Although it would seem the economy has definitely bounced back, or at least is starting to bounce back as I type this, the market crash last year definitely had an impact both on the real estate industry and others. One of the major impacts for a lot of people was job loss, or the fear of job loss, and I know that within the real estate business, this was a very real prospect for many. I've seen it firsthand, many real estate agents accept that if another loses their job due to the economy, it's an understood fact, but when it's your job that's on the line, suddenly being told you're out of work can seem a lot more personal.
Losing your job can be a massive blow to your self esteem, and in these circumstances, it's actually very easy to feel sorry for yourself. More than that, depending on your circumstances, it can create extreme worry, a loss of security and for some people becoming unemployed can also result in feeling a loss of status. It's important that you allow yourself time to get over these feelings if you need to, but how you handle the loss of a job is incredibly important for your future and getting back on track. Here are some suggestions on how to make the best of a bad situation. (Unless of course you despised your work, in which case we could be talking a blessing in disguise!)
In some ways, and in real estate in particular, losing a client or customer draws a lot of parallels to losing a job, and if you work for yourself, the two are completely intertwined. As such, the following steps apply to both. Firstly, try to understand why you lost your job. If the job loss was someway attributable to yourself and not just the economy, address what it is you need to change or which skills you need to develop so it doesn't happen again. In doing this, it is important not to try not to be negative. The experience can be disheartening but you need to look at it as a learning experience. If you have a gap between jobs, think of it positively and make good use of it.
Most importantly, move on. Learn your lessons from the process and then put it behind you and get on with the next challenge. Don't let yourself become idle or bitter, and use the experience to be an improved employee in your next role, or for your next client. They say whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and a job loss is no exception.