The Hunt Blog

The in-between zone is the state of mind that exists after you lose a job and before you’ve found a new job. 

You find yourself there when you’ve been unexpectedly laid off from a job and the ground falls out from beneath your feet. At this moment, you might feel disoriented, confused, shut down, and worried. Learning to hold steady and be open and curious within this uncertainty is critical to finding a new job that aligns with your needs, values, and desires now. This is because when you react with fear and contraction you may miss out on some effective actions and mindsets that can help you thoughtfully and meaningfully pursue a new role. 

Here are five ways to effectively navigate the in-between zone with grace and skill while staying true to yourself.

Let Go to Move Forward

Before you pound the pavement and pursue new roles, slow down and gain awareness of what you’re letting go of. Accept the job loss and the fear and insecurity that arises. Embrace the loss of identity that was tied to your job. Honor the loss of structure and meaning that the job gave you. By consciously saying goodbye to your role you make space to reinvent yourself for the next chapter of your career. When you let go of the past you prepare yourself for new possibilities that lie ahead. 

Embrace Both Loss and Hope

In his book “Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing, Including You”, Brad Stulberg writes about the power of holding a flexible mindset when facing difficult changes to life circumstances.

Developing flexibility in your thoughts and emotions allows feelings of both loss and hope to surface at the same time. Embracing this mental paradox empowers you to not only acknowledge and grieve what you’ve lost but to also realize that you always have the power to move forward and tackle your job search To Do list every day. You can accept the disruption of a career transition while simultaneously resolving to take wise and hopeful action towards finding a new job. At first it may seem impossible to feel both loss and hope at the same time but with practice it becomes easier. You keep on keeping on because the alternative is not an option. 

Observe and Calm Fluctuations in Your Mood

As you apply to jobs and prepare for interviews, pay attention to anxiety creeping in. Maintain an awareness of how your body feels and note any uncomfortable sensations of stress and fear. If you find yourself spinning out with visions of worst case scenarios remember you have the power to snap out of it by calming your nervous system. One of the easiest ways to do this is by putting a hand on your heart, taking slow and deep breaths for a couple of minutes, and repeating, either silently or out loud, “It’s OK, it’s OK, it’s OK”.

Build Structure to Contain the Unknown

Career transitions are often fraught with self-doubt, instability, and uncertainty. You’re between two worlds – the old and the new. Living in this threshold can be disconcerting as the form of your daily life has shifted and you may find yourself drifting in a sea of formlessness. 

How do you tolerate this discomfort and make peace with the unknown? By allowing yourself to feel disoriented without resisting it, even when uncomfortable emotions arise. By practicing equanimity and learning to sit with the uneasiness. By maintaining composure while accepting the confusion and disturbance of job loss. 

How can you bring shape to this amorphousness so that you can successfully navigate the unknown towards a new job? 

There are practical things you can do to create structure and make the most of your time.

• Before beginning your job search, take a few hours to map out your job goals and prioritize the most important search strategies that will enable you to achieve the goals. For example, don’t overwhelm yourself by committing to look at and pursue job postings on numerous websites. Streamline your efforts by using a comprehensive platform like Callings.ai to target and apply for jobs.

• Create a daily schedule that time-boxes your job search tasks and sets aside time for self-care and leisure activities. The structure of a schedule reduces procrastination and overwhelm. But be careful to not over-schedule yourself with a long list of tasks. Resist the urge to spend all your free time job searching. Build space into your schedule to read, relax, and just be. Sometimes the most impactful thing you can do is stretch, hydrate, and breathe.

• Round out the structure of your job search by spending dedicated time researching alternative career paths you’d like to learn more about, taking courses to learn new skills, and completing talent and personality assessments like CliftonStrengths and the Enneagram. 

Stay Open to Emerging Possibilities

As you go about your job search, pay attention to ideas and inspirations that arise. Notice if you’re attracted to job descriptions you’ve never considered before. Observe glimmers of curiosity that surface when a friend describes a professional certification they’re pursuing. Notice when you keep hearing good things about a company or a person’s name keeps popping up during networking conversations. These are all synchronicities that may point your job search in a new direction if you stay aware and attuned to the conversations and opportunities percolating around you. Your new job may be closer than you think.

Navigating the in-between zone can indeed feel like a daunting task. However, by letting go of the past, embracing uncertainty, observing your mood, building structure, and staying open you can transform this period into a time of growth and reinvention. Remember, this transitional phase is not just about finding a new job, but about discovering a new path that resonates with who you are now and who you want to become. You’ll find your way through the in-between zone and emerge stronger and more aligned with your true self.