Surviving the Reduction in Force

Immediately after hearing the news of termination, most people experience shock, numbness or disbelief. This is the mind's way of helping deal with what is too painful to be fully experienced at that moment and is usually a healthy coping mechanism. Other people will be angry with the company or with managers or co-workers. Whether the angry feelings are justified is not the issue. The feeling is real and as long as it does not result in damage to self or others, it is also a healthy coping mechanism. Some individuals may actually feel relief. The rumors may have been circulating for weeks. The pressures of the job may have seemed overwhelming. It can be a relief to finally have the question settled or to be able to walk away from a very stressful situation.

Perhaps most people will feel some degree of shame or embarrassment, especially when they think about how they will tell family, friends and colleagues the news. Fear and confusion are also common reactions. It may be impossible to see what lies ahead. This in itself can cause anxiety. If one has extraordinary financial or family responsibilities, the anxiety will be intensified. Work also structures time. When one is without a job, it can be somewhat confusing to know what to do. You may have experienced one or more of these reactions when you heard the news about the change in your job status. As the days and weeks continue, people normally experience a grieving process. After all, they have just experienced a major loss. The grieving process usually consists of periods of denial, in which it seems impossible that the loss could really have happened. Another form that denial can take, is an unfounded feeling that everything is just wonderful and couldn't possibly be better.

Most individuals will experience some level of anger. After all change is uncomfortable. Who wouldn't be angry when his or her life changes radically? Anger can be very healthy. It releases a energy which is then available to be used in other ways, for example, to get on the phone and make those networking calls. It is common for people to experience periods of mental bargaining. They may go over and over what has happened to try to figure out what they should have done to avert the job loss. Or they may try to figure out what they can do to convince the company or their boss to hire them back.

Individuals who have lost their jobs may also experience periods of depression. These can be periods of low energy or lethargy that last from a few hours to days or weeks. When one is depressed, he or she finds that both appetite and sleeping patterns are likely to change. One person suffers insomnia, while another begins sleeping around the clock. Both are depressed. Periods of depression are common following any loss and are usually not a cause for concern so long as they alternate with other feeling states. However, if one gets stuck in feelings of depression, transitional counseling can often be helpful. Your career counselor can help you decide whether or not you could benefit from personal counseling and will help you locate resources if necessary.

One of the most satisfying aspects of our work at Human Capital Solutions, inc. is seeing people move into the acceptance phase. It doesn't happen overnight, but people gradually begin to feel better about their situation. They feel empowered to control their response to the loss of their job and to take control of their career and job search. A career counselor can help you learn job search skills that work. Together, you will establish an action plan designed to help you move forward and attract the career opportunities you are seeking. One initial key objective is to move out of the grief zone and into the acceptance zone. It is crucial this takes place prior to any networking activity.