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The work of finding work

If we’ve ever been laid off, RIFFed, or pushed out (and who hasn’t?) we can relate to the many government workers who find themselves not working these days.

That whole range of emotions they’re experiencing is familiar. The loss, the grief, the anger? We know just how they feel. And it’s likely their response is familiar too.

A New York Times headline sums it up: “Seeking Jobs and Purpose, Fired Federal Workers Form New Networks. Government employees swept up in President Trump’s purge meet for happy hour and gather virtually as they navigate the stress of losing their careers and confront a tough job market.”

The truth is, we should be actively making connections all the time. Those professional relationships are important in so many ways, irrespective of our current job situation. It’s best to nurture your network when you’re comfortably employed.

If we’ve let those connections languish though, as many people do, we kick it into high gear at times like these.

What does high gear look like?

Some of those former federal employees are casually meeting up at a bar or a coffee shop, swapping stories and offering introductions. And then doing it again maybe a week or two later.

Others go virtual, getting together online or using messaging apps to share their stories and ideas for moving forward.

And then there’s serious organizing. Two women who just left Health & Human Services got down to the business of what’s-next fast. Two days after walking out the government’s door they established a new organization.

They call it wellfed and they offer “support for current and former federal employees and contractors at every stage of career transition, ensuring no one navigates changes alone.”

That support includes everything from resume-writing workshops to online meditation sessions. All of it aimed at helping former federal workers “map a path forward in this traumatic and uncertain time.”

The trauma and uncertainty—we can relate, right?

Losing a job has immediate practical impact. Vanishing income and health care coverage are huge issues. Some are blessed to have a spouse with a paycheck so their household can limp along for the time being. But for many, a layoff is a financial catastrophe.

There’s something else going on, too. Some federal workers have taken a buy-out offer—they’re still being paid for a few more months, staving off the income issues.

The emotional issues? They’re front and center from the jump. Along with their careers, these folks have lost their sense of self.

This was huge for me when I got blown out of a long-time radio gig. “If I’m not Catherine Johns from WLS,” I thought, “who the hell am I?” Sound familiar? Whether we work for the government, a broadcaster, or a local manufacturer, some of us are identified with our career.

When things go south at the office, it knocks the wind out of our sails. It helps when we can get together with people in the same boat.

The experts warn against gripe sessions. Gathering to dwell on a dismissal and compare grievances can keep a person stuck in negativity. And that makes it tough to find the next right thing. Or even to acknowledge that there is a next right thing.

Genuine support groups, though, can be a fabulous resource when we’re dealing with our sense of loss and our worries about the future.

And you don’t necessarily have to start your own group.

A lot of libraries host meetings for jobseekers. They bring in local experts on everything from writing a tantalizing cover letter to preparing for virtual interviews. And they set aside time for conversation and mutual support.

Some churches sponsor similar sessions, and they’re usually open to people who aren’t members.

In Chicago’s northern suburbs, one man’s post-layoff project turned into a thriving business. NorthShore Executive Networking Group offers expert speakers, structured networking, and coaching to help members land their next opportunity.

And just this week, I brought my expertise on magnetic introductions to the Milwaukee-area job-seekers group, PONG. It was a lively virtual session as they practiced talking about themselves and their work without boring the pants off anyone listening.

If there’s a group you’d recommend, feel free to share a link, below in the comments section, with the rest of us. We can be a resource for each other.

And, not to nag, but I want to close with one more reminder. If you’re happily employed with an organization you love … or your private practice is as busy as you want it to be … nurture your network now. Today, while you’re thinking about it, give someone a call or send a quick email just to touch base.