THE JOURNAL
Illustration by Mr Calum Heath
The news on employment has been brutal over the past few months, as a cursory look at the news will tell you. From the mass layoffs in tech to the wider economic wobbliness of the world around us, it is hard to avoid a pervading sense of job insecurity. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, we have, on average, 12 jobs between the ages of 18 and 54, which suggests there could be up to 12 times when we find ourselves between jobs, whether as a result of mass redundancies or not. For most of us, the situation will be temporary.
I have mostly worked at consultancies and start-ups, so I have spent more than my fair share of time on the bench off the clock and looking for my next opportunity after another mismanagement of the burn rate. One positive side effect, however, is that I have mastered the art of unemployment. This is a weird brag, I know.
The ending of any period of employment, however long or short, is rough, whether you loved it, hated it, were pushed out or just realised it was time to move on. Through these times, I have discovered that after the initial shock, stress and wishing for the demise of your enemies (or maybe just Paul in sales), the time between jobs can be great. Here is everything I’ve learnt.
01.
Be realistic about money, but double down on your plans
You are free! Whether that feels like a release or a burden will largely depend on the job you left and the manner in which your leaving happened. Either way, you will need to work out how long you have before you need to find another job.
If you have been piously sensible and prudent, you will have three to six months’ worth of salary saved up or you will have negotiated a least three months’ redundancy payment. If you don’t have this much saved (which, let’s face it, is most of us), you will need to figure out how much money you need to survive for a minimum of three months. For some people, that might mean moving in with friends or family temporarily. This has become increasingly common and should not be a source of embarrassment.
That said, being careful about your finances does not mean you need to adopt a life of asceticism. Yes, cancelling your plans will extend the financial runway, but it will also make you miserable, so you might as well go on that trip to Miami to celebrate your friend’s birthday. It would be rude to cancel that midsummer wedding in Finland and island hopping around Greece won’t cost that much, once you get there. Right? Right.
And you might as well do that wine-tasting course, go clay pigeon shooting and check out the cute new restaurant that’s opened in nearby and definitely say yes to the friends who invite you over for dinner, to the pub, to that play and to see the local band.
Misery loves company but thrives on loneliness and anxiety. Most people tend to miss the social aspects of working the most, so keeping plans is especially good for your mental health during this period.
02.
Invest in yourself
While you are unemployed, you will be attracted to any (and I mean any) opportunities to build on your financial investments but, corny as this may sound, investing in your mind, body and spirit will provide the best long-term returns. You can stop dry heaving now.
The level of investment you can make in yourself during this time depends on your finances, but there is a kumbaya engagement type for every price and time point.
If you are short of time and money, it’s time to purchase that book on stoicism or how not to give a f***. Apps such as Headspace will help you identify areas where you need more attention in your mind a body. And don’t forget to go on that daily walk to help you think things through and address your feelings. If you have the time and financial means, the answer is always to get a therapist or coach to help you navigate this next season of your life. Finding a good fit for you may take a few tries, but nothing levels you up in all aspects of your life better and quicker than the right coach or therapist.
And if you’re rich, it’s retreat time.
03.
Chillax
Every inch of you will want to hustle your way into a new job, and you should definitely do this, but it is just as important that you assign a day when you wake up with nothing planned.
How to approach your newly found day off? The first thing to do after you have hydrated (you still need to drink water every day) is to ask your inner child, “What would you like to do today?” The words “could” and “should” need to be removed from your vocabulary.
Whatever you decide, assuming it’s legal and won’t kill you, do it. Example activities, in case this is your first rodeo: stay in bed, watch a lot of TV and movies, hang out with the dog all day, read a book, sleep, nap, order a takeaway, visit a museum. Did I say nap? You get the point.
04.
Be a bad influence (for a day)
Nothing has brought me more joy during my downtimes than creating some core memories with my friends and family through the art of getting them to cut class for the day.
Identify someone you like – this can be a friend, your partner, a former colleague or, depending on your morals, one of your children – and rope them into a Ferris Bueller-inspired day that is free of work or other adult commitments.
I inform my victim, who is usually overworked and gagging for a fun day off, 12 hours before so they can make their excuses and get that duvet day off. Then the day looks a little like this. Lunch might be had at Hide Restaurant on Piccadilly, which my friend will, of course, expense as a networking/coaching session. Then we will go for another drink and see where the rest of the day takes us. They have cancelled all their meetings because who can work after two martinis at lunch?
Laughs will be had, memories created, and we will both feel better for it.
05.
Plan your future
It is always good to remind yourself that your unemployed status is temporary. The time it takes to find your next opportunity will vary depending on where you are in your career, but you will eventually get back to the land of employment.
If you have the privilege of some time, assess what you are good at, any new key skills you would like to develop or any new things you would like to try.
At one particular career crossroads, a kind HR professional advised me to take two pieces of paper. On the first, I wrote out everything that energised me professionally. On the second, I wrote everything that drained me. It allowed me to better articulate what I wanted from my next move and braced me for searching online, networking or speaking to that head hunter.
You’ve got this. But in the meantime, try to have a good time.
