Job Seekers: Dealing with Disappointment

By Mary Salvino, Career Management Coach

Just imagine chugging along, nose to the grindstone, being settled into a nice routine with what is a near perfect work/life balance for someone with your skills and experience.  Now imagine that the company wherein you work has merged with another company, you have been ‘downsized’ out of a job and near perfect world has crumbled.  Unfortunately, you are not alone. 

For the next little while, you are going to have to develop a thick skin, learn how to become more resilient in both your personal and professional life and develop a dynamic strategic plan for your future. 

Top Tips to Remember When Managing Disappointment:

Disappoint comes in all shapes and sizes. It is a way of life. It cannot be dodged or prevented, but it can and should be dealt with it in a productive and successful manner.

Disappointment, like its cousins, fear, anger, sadness, and depression, needs to be managed.

Life requires that we learn to how to deal with disappointments and/or setbacks in both our professional and personal lives on a regular basis. 

"Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue."

-           Dilbert [Scott Adams]

Recognize that there is no single ‘correct’ way to manage disappointment.  The best way to manage disappointment is the way that works best for you. 

IQ drops 10-15 points when decisions are made under duress.

Worry is unrelated to outcome.  

 " Worrying is like riding an emotional Merry-Go-Round; you go up and down, around and around, but ultimately, you don't go anywhere.”

-          M. Salvino

Disappointment is also like a coin with two sides.  The other side of disappointment is Courage. Courage takes action.  To be courageous is to be prepared, to have faith in your abilities to succeed, to put aside fear and doubt when tackling the difficult, and to have an understanding of what to do if things do not go your way.

“The wounded oyster mends his shell with pearl.”

-          Anonymous

Copyright © 2013, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Show you care and share this article with your colleagues, coworkers and friends. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2013, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog authored by Mary Salvino, the Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. It is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future career opportunities. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please send an e-mail to Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca.