Something very interesting happened to me a few months ago. I lost my job.
Thanks to the drop in oil price, the project I was working on was cancelled and along with it, my status as a gainfully employed adult. I had witnessed many rounds of lay-offs and although I knew the end was looming, in a market already flooded with unemployed engineers, a back-up plan was difficult to come by. None the less, what surprised me the most was my reaction to the words, "your position will be terminated".
As I join the crowd of the formerly employed, I know I am luckier than most. I have no dependants and a very supportive (employed) husband. He has provided me with a stable base to re-discover myself and think about what I want to do moving forward.
But in order to move forward, you do need to spend some time evaluating the past and that is what I have been doing the last few months.
No longer having a job to go to every morning has helped me learn a great many things;
Lesson 1: Don't mistake a colleague for a friend.
Think about it... We spend;
When I was given my news, I went around the office saying goodbye to every person I had ever spoken to in the office. I genuinely appreciated their support and their company during my time at the company. My interaction with them post having left, has taught me a lot about what a friendly co-worker looks like as opposed to a friend. If I had learned this lesson earlier, I would have saved myself a lot of time, and heartache.
Today, I can think of two people who would bail me 'out of jail' - so to speak. One would laugh hysterically on the way home, while the other would give me a long lecture. Both would be there in a jiffy!
Lesson 2: I am not my job
After years of defining myself as my job, it was quite a surprise to me that I was still able to survive without this identity! I know it sounds absurd, but I was freaking out about how I was now going to introduce myself to the world.
Pre Job loss;
Me: Hi, my name is Smruti.
Stranger: Hi Smruti, I'm John. And what do you do?
Me: I'm an engineer.
Post job loss;
Me: Hi, my name is Smruti.
Stranger: Hi Smruti, I'm John. And what do you do?
Me: I uh... foster dogs. I like dogs...
After a few deep breaths and lots of wine, I realized there is more to me than just my job. I am an engineer looking for opportunities (...who happens to love dogs).
Lesson 3: Dont hide the fact that you've been laid off
This is a particularly difficult thing to do. People are generally laid off because the organization has undergone a restructure. Most people will recognize that your competence at work had little to do with the layoff. Unfortunately, not everybody will see it that way; that is just the nature of the business, the environment and the people. Best to harden up and maintain a "C'est la vie" attitude.
When you start talking about being unemployed, you will be surprised at how many people will step up to help or at the very least, give some good advise. Often, these will be people that may not even be in the same field of work as you!
Lesson 4: Keep your wit
After weeks of burying my head in the sand and wondering what now, I realized that if I didnt lighten up the mood, I'd soon be crying. Stay positive, get out, meet people and keep laughing.
Think about it. Would you like to work with somebody with no sense of humour?
Thanks to the drop in oil price, the project I was working on was cancelled and along with it, my status as a gainfully employed adult. I had witnessed many rounds of lay-offs and although I knew the end was looming, in a market already flooded with unemployed engineers, a back-up plan was difficult to come by. None the less, what surprised me the most was my reaction to the words, "your position will be terminated".
As I join the crowd of the formerly employed, I know I am luckier than most. I have no dependants and a very supportive (employed) husband. He has provided me with a stable base to re-discover myself and think about what I want to do moving forward.
But in order to move forward, you do need to spend some time evaluating the past and that is what I have been doing the last few months.
No longer having a job to go to every morning has helped me learn a great many things;
Lesson 1: Don't mistake a colleague for a friend.
Think about it... We spend;
On an average weekday, we spend approximately 56% of our 'conscious day' with our colleagues while only spending 18% with family. After spending so much time with somebody, it is not infeasible to confuse them with being a friend.
When I was given my news, I went around the office saying goodbye to every person I had ever spoken to in the office. I genuinely appreciated their support and their company during my time at the company. My interaction with them post having left, has taught me a lot about what a friendly co-worker looks like as opposed to a friend. If I had learned this lesson earlier, I would have saved myself a lot of time, and heartache.
Today, I can think of two people who would bail me 'out of jail' - so to speak. One would laugh hysterically on the way home, while the other would give me a long lecture. Both would be there in a jiffy!
Lesson 2: I am not my job
After years of defining myself as my job, it was quite a surprise to me that I was still able to survive without this identity! I know it sounds absurd, but I was freaking out about how I was now going to introduce myself to the world.
Pre Job loss;
 |
| Courtesy @dubaipetfood |
Stranger: Hi Smruti, I'm John. And what do you do?
Me: I'm an engineer.
Post job loss;
Me: Hi, my name is Smruti.
Stranger: Hi Smruti, I'm John. And what do you do?
Me: I uh... foster dogs. I like dogs...
After a few deep breaths and lots of wine, I realized there is more to me than just my job. I am an engineer looking for opportunities (...who happens to love dogs).
Lesson 3: Dont hide the fact that you've been laid off
This is a particularly difficult thing to do. People are generally laid off because the organization has undergone a restructure. Most people will recognize that your competence at work had little to do with the layoff. Unfortunately, not everybody will see it that way; that is just the nature of the business, the environment and the people. Best to harden up and maintain a "C'est la vie" attitude.
When you start talking about being unemployed, you will be surprised at how many people will step up to help or at the very least, give some good advise. Often, these will be people that may not even be in the same field of work as you!
Lesson 4: Keep your wit
After weeks of burying my head in the sand and wondering what now, I realized that if I didnt lighten up the mood, I'd soon be crying. Stay positive, get out, meet people and keep laughing.
Think about it. Would you like to work with somebody with no sense of humour?
