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I am worried about losing my job, what can I do?

106 Answers
Last Updated: 05/06/2022 at 3:55pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
January 7th, 2018 12:54am
List all the things down that makes you think this is possible. Start ticking off the list one by one when you find an answer. If you are worried take steps towards more certainty
CaptainObviouslyOblivious
February 16th, 2018 12:11am
Please remember that fears are irrational. It's easy to worry, but you're spending the time you could be figuring out a plan B while panicking about problem A. You can handle anything, and if you feel like you might be in remiss to lose your position, come into work, do your best, have a good word for everyone and set up a backup plan (I.E. New potential employer) to fall back on. Never let yourself defeated- the fat lady never sings in this case for you. You've got this.
Rebelflame75
March 1st, 2018 12:30am
If the job loss is in the future. Start setting aside emergency money now. Prepare. Look around for other job options.. Embrace the adventure
RumpleSteeleSkin
March 4th, 2018 12:52am
I am sorry to hear that you might be losing your job. Maybe when you have the time and your boss does, both of you can sit down and you can share how you are feeling and thinking. Then you can get clear answers from your boss and you will worry less or none at all. I do hope the best for you.
blissfulApricot
March 8th, 2018 8:41pm
Prepare your safety nets. That could be applying for other jobs, doing some evening training to widen your skillset, or attending meetups to build your professional network. Reach out to people you know in your industry and see what else is out there and mention that you might be looking at new opportunities if they come up. Most importantly talk to your line manager and let them know this is a concern and ask for their advice. All angles combined allow you to take control and manage the stressful situation.
AnnaB1
March 22nd, 2018 6:27pm
Make sure that there is always backup. Do a bit of research see what may be available for you. But keep working hard at your current job - that is very important!
Gimel
March 28th, 2018 9:37pm
Imagine the worst-case scenario. What would be your options? Do you have friends or family who would support you for a time? Would it be possible to get an unemployment support for a couple of months? What sources would you use to seek a new job successfully? Try and prepare some of the back doors and write down your options. If the situation escalates, you will already have some steps made to better transition through a difficult time. This, at the same time, gives you the necessary peace of mind at your current position.
Rubyzoisite
March 30th, 2018 9:25pm
You can help minimize your feelings of being worried by going to your job on time, keeping your phone off of you and off the floor when you are working, being respectful to customers and your coworkers and managers, giving adequate warning when you need time off. You can't control what your employers choose to do but you can control what you do and if you are consistently a good worker your feelings about being worried about losing your job will reduce
Anonymous
April 18th, 2018 7:20am
I think you should go and talk to your boss and ask him/her how you can improve in the job you are doing. Get feedbacka nd work on it. :)
Anonymous
July 1st, 2018 7:41am
It would depend on the reason why you think you are in the situation where you could loose your job. I've noticed that when it comes to people with anxiety especially, that it's difficult to communicate with your superiors about what you've completed. There are times where you will receive no recognition for your efforts just because you failed to point them out to someone important like your supervisor or even boss. So, the next time you complete something worthy of recognition, even if it has to be in a not so direct way, make sure you mention it to someone worth mentioning it to.
caringBerry61
July 11th, 2018 8:57pm
Stop thinking of losing your job because unintentionally you will start thinking and doing things that will bring you closer and closer to that possibility. Eventually, the possibility to lose will arise for sure.
Anonymous
July 18th, 2018 12:50pm
Just think postive and dont let your fear eat you. It will not do anything good to you. Believe you can and you will :)
FrothyFlamingo63
October 7th, 2018 11:00pm
The best way I have found, is to have a back up offer on the table. Start looking for other possibilities, and have then on standby just in case. Or if there is something happening with my job performance, I would then do everything within my power to completely turn my performance to a positive instead of a negative. Then I would speak to my supervisor, to see what could improve. Or if there is another way to save my job, can I help myself. The supervisor can then make suggestions, and then I can turn around. I find conversation is always the answer.
Anonymous
December 7th, 2018 12:07am
Well you first should figure out what is causing the problems that your thinking your going to loose your job. After that is done then you focus on yourself and think that did you cause any of this to happen on your end that you might end up loosing your job. If anything happen after thinking about yourself and you feel like your honest with yourself then you need to take the next steps and talk to the boss and see if he can help you understand what the issues are that you might be loosing your job. That is the way ways I think that you take this approach for yourself here.
SimonHauser
January 20th, 2019 3:08am
Talk to your family about it, and talk to your boss! Maybe start looking for new jobs. You could also try and relax by, going for a run or walk, doing volunteer work. I hope this is doing you some good. We try to offer the best advice possible. Share 7cups to a friend or maybe even family. Post about us on your socials! People are going through a lot and might wanna talk. We want to help people feel like they have a safe place to go to in a time of need! This is Simon Hauser here to help!
Anonymous
June 28th, 2019 4:58pm
First of all, I want to recognize this fear as completely valid. In our society, your well-being has a price tag, and that puts stress on every aspect of your health. The feelings you are having are very real, and very scary. However, you must remember that this situation is temporary. Begin looking for other jobs. Staying afloat is a matter of making sure your basic neccessities are met. Food, water, shelter are the first things to check off on your list. Look for a new job everyday. Create a resume at your local library, and walk into any store/business that you are interested in. Ask if they are hiring and hand them your resume. If you do this 100 times, someone will say yes. You can do this.
katherine081902
August 16th, 2019 8:04am
I am sorry you are going through this! First of all, self evaluate and ask yourself if there is a reason you would lose your job. If it is because your employers have to lower the number of employees due to money then that is out of your control. Make sure you aren't giving your boss a reason to fire you, ask yourself if you are doing your work and getting enough hours in. Sometimes a simple attitude change could sway your boss from letting you go to letting someone else go. Make sure you are positive and happy to do your work everyday. If the situation is out of your control, then get your feelers out there for possible openings just in case, but if you can change something to sway that decision then try your best! I hope this helps. :)
HumanEars
October 10th, 2019 9:02pm
There is a great many things you can do. First you have to assess if the genuine possibility exists. If so, next question is to figure out if there is way to change this outcome? If there is, is the way liveable? If so, then I think personal plans can flow relatively easily. Now if there isn't a way or ther is way to avoid the outcome, but the way is not liveable, then it's time to start looking at alternatives. You can see this window before the loss of your job as a gift of time, that you wouldn't have if you waited it out and were forced to scramble. Alternatively, you can also contemplate how to make the worst case scenario bearable, in order to keep a bit of dignity and emotional strength. If you are at the point where there really isn't time anymore, take an hour and make a schedule of how to maximize your scramble. And since scrambling is stressful and anxiety provoking, plan in little moments of time to unwind and ground yourself. Your stamina, might be important. Depleting your resources won't lend to a good outcome.
beautifuldreamer27
January 4th, 2020 6:35pm
If you are worried about losing your job, write down the reasons why you think this, and consider each reason individually. Try and think about the positives and negatives of the job as well. Are you the right fit? Does it make you feel happy? Does it cause you a lot of stress? Is it something you don't want to do? Consider things like this and work out if the role is something that's truly for you. Then in the instance that you're definitely about to lose your job, be open to criticism. Having your employment terminated is alot more common than people work out and can happen to anyone for a range of reasons. Always find out the reasons and ensure these are valid reasons and take it as criticism to build on for future roles.
BunteBia
January 31st, 2020 10:08pm
You could try talking to your management about it. See if there is any reason for your worries and if they truly do think about letting you go, then you could also try to see if you can work out something, on what you could work on to get better. Much like at school when you asked the teacher what you could do to get your grades up. I have been in a similar situation where my supervisors weren't sure if they wanted to keep me, so we made a list about the things where I needed to show more initiative or get better at and got six months to show improvement. They kept me. ;) So it can work.
x71102
February 8th, 2020 11:59pm
I think we all associate ourselves so strongly to our work that the idea we could not be working feels so overwhelming and stressful. And sometimes this does happen - we do lose something we value. But there are ways around this. Have you spoken with someone at your work in HR who can help you look at alternative options within your own company? You could work out a plan that outlines what steps you would take if you did lose your job. But I think the best thing is to talk to people in a safe environment about your worry and see if you can find a suitable outcome that feels right for you.
Anonymous
February 21st, 2020 10:26pm
First question would be if this is a layoff/downsizing situation or worried that you may be fired. If it's layoffs/downsizing, I would start by dusting off the resume and start looking at jobs to get a head start. I was laid off a few years back and never saw it coming. The panic of finding a new job was awful and put me in a position I'd never want to be in again. Staffing agencies are a great start if you are looking for something just to get a paycheck. I feel they also understand the layoff side of things and really can help find you something quickly. If you're worried about being fired, I would consider sitting down with your boss to see what (if any) reasons they might have for letting you go. Are you currently on an improvement plan or have you been written up/spoken to previously regarding your work? If there's something hindering you from giving your best effort on the job, I would also let your boss know that. If they are aware that you are struggling, they may be willing to work with you and figure out how to help you be successful in your position :) Good luck!
SofiaT2000
March 7th, 2020 2:00am
Do your best and have faith in yourself! Don't overwork because a burn out wouldn't have the desired result. Take care of yourself and it will help you increase your effectiveness. Think positive and everything will go just fine!
Anonymous
March 14th, 2020 6:02am
first find give yourself some time and take a day off and then start thinking why are you worried about your job try to find the reason all of them which you think then the points which comes out try to work on them slowly and steadily and start gaining confidence.other things which you have to do is try to talk with your boss or program manager or colleagues whom you trust about your fear and a possible solution and whether are you doing something wrong this will give you path what to do and finally have confidence ,faith in you that if you will overcome this fear and maybe if you will job you will find a new one and learn from the mistakes you have done in the past and always be happy and stay safe.
Jenniferhere
March 20th, 2020 7:00pm
There are different ways to handle this depending on the circumstance. - do you know your rights? Is this something that would be within the legal rights of your company? If not, seek legal advice. - can you make changes to your job performance in order to feel more secure about your position? - maybe you can start looking for a new job now in order to be proactive. - can you upgrade your skills in order to keep the position? - have you communicated with your boss? - consider taking an applicable training course to upgrade your skills - update your resume so that you're ready to search the job market if you have to It's very stressful to feel like you could be without a job. But, it's also important to remember that if you found this job, you will be able to find another one. Connect with resources. Use your time well. You will be ok.
Niktu58
April 9th, 2020 6:39pm
There are many things that can be helpful when a person is worried about loosing their job. It does help to be prepared for the possibility and have a general plan about what you need to do if it happens. The feeling of worry is your brain telling you to be proactive. Updating skills that improve how you do your job can make you feel better about your performance and make a person have an added value in the workplace. Taking life one day at a time and doing the best possible job today will make you stand out in the work place. Do your best to be a great coworker. Set goals for your career and if and when you lose your job you'll be better prepared for the adventure that comes next. These step may not keep you from worrying but doing things that are proactive will help.
Anonymous
April 17th, 2020 6:40pm
1) Establish a journal/diary outlining your feelings, including specific incidents. It never hurts. Sometimes having a diary can help you against the word of another person. 2) Establish contingency plans. Start to apply to jobs asap. Reach out to your network online. That way, if your fears come true, you have the upper hand and have a new place to get started. 3) Preoccupy your mind. Maybe work twice as hard to compensate. If unable to, see if there's some aspect of your current workload, you can do at home to help free up your time to do other things. Maybe the boss wants more productivity. 4) Reach out to family and peers. They may know about hidden job opportunities. They may also provide a place to stay, if you don't have that. Good luck. I wish you the best.
SS2328
April 26th, 2020 10:39pm
If you are worried about losing your job first try to reflect if there is something you can do to avoid the problem. If it is something out of your control, like if the company is doing bad, then consider looking for another job before they go out of business. When business are doing bad employees usually are notified too. If this is the case there are a lot of job finding application available where one could load up their resumes. Once the resume is loaded all you have to do is navigate the jobs available. When you find something that interest you all you have to do is apply and the application send your resume to that job.
Anonymous
May 13th, 2020 10:10pm
You can always talk to your manager or boss to see where you guys stand as a company. I know right now times are difficult with the whole pandemic and things are shaky but having and idea what can happen is always a good thing. Also preparing for the worst is something you must be open to but understand that things will get better after as well. For the meantime it is also maybe to look for work elsewhere as well as prepare to learn how to apply for unemployment if it comes down to that. Try relaxation techniques as well to current ease your anxious feelings
Anonymous
May 31st, 2020 5:54pm
I would suggest that you talk to your boss. Ask your boss if you can have a conversation about what you do well at your job and what you could improve on. Showing this initiative and taking your boss's advice can help prove that you deserve your job. You can only do your best! Times are tough right now, and some jobs may not have the funds available to support all of their workers. What you need to do is work extra hard during these times to ensure that you are a valued employee. You have to believe in yourself before anyone else can believe in you.