Here's how you can handle the emotional impact of a layoff in the sustainability industry.

Getting laid off from a job in sustainability may create a higher negative impact, as you not only lose financial income, but also purpose (the work was not just for company, but supported also community). It is imperative to analyze impact on budget, but also on psychological level. Help by family and friends may be needed, in cases also professional psychological help may be required to understand situation and bounce back.

Permita-se Sentir: Reconheça e valide suas emoções. É normal sentir tristeza, raiva ou frustração. Permitir-se sentir essas emoções é o primeiro passo para superar a situação. Busque Apoio: Converse com amigos, familiares ou um profissional de saúde mental. O suporte social pode oferecer conforto e ajudar a processar a experiência. Mantenha-se Ativo: Continue envolvido em atividades relacionadas à sustentabilidade, como voluntariado, participação em eventos do setor ou cursos de atualização. Isso mantém seu networking ativo e pode abrir novas oportunidades. Planeje o Futuro: Crie um plano de ação para a busca de novas oportunidades. Isso inclui atualizar seu currículo, fortalecer sua presença no LinkedIn e se preparar para entrevistas.

Assess your financial situation to determine your immediate needs. Create a budget to manage expenses and explore any available severance, unemployment benefits, or emergency savings to ease the transition.

Algumas estratégias para gerenciar essa fase com cuidado: Avalie Suas Finanças Atuais: Faça um levantamento detalhado de suas finanças, incluindo saldos de contas bancárias, investimentos, dívidas e despesas mensais. Reveja e Ajuste o Orçamento: Analise seu orçamento e identifique áreas onde você pode reduzir despesas. Priorize gastos essenciais e corte custos desnecessários até que esteja em uma posição mais estável. Procure Benefícios e Assistência: Verifique se você tem direito a benefícios de desemprego, seguro-desemprego ou outros programas de assistência financeira. Considere Fontes de Renda Alternativas: Explore oportunidades de renda alternativa, como trabalhos temporários ou consultoria, enquanto busca uma posição permanente.

Atualizar seu currículo é um passo crucial para seguir em frente: Destaque Realizações Recentes: Inclua realizações específicas e mensuráveis de sua última posição. Use dados e resultados concretos para mostrar seu impacto, como aumentos em eficiência, economias financeiras, ou melhorias em práticas sustentáveis. Incorpore Palavras-chave: Utilize palavras-chave relacionadas à posição que você deseja. Isso ajudará seu currículo a passar por sistemas de rastreamento de candidatos (ATS). Revise e Personalize: Personalize o currículo para cada aplicação de emprego, ajustando o conteúdo para alinhar-se com a descrição da vaga.

Refresh your resume and LinkedIn profile to highlight your skills, achievements, and recent experiences. Tailor your resume for positions in the sustainability industry by emphasizing relevant projects and outcomes.

Navigating a layoff? Networking is your lifeline. Reach out to your community. Attend events, webinars, and workshops to stay connected. Networking goes beyond job hunting—it's about supporting each other through challenges. Stay engaged and resilient!

Leverage your professional network for job leads, support, and advice. Attend industry events, webinars, and join relevant online groups to connect with professionals in your field.

Sustainability, including the ESG approach, is a fast developing area. Continuous learning is imperative as employee, but also for the in-between time, to keep up expert level. The internet may offer free courses, important for the limited budget. Maybe the investment in a degree should be considered. For all cases, networking, including via LinkedIn, supports to stay up-to-date.

Use this time to upskill or reskill. Enroll in online courses, attend workshops, or obtain certifications to enhance your expertise and make yourself more competitive in the job market.

Did you know? During his job search, Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky set daily goals to reach out to potential investors and mentors, which eventually led to successful funding and growth of the company. Celebrate these small victories—they are steps towards your next opportunity. Research shows that setting and achieving small goals can boost your motivation and increase your likelihood of success by 33% (Harvard Business Review). Staying positive will help you maintain momentum in your job search and keep your spirits up. Consistent positivity and goal-setting can significantly enhance your job search effectiveness and resilience during challenging times.

Maintain a positive outlook by setting small, achievable goals and celebrating progress. Remember that a layoff doesn’t define your value or potential, and it can be an opportunity for growth and redirection.

It may not be especially helpful to hear, but layoffs happen in all industries and fields of expertise, including sustainability. You're not alone. The silver lining for jobs and careers in the sustainability field is that the need for experts in this area is consistently growing. The number of sustainability roles in all areas (compliance, ESG, analytics/reporting, communications/investor relations, policy development, sustainable product development, etc.) continues to grow, so as long as you continue to grow your skills, there will likely be a place for you on a sustainability team.

Reflect on your career path and personal goals. This could be a good time to reassess your long-term objectives, consider new career avenues, or even explore entrepreneurship within the sustainability space.