How to Keep Your Peace, Confidence, and Know Your Worth While Unemployed

A recent article in The Atlantic shows that unemployment numbers are painting a different picture from the reality that millions of people are living with in this current job market. The unemployment rate may be low and consistent at around 4%, but the pace of hiring is as slow as it was during The Great Recession. Said differently, employees aren’t leaving their jobs, and employers aren’t hiring for new ones. 

White-collar jobs have been the most impacted by this freeze, too with the professional and business service sector losing jobs over the last two years. So if you’re a woman of color professional finding it nearly impossible to land a new role, you’re not going crazy: this truly is a frozen market. 

It’s a harsh flip from the discourse just a few years ago where ‘quiet quitting’ and ‘The Great Resignation’ dominated headlines. The fear that this political climate is causing is making everyone scale back; employers don’t want to expand, and employees don’t want to take a risk with their careers or livelihoods. The 180 is also something that I see as a backlash to the power that employees held for a brief moment during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote work plus a public demand for DEI initiatives was too much for the corporate structure to bear, and the scales have been tipped back in favor of corporate greed and power hoarding. 

Unemployment can be draining for anyone, but for women of color who are more likely to face biases and discrimination in the hiring process that inhibit their chances of landing a role, it can be doubly so. But, it’s possible to keep your confidence and peace and remember your worth during a time that can feel discouraging. 

Your worth isn’t tied to any one job or career 

Just before I started ShiftED, a school I was working at abruptly shut down. Suddenly a single mom left jobless, I felt ashamed of not having a full time job and the validation that comes with it. My mental health spiraled, and I wondered if I would ever work in my chosen field again. 

It took time, but the experience taught me that no company can determine my worth— that’s only for me and my maker to decide. I realized that outside of the practical reasons why I wanted another full time salaried job, such as consistent payment and health insurance, many of my other reasons for wanting a new role were rooted in ego. 

While corporate America has a long way to go in dismantling White Supremacy Culture, in the meantime, our work as women of color is in affirming ourselves outside of what power structures tell us we should be. It’s our own responsibility to see and hold ourselves in high esteem, and no LinkedIn updates are required for that. Just like Audre Lorde once said: “If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.”

Unemployment is an opportunity to become your most authentic self 

There’s no denying that we’re living in late stage capitalism, and sometimes, you have to do what you have to do to make ends meet. That might mean taking a role that you usually wouldn’t, such as a lateral move or something outside of your usual sector or field. And there’s absolutely no shame in any of that. If anything, see it as an opportunity to get clearer on what you most truly value not just as a professional, but as a person. 

I understand more than you know the tug-of-war that you can feel internally when bills are piling up and the job interviews and offers aren’t keeping pace with them. While you understand your needs best, take this time to get clearer on what you value most, and how you want to show up differently in your next role. Seek out the opportunities that align with that, and eventually, the one that best aligns with your most authentic self will show up.

Whether you’re a government worker who’s recently been laid off or you’ve been on the job search for months now, don’t lose hope. Take the time you need to pause and pour into yourself, and approach this time from an abundance mindset, despite the freeze in this current job market. And if you need support in getting clear on your next steps, schedule a consultation with me.