how to bounce back after losing your job to COVID-19

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Many of the people who lost their jobs because of the Covid-19 pandemic have been able to bounce back with new employment or businesses. However, up to 50% of them are still unemployed with no hope of recovering financially anytime soon.

 If you’re one of the people who still haven’t found a job since the Covid-19 pandemic started, this piece is for you. First of all, you need to keep an open mind. No matter how bad things might seem now, there is still hope that you’ll come out stronger. These are five tips to follow to bounce back after losing your job:

1. Get Clarity on Your Severance Package 

Negotiating Your Severance Package (Image: Drew Lewis)
Negotiating Your Severance Package (Image: Drew Lewis)

Every employee in the United States is protected by certain rights. While the circumstances around the Covid-19 layoffs might be challenging, some companies still offered attractive severance packages to all the employees they fired. However, this was primarily a benefit enjoyed by corporate and government workers.

In any case, the first thing you need to do after a job loss is to find out where you stand in your company. Corona or not, you’ll be entitled to the same privileges in your original contract. Find out if your pension and other severance benefits are still in place. 

2. Don’t Forget to Collect a Reference Letter 

Don't underestimate the Power of Reference Letter
Don’t underestimate the Power of Reference Letter (ILO)

Since the job loss is no fault of yours, it’s important that you ask for a reference letter. If you have a good work history in the company, you should get an outstanding reference letter for your future employment. Don’t underestimate the power of references. It might seem like a simple piece of paper but it can make or

break your future job application. 

Apart from getting a reference letter, you should make sure you get all your other entitlements like overtime pay, salary advance for at least three months, and anything else you might be entitled to as a worker. Your entitlements will depend on the company but state and federal laws also influence them. 

3. Write a Plan 

Develop Your Strategic Plan to Bounce Back ( Image: BusinessTown)
Develop Your Strategic Plan to Bounce Back ( Image: BusinessTown)

Job loss is terrible and the aftereffect can be devastating. Don’t let all that negativity put you down. Take a breath and relax for a minute. After you’ve gotten your references and found out what you can about the severance package in your workplace, make a plan. 

The plan should be made up of a list of all the goals you intend to achieve on your way to securing a new job. If you have one or two strategies, write them down and make a step by step plan to fulfil them. For example, if your plan is to look for a new job in another state, write a plan on how you intend to do it. This should include everything, from the online job resources to what you’ll do when the job comes through. A great web application you can use to write a plan is Google Docs.

4. Update Your Skills

 Upgrade Your Skillset- AgileLeanLife
Upgrade Your Skillset

No matter how efficient you are in your area of expertise, there will always be room for improvement. Without your job, you’ll have time to update your skills. There are many online job training programs that can help you improve your skills and beef up your resume. One of the most popular skills you can learn remotely is coding. 

The demand for coders has been on a rapid surge since the beginning of the year. This might be directly due to the Covid-19 pandemic but it’s also because coding has a key role to play in the future of almost every known industry. So, learning how to code will be beneficial to you long-term. 

5. Accept That It’s Nobody’s Fault 

It's No Ones Fault..... It Was Just An Accident
It is No One’s Fault

Looking for who to blame after a tragedy isn’t unusual. Most people blame their bosses, co-workers, partners, and end up blaming themselves. Blaming yourself or others will only make you lose focus on what is important. You can’t blame your employer for letting you go. They are also struggling financially because of the pandemic. Let go of self-pity too if you want to avoid depression. 

Conclusion 

Losing your job unexpectedly can be painful whether or not there is a pandemic. However, rather than focusing on the bad side, use the tips above to bounce back from the job loss. Keep your mind busy, start working out, reach out to a network of job seekers, and use every resource at your disposal to find a new job. 

The Covid-19 pandemic was an unforeseen event that has come with many negative consequences. It will change the world forever. You’re not alone in that boat so don’t be too hard on yourself.