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A close friend of mine lost her job yesterday, which was a big reality check as I realised you never truly know when the day will come that you will be unemployed. One week you are on top of it and the next week the company that you are working for is closing its doors. Ones first reaction if you did not see it coming is shock but once the idea of unemployment sets in,  you realise you need to get your CV out and start with getting your brand out there.

When employed, I think one gets into a real comfort zone, as you have a job, you are hopefully happy in your job, you get a monthly income, pay your bills and life goes on and this all becomes routine, month in, month out. Does losing your job make you reassess your abilities, skills, passion in life, profession and happiness? Possibly, as you have time to think, if you are not too panicked about where and when your next salary will come from.

The truth is,  no one wants to be unemployed and one is never really prepared to hear the dreaded words unless you have just won the lotto. The important thing about losing your job is not losing focus. You need to stay on top of your game, update your CV, send out your CV and contact your contacts. Its important to have an action plan going forward and committ to it. Its so easy to become lazy and procrastinate but its up to you to stay motivated. In todays society one cannot afford to be unemployed, the price of electricity, petrol, groceries and day to day expenses are increasing. If you are used to getting a monthly income, not getting one is definitely an adjustment as you need to cut back on luxuries and literally think about every cent being spent.

There are however positives about being unemployed, yes i feel there are. One has time to really focus on yourself and reassess your current profession, are you on track with your career goals, is the passion for your profession still lit, are you being challenged and the biggest question, are you truly happy? These are all questions which one should think about. Perhaps you are at the tipping point of your life, its your opportunity to go deep and decide if this is currently the industry for you or you could take a leap of faith and start a new career path entirely. Are you brave enough to get out of your comfort zone, the profession that you feel you know so much about and change direction?

One needs to remember the following when you lose your job:

1. It could happen to anyone.

2. Take time to get things into prospective, do not rush into a new job/adventure without giving it thought

3. Look for companies that have values and a mission that you can relate to, a team that you would like to be

    part of.

4. Something good will come from the experience, even if it just involves learning, one is never too

     knowledgable.

5. Accept the loss of your job, deal with it, mourn if you need to but move on, its hard but its for your own

    good.

Most importantly remember that you are talented, your time will come when you will find another job that will hopefully make you happy and challenge you again.As cliched as it sounds, there really is light at the end of the tunnel.