« Back to blog

Life Matters: 10 ways to cope with job transition

29 September, 2021

Sometimes my work requires me to be coaching people undergoing a loss of job or changing work circumstances.  That was the situation when over seven months a few years back, I worked alongside  some 300 staff at the (now closed) iconic Cadbury factory in Dunedin.  It was a real privilege to have supported many of our fellow citizens through the changes they faced.

Job transitions can be stressful—whether they’re due to layoff, a new job or working extra hours because others workers were laid off. As I prepare for hundreds of person to person coaching sessions and 50 or more workshops, I have put together the following list of ways to support resiliance and self-care during an employment change.  Have a read:

  1. Take an honest look at yourself. What are your strengths, weaknesses, skills? How did those influence—positively or negatively—your transition?
  2. Step up your self-care. Major changes are physically and emotionally taxing. You need self-care now more than ever.
  3. Engage your curiosity. What went wrong, or right? What could you have done better that you can take into your next role? What worked really well?
  4. Focus on what you want, and less on what you don’t want. Keep your eye on the prize.
  5. Find support. Since your transition affects your family as well, it is wise to seek the outside support of a Coach skilled in career transition support.
  6. Work on your thoughts. Calm your fears and reinforce your sense of hope and happiness.
  7. Reassure (or avoid) those who are threatened by, or jealous of, the change.
  8. Create your own rite of passage. Ceremony and ritual help with all transitions.
  9. Let go of how things were “supposed to be” and accept “how things are.” Find appreciation for what is.
  10. Keep things in perspective. Or try on a new perspective. Don’t get stuck. Remember, the only constant is change.
Claire Porima Coaching.