which is great for increasing your visibility to potential employers. Jumping online and actively promoting yourself and your skills is now not only acceptable but expected!

Try signing up to job seeker websites, submitting your CV to target businesses, attending online industry events/webinars, joining online forums and discussions with industry peers, increasing your social media presence in relation to your chosen career, and getting in touch with industry contacts or employers from desirable businesses via online channels such as LinkedIn.

8. Stay Motivated

Job hunting can be a time-consuming and sometimes rather demoralising process. The application process can be full of ups and downs, even just getting an interview can be difficult, especially when employers are faced with hundreds of applicants. Staying motivated during this time is the key to successfully navigating the job hunt.

Setting yourself some achievable goals and celebrating the small wins along the way can help boost motivation, allowing you to stay focused. This might include giving yourself a pat on the back for getting through to the interviews (even if you didn’t get the job), getting more traffic on your LinkedIn profile, or just taking some time out for yourself (and not feeling guilty about it).

9. Embrace Change

While losing your job can be a really overwhelming experience, one of the best things you can do throughout the process is to be open to exploring new opportunities. This includes being available for temporary or casual work, having greater flexibility across your desired roles, exploring other industries, and even considering volunteering as a way to gain valuable experience and contacts.

Approaching the challenge of job loss as an unexpected opportunity, even if it doesn’t quite align with the original plan, can help shift your mindset into a more positive state, making a significant difference in how you come across in job applications and interviews.

10. Focus On Moving Forward

If losing your job was accompanied with personal grievances, disagreements, or unfortunate circumstances, it can be tempting to resort to assigning blame or addressing residual feelings (with aggressive or argumentative behaviour) towards your previous employers or colleagues. It is best to avoid this course of action if at all possible, letting it go is more beneficial for you in the majority of cases.

Whether you ever intend to work for this company again in the future or not, it is always important to maintain industry relationships. The truth is, NZ is a small country, and you never know who you might run into again or who they are affiliated with, and industry professionals do talk amongst themselves. Keeping communication lines open and free from animosity will benefit you moving forward. Chalk this one up to experience and look to the future!

While losing a job can be a challenging experience, it also presents an opportunity for growth. Not sure where to start? Contact the team at Tradestaff to discuss your temporary, casual, and permanent employment options. 100% Kiwi-owned and operated, we specialise in a wide range of industrial, trade, and labouring jobs at all skill levels. Whether you are fully trade qualified or just starting out, we will find the right job for you - we are here to help you find employment right now!