Hi
Working for a big Corp World after 16 years i was told my position was terminated due to cutting Budget and to leave right away .This came as a big schock to me i was lost, not sure what to do run scream cry this was the worse experience in my life it has hit me really hard.

Is not so much as a money issue as it is a personal human feelings i feel really bad i feel old not sure what to do at this point or how to get my self steam back this was something i would never expect to happen to me, i never had any problems with any one, always on time.

At this point in time in my life not sure as to how or what to do to go out there to look for a job, not sure i would be able to make it this is really bad time for me.

can someone please help me out i need to get my life back on track and to prove myself i can do it again.

thank you

Dear Lady,
There have been many times in my life when something happened that sapped my energy and confidence in myself. I have always found that the first step in recovering the spring in my step is to find a new project or goal to lift me out of my blue funk.

I know how easy it is to believe that your job defines how you feel about yourself because that is my life story. After 35 years of work in the public sector, I struggled seeing how my skills would translate to the private sector, but I have finally decided to strike out on my own, start my own business and find my own way ahead. I don't know if I will be successful but I have regained a sense of excitement about my future and that is worth a lot!

Think of this experience as an opportunity to look for new ways to express yourself. Join a new organization, meet new people, give yourself a chance to see yourself in new ways, do things you have never done before. You will soon find the right path forward.

Hi Lady1167,

I'm so sorry, I know this has to be a difficult time. I know you're grieving the loss of your job and your self-esteem has taken blow. But, I think it's good to remember that in these days and times, just because you got laid off does NOT mean you were not doing your job well. Unfortunately, nowadays companies lay people off for all kinds of reasons having to do with changes in their strategy, competitive pressures, etc etc. and nothing to do with the person's performance. So I hope you'll feel better about yourself on that score.

Second,if you're feeling really old, maybe a little makeover--a new hair do, new make-up, etc--would give you a little boost and some confidence in yourself.

Next, I would get some help from a career coach or an outplacement firm to help you regroup and repackage yourself. Where are you geographically? If you've been in the same job for a long time, you could probably use some help learning the job hunting ropes. And actually there are some good articles here on Womenbloom about that in the Articles: Job section.

Finally, LadyDi's advice was good...it's probably hard to see now, but this is a chance to land in a new job, learn some new things, and maybe get a new lease on life. For me, it's all about how I frame it...if it's a bad job loss and my expectations are negative, it's hard to move forward. If I think of it as a chance to have a new career adventure, it can turn the whole thing around.

I hope that helps....best luck to you, hang in there, something amazing could be right around the corner!!

I love the idea of a makeover to get out of a rut. A different look, changing routines, joining a group, exercising, or just anything to feel different about oneself is so liberating!

Hi there,
I also am longer part of the corporate world, and I found part of what I missed (after 10 years at the same company) was the friends I had made. So, I made an effort to stay in touch, have lunch, get together for drinks, send little emails, etc. Not just to gossip about work or stress on what I was doing to find the next job, but simply to stay in touch with a few people that I care about. Also, it helped me stay out of the isolution that can sometimes sets in when a person is not working 8-5pm. Also, I did some volunteering for things/causes that mattered to me and that felt really good, too.
Best of luck to you in this changing period of your life!