What I Learned From Losing My Job
It can be a scary, unsettling and stressful time if the worst should happen and you lose your job. In spite of this it was a time that taught me some important lessons.
At the beginning of 2023 I thought I had it all mapped out. I was in a good job with a good employer, but I had reached a point where I wanted to take the next step in my career progression, and that meant moving on. It was a big decision, but one I felt confident I was in a good position to make.
As I started my search, I was contacted by a recruitment agency regarding a role that appeared to tick all the boxes. Definite career progression; a new challenge; the opportunity to work with a new team and build a Procurement department.
I was fortunate enough to land this role and was all set to get started at the end of the summer. However, it was not meant to be and I ended up being released from my contract before I had really even had a chance to get to grips with the role. I had gone from a position of relative security to being out of work for the first time in my adult life (without having made the conscious decision to do so).
At the time, I felt a wave of emotions – regret, worry, a sense of failure and concern for the future. It was scary, unsettling and stressful. And yet it was a period in my life that taught me some really valuable lessons about work, family and myself, and I want to share these, just in case you find yourself in the same position as me in the future.
1. Make Use of Your Network
I have always worked hard to create a wide and varied professional network and have been fortunate enough to work in roles that have helped me do this. My network includes Procurement professionals and people outside the industry, thought leaders, former colleagues, friends, experts and a handful of recruitment professionals too.
It was to my network that I turned first. Your network can provide everything from support and advice, to helping open doors to new contacts and new opportunities. My advice is not to be backward at coming forwards and get in touch with people, explain your situation and ask for help. After all, we’d all do the same for our networks and friends in the same situation).
You never know where that next opportunity is going to come from, so having as many options as possible can only be a good thing.
2. Make the Next Opportunity the Right One
If you find yourself unemployed, you may be tempted, as I was, to grab hold of the first opportunity that comes your way. It’s not impossible that this role is the right one for you, but it’s worth taking the time to assess it objectively and make 100% sure that it’s what you want.
Procurement and Supply Chain professionals are very much in demand right now. There is a wealth of online jobs boards (local, regional and national) and recruitment organisations to sign up to. Be sure to include organisations that specialise in Procurement and Supply Chain roles as they have access to roles that aren’t advertised elsewhere.
One of the best pieces of advice I received from a friend was to look at any new role in the way that a pilot assesses whether to land a plane. They won’t do it without all their ‘green lights’ and you should do the same with a new opportunity. Work out what your green lights are (for example, location, flexibility, development) and make sure they are all lit before you say yes.
It might not feel like it in a situation where you want to get back to work, but taking the time to ensure a new role is the one you want will be worth it.
3. Nail Your Next Appointment
Once you have an opportunity on the table, and you have worked out that it is, in fact, the one for you, make sure that you are as prepared as you can be for interviews (and hopefully getting started with them too).
Research the company, its background, any key goals and objectives, and how the company fits into its industry or sector. Building this knowledge and being able to call on it in an application or interview shows you are serious about the role.
Being open and honest about what has happened in your previous role is important, both to show the reasons for it not working out, but also what you have learned from the experience. This should help to build trust with a potential new employer, but also to set expectations on the new role and have a proper discussion on how it can work this time around.
4. Take Time to Enjoy Yourself
My final piece of advice may not be the most obvious thing, especially when you’re adjusting to a new situation and getting stuck into new applications and conversations with recruiters. But just as it’s important to find the right role, it’s just as important for you to take time for yourself and enjoy the things that make you happy.
Whether finding a new role takes a few weeks or a few months, there will be times where you won’t be able to do anything in your job search. Use this time to spend some quality time with your family and friends, do a hobby you enjoy or just take time to relax and recharge. It may seem counterintuitive, but it will help you deal with the stress of the situation and can also be useful for building up a routine to replace the working one you have lost.
For me, I have enjoyed taking more quality time with my kids, time I may not have been able to give them otherwise. And while I am keen to get back to work, it’s a time I can look back on positively for all the fun things I’ve been able to do with them.
New Year, New Start
I have been fortunate to find and be offered a new role and will be starting afresh in the New Year. For many reasons, 2023 is a year to forget, but for many more reasons it’s a year that has taught me lots and has created a lot of good memories too.
If you are in a position where you are looking for work, try to stay positive – the right role is just around the corner. If you are reading this, you are likely already a member of Procurious and will have a network to call upon. Please connect with me – I’m always happy to link up with new people and hopefully open some doors in a way that people have done for me in the past.
