Meeting Guide
How to cope with job loss during the pandemic
Overview
Research shows that building resilience can help mitigate the mental anguish that can come with job loss. Here are some practical resources to help you find strength, stay positive, and prepare for job hunting virtually during this challenging time.
Pre-Meeting Prep
- If you’re covering this topic in your virtual Circle this month — ask members to review one or more of the the below resources in advance, or review them together at the start of your meeting
Resources
- Coronavirus is a financial crisis for women
- April’s staggering job losses were felt most by women, minorities, and the lowest paid workers
- How to prevent the pandemic from taking a greater toll on women entrepreneurs
- How I’m finding purpose and connection in a pandemic
- Ways to stay social despite the distance
- How to navigate job hunting during a period of layoffs and extreme unemployment
- How to network virtually
- Due diligence before job interview
- Tips for a successful video interview during COVID-19
- Social distancing doesn’t have to disrupt mentorship
Check-In
Group activity
5 minutes or less
An icebreaker is a powerful tool to help us become present with one another and ourselves. Use this icebreaker to see how your Circle members currently feel. Go around your Circle and share an update on how you’re feeling using the traffic light colors:
- Green (mostly good)
- Yellow (mixed feelings, unsure, or just OK)
- Red (mostly not doing great)
You can also briefly share why you’re feeling that way if you’d like.
Discussion Questions
Group activity
Approx. 35 minutes
These questions are designed to help you and your Circle members connect over common challenges, share your best strategies to overcome them, and workshop solutions together.
Pick one question to start with and move on to the other questions if you have time.
- Women are more likely to lose their jobs during the pandemic. On top of gender, what other lenses of your identity—from socioeconomic status to ability to race—might be impacting you?
- What is one thing you’ve learned about how different groups of women are affected by job loss and financial insecurity during the pandemic? What does this reveal about the power and inequality present before the pandemic?
- Have you (or someone you know) lost your job or had your hours cut during the pandemic? How are you coping?
- Losing a job can be a kick to your self confidence. But treating yourself with compassion and looking for the silver linings can help you cope. How can you frame the loss of a job to cultivate self-compassion? What are a few things that have gone well recently?
- What steps have you taken to prepare yourself for the job market?
- Keeping in touch with your professional community can be a bit trickier now. How can you build your network during this time?
- Losing a job can be a kick to your self confidence. But treating yourself with compassion and looking for the silver linings can help you cope. How can you frame the loss of a job to cultivate self-compassion? What are a few things that have gone well recently?
- This is a challenging time for job hunters. What new strategies for expanding your job search will you try?
One Action
Group activity
Approx. 10 minutes
Come up with a One Action
Individual activity
Approx. 5 minutes
We recommend you close every meeting by committing to a “One Action”—one concrete thing you’re going to do before your next Circle meeting to step outside your comfort zone, practice a new skill, or try something new, based on what you’ve discussed today.
Next time you meet, update your Circle on your One Action (what you did and how it went).
Take a few minutes and ask everyone to write down their One Action.
Share your One Action with your Circle
Group activity
Approx. 5 minutes
One by one, go around your Circle and share your One Action. Move quickly from member to member, and consider cheering one another on as you go.
Wrap-Up
Group activity
Approx. 10 minutes
Finalize logistics of your next meeting
Group activity
Approx. 5 minutes
Before you break, make sure you have the basics covered for your next meeting, including day and time. Decide what you’re going to do, when you are going to meet next, and who is going to send out ideas. You may also want to talk through what worked—and what didn’t—in today’s meeting so you can brainstorm improvements going forward.
Close on an uplifting note
Group activity
Approx. 5 minutes
Think of one small moment of joy you can plan for this week. Go around your Circle one by one and share what you’ll do. Alternatively, take a few minutes to write down something you’re grateful for—and share it with the group, if you’d like to.
