Dear J.T. & Dale: I find myself very depressed after three years of looking for a job. During the pandemic, I was laid off after 30 years with the same company. I couldn’t believe it. I struggled for a year to get over the feelings of being let down by a company that I gave my heart and soul to. After a year, I decided that I wanted to not do the same type of work and pivot my career, which took another year to figure out. I want to become a data analyst and will need to go and get some education. But I still have to pay the bills. I know that networking is the way that I should do that, and I actually have a very large network from my old company but I’m truly embarrassed and don’t want to reach out to any of those people. What can I do to get myself out of this funk to get hired? — Andrea
DALE: Massive action is the solution, but depression can leave you unable to act. So, if you can’t get started, then you must get medical help to restore hope and energy. I’ve seen people have nearly instant results with professional therapy.
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J.T.: Yes, the very thing that you are avoiding will be what gets you out of your depression. You should absolutely be reaching out to all your former coworkers to see how they’re doing and what they’re up to. Especially the ones who are doing work similar to what you want to be doing. You’re not asking them for a job, you’re looking for inspiration. Be honest with them: Tell them that it’s been a struggle to figure out what you wanted to do next, but now you know that direction, and you want to understand what they did to make their own transition.
Use this opportunity to reconnect with them as a discovery session, and as a way to learn. People love sharing their knowledge and insights, and in doing so, they will also want to help you find a new job. Most importantly, you will reconnect and have fond memories of the time that you spent together. They can hopefully make you feel better and get you more motivated.
