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Considering our options: When being laid-off is good news.
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Yesterday I heard from a client who said that she was on the short list for layoffs at her firm. She asked me to keep my fingers crossed—wishing that she would get laid off. For her, being laid off—even during the holidays was going to be welcome news.
Why would anyone be happy to learn that they would be out of work?
Apparently being laid off can be a catalyst for change. We know how difficult change can be (see my November 12th post http://www.examiner.com/x-721-SF-Careers-Examiner~y2008m11d12-Change-is-Not-a-Four-Letter-Word-or-is-it), even if change might mean that things get better. So maybe being laid off is the nudge we need to make something different happen in our lives.
As more layoffs are announced with alarming frequency and greater magnitude, it is probably a good idea to think about what you would do if you were given the pink slip. Would you look for the same type of work? Or, would you consider changing industries? Maybe you would think about relocating or going back to school.
After looking at your financial situation and assessing how much cushion, if any, you would have—being unemployed could be a great time to re-examine your work. Have you been dreading Monday mornings? Have you been finding more satisfaction from your non-work related side of life? Have you often dreamed about doing something different—more fulfilling, more meaningful?
Even if you were happy doing what you were doing, you might be happier.
While being laid off is painful and disruptive, it can also be a time for pausing to figure out what you really would like to do—“9 to 5”. This could be the best time for re-engergizing and reconfiguring your work life. For many of us, however, the fear, financial and other pressures push us to get started—right away—on the job search. This is understandable, but may not be the best long term strategy. If we can carve out just a little breathing room— giving ourselves a brief “time out” to imagine a better way of working, we might be surprised and delighted by what we discover.
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