Introduction:

So, you find yourself in a ‘Job Transition’.  It is a more palatable phrase rather than…laid off, fired, quit, downsized, reorganized, rightsized, etc.   In spite of better phrasing, it doesn’t really make the situation much better…does it?  Phrases can be important and perhaps couching this situation in the right way is important in certain situations.   The root cause could be the economy, could be poor management, could be an innovative competitor, could be poor performance, could be a boss or co-worker that stabbed you in the back, etc.  It is important to understand a bit of the ‘why’, but ultimately it all ends up in the same position.  You are now looking for ‘the next thing.’

 

But when you are in this position…it kind of ‘sucks’…no matter what label you put on it.   You are still trying to figure out what happened, why it happened to you, who should you not have trusted and how are you going to pay the rent?  Anyone of these questions could keep you up all night, but the combination of them can keep you up for days and disrupt your sleep for weeks and months.

 

“You could call it ‘Hitting Rock Bottom’ or ‘having an existential crisis.’ I prefer to call it ‘weathering the shitstorm,’ choose whatever suits you.  And perhaps your in that kind of place right now.  Perhaps you’re coming out of the most significant challenge of your life and are bewildered because everything you previously thought to be true and normal and good has turned out to the be opposite. That’s good – that’s the beginning.  I can’t stress this enough, but pain is part of the process. Because if you just chase after highs to cover up the pain…then you’ll never generate the requisite motivation to actually change.” – Mark Manson, The Subtle Are of No Giving a F#ck.

 

So, if, and when, you find yourself in this position…you must ask the question…’Now what?”  I don’t recall any college or high school courses on this topic.   You reach out to acquaintances around you, but suddenly most of them seem to be busy or ‘tied up’ for a bit.  And maybe they are.  Some of them will act like this ‘Job Transition’ thing might be catchy, or that if they connect with you, they might get in a bad light with their current job, or they fear that you will ask them for a job (which they don’t have for you).

 

If you publicize the fact that you are looking for work, you will find several, so called, ‘helpful’ people and companies descend on you.   For a price, they will help you find the next opportunity.  For a price, they will give you advice.  You are likely disoriented enough to start considering their offers.   Maybe this is the ‘easy’ path out?  At least they are engaging with you.  Maybe they know something that you don’t know?  Or maybe they are the vultures hovering above you and waiting to pick off a bit of flesh while you are in a dark time?  Hard to know for sure, but talk is cheap, and promises are easy.  If it sounds too good, it probably is.  Don’t throw good money after bad.   Have some patience and see what you can learn on your own.

 

I spent some time ‘in the wilderness’ and I wrestled with many of these demons.  I lived through the sleepless nights.  My thoughts were chasing after each other spending time on the past, the present, the future and back to the past…ever circling.  The roller coaster of emotions during this time is daunting and real.  Frustration, Hate, Sorrow, Fear, Gratitude, Hope, Confusion, Despair, Anger, Resolution, etc…they are all there during this time. 

 

There doesn’t seem to be a great volume of work out there as a resource.  So, I thought I would share some of my learnings from time spent on the front lines.  My hope is that this can help you during your time of searching and ‘transition’.  It truly is a transition and the sooner you approach it with that mindset the better you will likely be.  You may have been a victim in this situation, but you can choose to be your own champion and lifeguard.

 

The following pages are my attempt at sharing learnings from my time in the desert. Some ‘bastard’ put you in this situation, but it is your job to get out of it.  I’m hopeful that my thoughts may assist you in your journey.  You can do it; and when you have, you will look back at this time and ‘those people’ with a different perspective and hopefully just smile to yourself and mentally ‘flip them the bird’.

 

Now get to work and figure out your next move is.  “All the worlds a stage and the men and women are merely players” ...says Shakespeare.  You hold the pen and paper in your hands. Write your own next chapter.