Recovering From a Career Crisis

If you have ever experienced any of the following, you have had a career crisis:

? Losing your job

? Being fired

? Burning out

? Not wanting to do your job for one more day

A career crisis can be caused either by someone else (being laid off) or by your own feelings (burning out).

Common Causes of Career Crises

There are many reasons why people experience career crises. Here are a few:

? Corporate downsizing

? Burnout

? Relocating for your spouse's career

? Being fired

? Making the wrong career move

? Corporate politics

? Not fitting in

Why a Career Crisis Is So Devastating

A career crisis is almost always devastating because it can impact your life in so many ways. Here are a few examples:

1. Money: Losing your income with no warning can be financially devastating.

2. Status: If your job gives you status or a professional identity, you may feel devastated without it.

3. Surprise: If the job loss happens without warning, you will probably feel shocked.

4. Self-esteem: You may feel embarrassed by what has happened.

5. Feeling alone: You are likely to lose friends and companions when you no longer work in the same place.

6. Feeling out of synch: Your regular routine may be disrupted.

7. Confusion: If the crisis happens because of burnout or for reasons inside yourself, you may feel confused about what to do next.

8. Effect on others: If people around you depend on your income and need you to be predictable, they may react negatively to your crisis.

Career Crisis: Who It Hurts the Most

A career crisis hurts you because it is devastating to your ego. The hurt tends to be greater when one gets a sense of identity and self-esteem from his or her job title, status, and income.

A crisis hurts your family because they must experience the emotional fallout that follows a crisis. Your family may also experience a feeling of lost self-esteem and status, especially if you were fired or laid off.

The Flashback Effect

A major loss like this sometimes can cause you to reach back into the past and reactivate unfinished business from a major loss, or a crisis from an earlier time. For example, when Sharon was terminated after seven months at her dream job, she became very depressed. While depression is a normal reaction to such a loss, Sharon was reacting to losing her job and the similar feelings she had when she flunked out of a top university 12 years earlier. When she finally saw a therapist after a few weeks of depression following the job loss, she saw that she had never fully resolved her feelings about failing in college.

Here are some other points about recovery:

1. The process of recovering from a career crisis will happen on its own schedule. It can't be rushed.

2. Every person responds to a career crisis differently. There is no right way to respond or to deal with it.

3. Depending on the circumstances, processing a career crisis can take years.

4. Build and use a support system. People need other people when they are experiencing such a crisis. A group of people who have experienced similar losses is especially helpful.

5. It is a good idea to find support outside of your family and friends. Even the most supportive may grow tired of hearing about your situation, or you may find yourself censoring your behavior to avoid alienating them. However, you still need help and a place to let your feelings out.

How to Help Someone in a Career Crisis

Here are a few ideas for being helpful to people going through career crises:

1. People need support when they are having a career crisis, even though they may seem to push you away.

2. Ask how you can help.

3. Don't give advice unless asked.

4. Check in regularly with the crisis victim; let him or her know you're there.

5. Remind the crisis victim of what a good person he or she is, even without the identity and status that the job provided.

6. Sometimes a career crisis sends a person into a serious depression for which help is needed. If you sense danger, urge the crisis victim to seek help.

How to Turn a Crisis into a Victory

Here are some suggestions for turning a career crisis into a victory:

1. Give yourself time to heal. If recovery is rushed or interrupted, the crisis victim will not fully heal and a victory is not possible.

2. Remind yourself as often as necessary that your pain will end and you will eventually feel happy again.

3. Avoid jumping into something new on the rebound; let yourself experience all the stages of grief.

4. Accept that many people will not understand the depth of your grief. They will not understand why this is so difficult for you, and they will say stupid things.

5. Use the opportunity to stop and consider other options.

6. Explore what meaning your feelings have for you. If we pay attention to them, our feelings can lead us places we would otherwise never visit.

7. Keep a journal of your experiences. Make it your intention to see what there is to be learned from this experience.

8. A loss such as a career crisis can be viewed as both a door-closer and a door-opener. Start thinking about what you are learning and gaining from this experience.

9. Create a ceremony of letting go. Yours will be as unique as your experience.

The Career Crisis Recovery Exercise

Write out your answers to the following questions. This self-help exercise can help you process your feelings about what has happened to you.

1. Describe what happened when your career crisis happened.

2. Describe the job or career. Where did you work? What was it like? Who did you work with? What do you miss the most? What do you not miss at all?

3. Describe your feelings about the loss of the job or career.

4. What has the impact of this crisis been on your life? What else have you lost because of your career crisis?

5. What barriers stop you from moving on?

6. What are 10 things you can do starting today to continue the recovery process?

Garrett Coan is a professional therapist,coach and psychotherapist. His two Northern New Jersey office locations are accessible to individuals who reside in Bergen County, Essex County, Passaic County, Rockland County, and Manhattan. He offers online and telephone coaching and counseling services for those who live at a distance. He can be accessed through http://www.creativecounselors.com or 201-303-4303.

---

Does Your Career Change Itch or Burn?

Two weeks ago, I received a newsy email from a... Read More

21st Century Career Success

When it comes to modern career development, one thing we... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Career Opportunity and Employee Retention

This article relates to the Career Opportunities competency and explores... Read More

The Perils Of Employment: Are You About To Be Let Go?

From the moment you are born and you take your... Read More

Ten Resume Writing Tips You Can?t Live Without

For some job opening, employers receive hundreds and even thousands... Read More

Create a Network and Catapult Your Job Search

Networking is still known as a great job-search strategy, yet... Read More

17 Surefire Ways to Annoy Potential Employers

Despite the President's encouraging words, the job market is still... Read More

Business Experience is YOUR Security Cover

Some may want to interpret "independent" to mean WITHOUT others.... Read More

Planning To Work Abroad

Working abroad can be an exciting, rewarding and horizon broadening... Read More

How To Resign Gracefully

Once a new job has been accepted, you need to... Read More

Should You Make A Career Decision Based Upon A Career Quiz?

Q. I'm about to graduate High School and I don't... Read More

Job Interview Mistakes To Avoid

By avoiding these 8 simple mistakes, you can improve your... Read More

Everyday Is Saturday: Help for the Suddenly Unemployed

I recently was "unhired" by my former employer. Unhired is... Read More

Looking for a Qualified Medical Billing Specialist

Families, mothers, employers, and medical practices all interact in one... Read More

American Idol Syndrome

I like Simon, one of three judges on... Read More

Tips for Terrific Telephone Interviews

Telephone interviews don't just happen; they are the result of... Read More

A Killer Secret To Get Your Cover Letter Read

You're still reading?so I know my title grabbed your attention.Why?... Read More

Turning the Table: Questions for Your Interviewer

(DES MOINES, Iowa ? January 26, 2005) The fateful final... Read More

Why Employers Want an Employee with a Degree

You wake up in the morning, head to work, and... Read More

Planning Your Successful Career: 15 Ideas

"Doing a good job is one of the most important... Read More

During Midlife Change: Are You a Jumper or a Clinger?

Over the years, I have identified two kinds of midlife... Read More

Master Responding to Selection Criteria and Win Your Next Job!

As a human resources specialist for many years, I've seen... Read More

Interview Tips - Ten Top Dos & Donts for Winning Interviews

In this day and age it can become increasingly difficult... Read More

Should You Seek Temporary Or Contractual Employment While Searching?

According to US Department of Labor statistics, the average time... Read More

Surviving The Technical Interview

Ah, the technical interview. Nothing like it. Not only does... Read More

Minding Your Own Business

Think you have gone as far as you can in... Read More

Creating a Feng Shui Power Office: 6 Easy Tips to More Successful Surroundings

More and more people are looking to gain an edge... Read More

Medical Billing Businesses Are Growing Fast And Providing A Needed Service For Doctors

You've seen the commercials and web sites about starting medical... Read More

Handing in Your Resignation and Serving Notice

Have you made the right choice? Before deciding to resign... Read More

Considering a Career Change?

Are you thinking about a career change? Many people do... Read More

Resume Writing Tips

Resume Writing doesn't have to be a solo gigResume writing... Read More

Workplace Violence - 8 Tips For Spotting Early Warning Signs

One of the greatest threats facing both employees and the... Read More

Now, Do You Have Any Questions?

"Who is that hot babe in the picture?" isn't the... Read More