Are you struggling to cope after losing your job? Are you feeling overwhelmed about looking for new work? Suddenly finding yourself unemployed can feel demoralizing, not to mention a financial worry. But it could actually become a great opportunity to get you on a career path that you love. Even Walt Disney was fired by his newspaper editor for not being creative enough and lacking imagination. Just like Walt you can bounce back too. He went from being fired from a newspaper to a remarkable Hollywood career. So, what could be in store for you? To encourage positive things to happen, you must be positive. It’s not the time for you to feel down and sorry for yourself. Instead, dust yourself off and grab the opportunity with both hands. It can be difficult to feel positive about yourself when you have been made redundant or fired. But in order to be able to find that perfect next job, you must have faith in yourself and your abilities. You have to believe you are a talented and skilled person. If you don’t, why should anyone else? Have faith that although this seems to be a bad situation, in the end, you will make it a positive situation. Self-confidence is the key to success in life.

When you begin your new job search, think outside the box. Just because you’ve worked in one specific industry for many years, doesn’t mean you cannot use those skills in a different industry. Be open to new job opportunities in different fields of work. Sometimes you will have developed skills in other fields that you never thought about. Research new and different job opportunities and try to select jobs that truly interest you. Don’t choose a job for the amount of money you can make, you should choose a job you enjoy doing. There is nothing worse than going to a job every day that you hate.

Before you rush into job hunting, take a little time to think about your personal and career priorities before planning your next move. You might want a similar role in the same industry that you just left, or perhaps even make the jump into freelancing or consultancy. Make sure your resume is up-to-date and does your skills and experience justice. Don’t dwell on the fact you lost your job and instead focus on what you can offer the next employer.

Focus on the things that you both enjoy and do well and write them down. Narrow the list down to around four or five things and use it as the basis of where to focus your job search. You can also take to social media and connect with people who are working in the industry that interests you. Sign up to forums, read blogs and find out what it’s really like to do what you would love to do. But if you are still struggling to find a career based on your skills and passions, you could always take an aptitude test or perhaps even ask your friends for feedback. You might be surprised what they have to say about your skills and weaknesses.

Unemployment doesn’t have to be a negative experience. Many positive things can come from losing a job. The key is to be optimistic and confident in yourself. You might not have been able to control becoming unemployed; however, you can control your future by staying focused on the positive things you can do to change your employment situation. But remember, you won’t really find out what you love to do unless you give it a go.