Why Unemployment Could Be More Difficult This Time

In a recent Time article Stephen Gandel writes that for those in America who lose their jobs it could be much harder to regain their place in corporate America than in past recessions. The financial sector is shrinking, technical roles have been outsourced overseas and an ageing population requires different services.

There is some good news in that a more educated workforce will make it easier for people to make job transitions, but this takes time and could be difficult for those used to a certain level of income.

Making a Decision about Your Career

Everyone faces having to make a career decision at some point – whether to stay or go, take a promotion, move overseas, start a business, take a career break, retrain. As we get older and have more commitments in terms of partners, children, schools and homes, then making the next career move can start to seem both daunting and complicated. It may take more time but it is worth:

1. Identifying all the choices and options that you have in the situation

2. Gathering information on each option by talking to the appropriate people, asking advice and conducting background research.

3. Writing down the pros and cons for each decision and prioritising what is most and least important to you

4. Brainstorming all possible alternatives. Look for ways to make the situation work for you. How can you maximize the pros and minimize the cons

5. Noting any fears that are of concern and putting these into context. Consider what you need to do or actions to take in order to address your concerns

6. Putting a deadline on making a decision to avoid over thinking and analyzing. There may not be a perfect decision as there likely to be an element of uncertainty about the future.

Find Your Purpose at Work

Have you ever set out on a journey knowing your destination and then finding that you misread the map and one wrong turn led to another and after several detours you finally got there or even perhaps gave up? Life can be like that.

What can happen is that instead of planning our own route we end up using someone else's map and destination, whether our parents, friends, teachers or reacting to what may or may not be happening in the job market. Following someone else's map can often lead to frustration, anger, depression and a sense of ’how did I end up here?’

In our heart of hearts we know how we want to feel or we may have secret ambitions which have never been fulfilled. So if you are desperately seeking a life try all or some of the following exercises.

What You Want and What You Don't Want
This can be an easy way to start off. Divide your paper into two and write on the left hand side all the things you don't like about your life at the moment - what is making you unhappy at work, home or in your relationships. Then on the right hand side write down what life would look like if these circumstances were working for you.

Think through how you can eliminate or reduce the impact of those things that you don't want in your life right now. Then move on and be creative with ideas to bring more of what you do want into your life. Try one or two small actions and you will be amazed how when you start to make changes, your confidence and willingness to experiment with new approaches will grow.

Develop your Passion
When outstanding entrepreneurs were asked what has contributed to their success 10 times out of 10 they responded by saying it is their passion. They felt passionate about achieving their vision despite all the obstacles, the failures, the stress and the crises.

Passion gave them energy to stay up all night to finish a proposal or write a book. Passion gave them the determination to take action to achieve their vision. Your life vision needs to be connected to your passion otherwise you are in danger of running out of steam just at those critical moments when the going gets tough.

Many of us have lost touch with that passion and energy and feel weighed down by what other people think and say. Gone are the inklings of desire and interest to be replaced by the shoulds and musts and the ’be good’ thinking

Taking Action
By this stage you may have gathered some ideas and are beginning to feel a bit excited. I hope so. Now you have to take the actions to start to make things happen.

One of the more interesting ways to achieve this is by getting in touch with people who are doing what you want to do to share their ideas. Gather names from newspapers, articles, the internet or join professional associations, attend conferences, join a local group. By talking to people who have similar interests and desires the feedback you get will validate or otherwise your own desires and interests.

What is it Worth to You?
Finally, now that you might be all fired up you need to seriously consider:

What is the cost of not pursuing your dream in terms of stress, ill health, depression, regrets?

What price are you willing to pay to achieve your dreams? Financial sacrifice, facing your fears, changing habits, taking tough decisions?