5 Things I Learnt From Losing My Job

Working as an outdoor instructor, we rely on the environment and we are at the mercy of what Mother Nature throws at us. At most times, we are prepared to deal with hot sun, thunderstorms, and even some snow (when I was in Australia). But recently due to the severe haze, thanks to HUMAN nature, I lost my job at an outdoor company because clients were cancelling programs left right centre. On a Monday evening I was told that I had to leave my job the very next day. I thought I had this job secured for 3 months, and I had made plans and budgets around the projected income. Losing it means I have less than 2 months to make up for what was lost.

It felt like having a rug pulled right out of under me without warning.

These are the 5 things that I learnt from losing my job.

1. Mourn, then move forward

For the first 3 days, I felt depressed. I was reeling from the fact that I have lost my income stream, of which I was relying on to save up for my upcoming NZ trip. I felt a huge blow to my self-esteem, because even though it was no fault of my own, I still felt terrible for being unemployed and unaccomplished at my age. Peer pressure started setting in when I started comparing myself with my peers and questioning my own choices in such an unconventional career. Without going into details, the circumstances of my dismissal was also questionable and unfair so I had to deal with anger as well.

After 3 days, I could sense that I was going nowhere by wallowing in the pit of emotions and stress that I was putting onto myself. The haze was still terrible and money will still not get into my bank account from me blaming the world. So finally I allowed myself to have a good long cry over my misfortunes, and when I was done I resolved that I was done mourning and I should focus on what is next.

2. Have faith in my strengths

As I mentioned before, my self-esteem took a battering and I wasn’t feeling very confident with myself. But having sent out a distress call out on Facebook, I received a lot of messages from friends with suggestions of work or contacts who might have. Many of the offers were not exactly within the scope of my career as an outdoor instructor, but I had skills sets and strengths that came from that line of work and these people who offered me help could see that in me. It took some courage to cold call unknown contacts and ask for work based on what I think I am good at. From this I learnt that the biggest critic was probably myself and I have a lot more to offer than what I give myself credit for.

3. Eat humble pie. Rejections are inevitable.

For the first week, I was frantically writing and calling up anyone who can offer me anything at all. And naturally, not everybody responded to me with open arms. Some completely ignored my emails or texts, some did not follow up from the first meeting, and then there are those who outright rejected my propositions. As much as I regained faith with my strengths, I was also reminded that there is tough competition out there, there is a lot to learn, and rejections are to be unexpected. This just meant that I need to keep on improving myself, plus also focus on niche areas in which I am more suited for.  I should also be persistent and keep asking until I have found what I am looking for. I can’t win it all, but I can keep trying.

4. Volunteering is an implicit investment

I have always volunteered in causes or projects that I believe in. One organisation that I have been part of the longest is Raleigh KL. In the past 3 years as a student with (some) free time, I also did a lot of volunteering in cycling related projects, wrote articles for free, and took part in events by civil society groups such as Rakan KL, Bersih, LoyarBurok, etc.

Without me knowing it, my time spent volunteering or joining these events was a form of implicit investment. Because when I lost my job, it was the many contacts within these networks that came forward with help. One of most well-paid gigs that I end up doing was rapporteur work with a human rights NGO, and I was offered that gig because even though it was not my field, I was well-read and familiar enough with that world to do the job. I had gained skills and knowledge from volunteering and reaped the benefits without expecting it.

5. Networking means pursuing interests and being good to people.

Growing up, I was often told that networking is an essential part of being a successful adult. As an introverted kid, this idea of networking is challenging and terrifying; the image in my head is always a room full of people in business suits walking around with a wine glass and saying polite things to each other. How on earth do I talk to strangers, what more get them to like me/do business with me/make me a successful adult? I have often conceded that since I am no entrepreneur nor business(wo)man, it is ok that I fail at networking.

What I did not realise was that by pursuing random interests like cycling, urban heritage, arts and culture, law and democracy, etc., I was joining events and meeting people. I may not connect with everyone I meet, but I did with some and became Facebook friends at the very least. Before I knew it, I had built an interesting network, and many people from these varied networks came forward to help me when I lost my job. The best example was that I end up doing a project for an ex-boss who is in politics, with support from someone I know from cycling, using equipment from another ex-boss from the outdoors, and recruiting to the team another skilled professional who is a friend of a friend. The way this project came together really showed me that there is value in pursuing whatever interests me no matter how random they are, and I do not need to be extroverted – I just need to be good to people and they will be good to me.

Crisis averted

7 weeks later and just a few days before I leave for NZ, I’m glad to report that I’ve managed to scrounge just enough for a new and somewhat leaner budget. Some of the jobs that I end up doing include: writing articles, GoGet runner, rapporteuring, mystery shopping, Uber driving, and a very interesting kayaking project.

Big THANKS to family and friends who have helped me out one way or another!!

**This was written based only on my own personal experience and perspective.