Loss Curve

My Plan: Focus

Being in an active job search is one of life’s most stressful situations. You need to be ready to jump in with a positive and proactive attitude. Job searching is not easy to begin with, and being let go from a position can impact how you view yourself and the world of work.

The “loss curve” provides a visual representation of the emotional and psychological pathway that you may travel after finding out that you are losing a job – from the initial shock of disbelief to the eventual sense of healing and ability to move forward. Losing a job can cause different reactions and emotions for each person. You may react with fear or feel relieved with a sense of freedom. There are countless feelings that one can experience. No matter how you are feeling, there are three things you will want to do to ensure a successful transition through these changing times in your life:

Reflect on the past
Deal with the present
Think about where you want to be tomorrow

Click on the different stages of the loss curve to learn more about that phase and things you can do to keep moving forward.

"This cannot be happening to me!"

If you currently have these thoughts, you might be in a state of disbelief:

“This can't be happening to me.”
“They made a mistake, they can't run this place without me.”
“I know that they are going to call me back in a few weeks.”
“What will I tell people?”

Here are some things that you can do to help move through this stage in your loss:

Give yourself time to process your loss.
This is not the time to make major life and career decisions.
Control the impulse to say or do something you might regret.
Apply for unemployment insurance , if you are eligible.

"How can they do this to me?"

If you currently have these thoughts, you might be experiencing anger:

“How can they do this to me?”
“I was loyal and dedicated and this is how they treat me.”
“I'll show them.”

Here are some things that you can do to help move through this stage in your loss:

Release your anger and tension.
Exercise.
Talk to people.
Go out and do things that are fun.
Find ways to laugh.
Focus your energy on making a positive impact on your job search not on getting even.

"How did I let this happen?"

If you currently have these thoughts, you might be in a state of self-blame. This stage is anger at yourself.

“I should have seen this coming.”
“Why didn't I leave when I had a chance?”
“I should have gotten my degree long ago.”
“I'll never find another job, my skills are useless.”
“Would've, Could've, Should've”

Here are some things that you can do to help move through this stage in your loss:

Take care of yourself.
Give yourself time off from your job search to do things that energize you (make a list).
Volunteer to get outside of your own head and situation.
Do quiet job-search activities (write resume, research, look for job leads).
Because of low energy and low self-esteem, this is not the time to network.
This stage can mirror depression, so if you cannot get out of bed for days or weeks at a time and you cannot find a reason to move forward, talk with a medical professional.

"I feel good, I am moving forward."

If you currently have these thoughts, you might be in a state of acceptance:

“I feel good.”
“I'm moving forward.”
“It's up to me to make things happen.”
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not another train coming to knock me down.”

Here are some things that you can do to help move through this stage in your loss:

Seize the moment.
Take this newfound energy and move forward.
Get out and talk to people (network) .
Think about the future and what you want to be doing.
Work on a plan of action to get where you want to go.

This does not happen once you get a new job. It takes time to get over a loss and possible feelings of betrayal. But eventually you will be able to look back at this situation and say, “I'm in a better place!”

Although the loss curve looks linear it is anything but. You will swing back and forth between the stages. Expect to have good and bad days. Use the curve to identify where you are and allow yourself the time you need to completely process your loss. Over time, the bad days will get less and the future will look brighter.

MyPlan is the product of NOVAWorks and is accessed through their Creative Common Licenses. We thank NOVAWorks for providing access to MyPlan and resources to assist our customers.

My Plan: Focus

LOSS CURVE

"This cannot be happening to me!"

If you currently have these thoughts, you might be in a state of disbelief:

Here are some things that you can do to help move through this stage in your loss:

"How can they do this to me?"

If you currently have these thoughts, you might be experiencing anger:

Here are some things that you can do to help move through this stage in your loss:

"How did I let this happen?"

If you currently have these thoughts, you might be in a state of self-blame. This stage is anger at yourself.

Here are some things that you can do to help move through this stage in your loss:

"I feel good, I am moving forward."

If you currently have these thoughts, you might be in a state of acceptance:

Here are some things that you can do to help move through this stage in your loss:

This does not happen once you get a new job. It takes time to get over a loss and possible feelings of betrayal. But eventually you will be able to look back at this situation and say, “I'm in a better place!”

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