Tommy had enjoyed working for himself in a field that was no longer profitable. Working for himself was no longer financially feasible and he found himself back searching for employment.
Molly enjoyed being a full time mum for longer than she anticipated and now has the challenge of rebuilding her health practice in a new location, where she is not known.
Danielle spent three years caregiving for an elderly parent who recently passed away. She’s now faced with job hunting while dealing with the grief and the cumulative tiredness of providing care.
Judah has yet to finish his commerce degree and has just returned from travelling and doing casual work in Australia and needs to find a more secure job to provide for his partner and the arrival of their first baby.
Finding a new role can be a frustrating time. Particularly if your last role has already ended or you are returning to the workforce after time away. This in-between time can be full of uncertainty about what direction to take, what jobs to apply for, where to visit or who the key contacts might be in a new location. Perhaps it doesn’t feel as simple as it once was. There may a gap of some sort between jobs and the CV may raise doubts in an employer because of this. The references are not as fresh and the desire to be useful and fully occupied in one’s chosen profession is not yet fulfilled.
Things you can do that may help:
List
It’s helpful to treat getting a job like it’s your job at the moment. Setting yourself work hours and work days can make the process more manageable. If you’re searching for a role while currently employed be realistic about the time it takes to find and apply for roles.
- Items which need to be achieved- e.g. apply for this job, phone this person, arrange to meet with this network
- Tasks that have been completed as a tangible measure of progress
- Realistic daily or weekly goals
- Celebrations- e.g. I’ve designed and printed my first batch of business cards.
Talk
Finding work is something almost everyone in our circle has done at one time or another and likely many times over. Job hunting can feel lonely. It’s a process that is easier if you can share it.
- Have a trusted friend or family member who will listen to your experiences as you undertake job hunting and while you are adjusting to a new role.
Wholistic wellbeing
How are you caring for yourself? When you are job hunting don’t forget that you are a whole person and need more than a job to have a balanced and well-rounded life.
- Eat and exercise in healthy and invigorating ways
- Laugh- find videos or shows that are light and funny,
- Get out into nature even if it’s for a few minutes each day
- Connect with your family/whānau
Acknowledge
Change is difficulty for many people, it commonly involves mixed feelings and an increased demand on your emotional energy.
- Let yourself have space to acknowledge the stresses and losses of this change
- Be honest about your feelings e.g. “this is frustrating”, “I feel a bit lost”
- Notice the good feelings too e.g. “I’m learning a lot about myself by applying for these different roles” “I’m more relaxed about each job application now”.
Be brave
It’s an old adage but true for many- it’s not what you know it’s who you know. This is especially true of working in a country like NZ where connection and community are integral to how we operate.
- Contact businesses you want to network with or work for
- Reach out to others who do similar work in your area, built connection and referral pathways
- Ask around, see who you’re already connected with, who could provide a link to a possible job opportunity
- Be willing to apply for roles which are different from roles you’ve held before.
Transitions and change are challenging for many people. The lag period between the old ‘state’ and the new situation can take from a few days or weeks to a few months depending on the circumstances.
Although it can seem to take forever, job hunting comes to an end. The challenges of this “in-between” stage pass and a new experience of stability is likely to emerge. One day the new situation will feel ‘normal’ and the uneasiness will have passed.
Joy Campbell
Joy works in part-time private practice offering Counselling and Spiritual Direction.
