Healthy Workplace

If you’ve just lost your job, the question that you fear most is this: “So what do you do for a living?” Here’s how to cope when you're not working.

In a capitalist world, working is equated with having money, and money is key, points out Roné Gerber, Cape Town psychologist.

“Therefore the loss of a job can have a serious impact on someone’s self-esteem. It is a big loss and the feelings that can accompany sudden unemployment can closely resemble the feelings experienced during bereavement: anger, resentment, sadness, disbelief, depression and aggression,” says Gerber.

People also feel guilty about losing a job, even if they themselves did nothing to cause the job loss. Also, if they come from well-to-do communities in which people live fairly isolated lives, the pressure to perform can be immense. In poorer communities, people are more used to helping each other out, and the stigma of sudden unemployment is less acute, according to Gerber.

She also mentioned that who you are can affect how you handle sudden unemployment. The following factors can play a big role:

• age
• sex
• marketability
• qualifications
• race
• whether you are the chief breadwinner

A well-qualified young black woman is going to have far less difficulty finding employment in South Africa than a 55-year-old white man with few qualifications.

Whether you are between jobs, or just recently matriculated, or whether you have been retrenched, the way you feel will probably be very similar. This is not easy to deal with – when you're unemployed, it's easy to feel sidelined, depressed, worried about money and unmotivated. Feeling this way makes it more difficult to motivate yourself to get back into the swing of things.

So here are some practical tips on what you can do in the meantime:

Job search.  Don't stop looking, even if you're feeling unmotivated. Keep your eyes open for anything vaguely in your line, or depending on how desperate your financial situation is, anything at all. Small jobs well done have often led to greater things.

Keep busy. Empty days that stretch endlessly ahead, can be terribly depressing. Do something regularly, such as exercising or seeing a friend, or gardening, or going to the movies. Don't watch TV all day.

Be creative.  Now you have the time to do things like drawing, woodwork, writing, sewing, furniture restoration, time-consuming home improvements... Use the time at your disposal to give vent to your creative talents – exactly the kind of thing you wouldn't be able to do if you were stuck in an office all day.

Depression. Watch out for depression – it can creep up on you. Many people, when they are out of work, feel redundant, unwanted and unmotivated. Keeping busy in a constructive manner and not stopping the job search will both contribute to improving the way you feel.

Get money. Check whether you are eligible for unemployment benefits. If you weren't registered for these, look for alternative ways of earning money. Put the word out that you are available for house-sitting, babysitting, running errands, casual work, etc. Do whatever it takes. Work is not going to come and knock on your front door.

Watch the papers. Read the employment sections of the papers every day. Check the internet for job ads as well, if you have internet access. If you don't, ask friends who do, to keep their eyes open. Also check community notice boards for any openings or opportunities.

See friends. Make fixed dates with people. Loneliness is a big problem if you have a lot of time on your hands. If you have fixed dates with friends, it structures your week to a certain extent. It might also open some new doors.

Do things that don't cost money. Joining the library doesn't cost anything. Nor does going for a walk in a scenic area, doing window shopping, visiting friends.

Keep your CV updated. Have a copy ready in case anyone contacts you and wants it as soon as possible. Be battle-ready.

Up your skills. Better your computer skills, do voluntary work for charities or simply offer your services free to a company where you really would like to work. With more experience, chances are that you will find employment more easily.

(Susan Erasmus, Health24, updated January 2012)

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