One of the top five stressors in life is losing a job. Just in case you are curious about the other top stressors, they range from death, divorce, wedding, jail, school exams, moving, kids/family, and debt to name a few. Yes, I know that list has more than four stressors. When I was researching the top five stressors in life I found a number of lists with similar and diverse stressors. The one common denominator on all the lists was loss of job.

So what happens when executives lose their job? A study by Connie Wanberg, Associate Dean at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, looked at the effects on mental health in people after losing a job. Her findings are quite interesting over a 20-week period. A few worth noting:

• People who actively engaged in more intense job searches exhibited better mental health than those who were more laid back in looking for a job.
• Looking for a job is a lonely, unpredictable process with no rules, no guarantees, no supervision, and a huge amount at stake.
• Motivation and reward must come from within and are directly linked to an ability to push ahead in job search.

Professor Wanberg says, “Looking for a job is an unfolding task that is highly autonomous, self-organized, loosely structured, and ill-defined. Individuals must decide on their own how and how often to search, and they rarely receive feedback about the effectiveness of the job-search activities and the strategies they are using.” This is where a career coach can be a valuable asset. Working closely with a coach can provide structure, an organized career action plan, hold the job seeker accountable for job search activities or lack thereof, strategize on effective tactics, and keep the client on track.

The findings from Professor Wanberg’s study mirror what I have found in my years of coaching to be true. Another layer of job loss that has been significant to my executive clients (especially men) is that their self-esteem is tied to their job. They define themselves by what they do and who they are within an organization. Without that purpose and status, they start to question their ability to achieve their objectives and goals, and lose their way in life. This can be devastating to the executive and their family.

Keys to good mental health during job search:

• Stay connected. Networking is still the most effective tool during job search.
• Work with a career coach. Create your own support team with a coach that can help you with job search strategies and stay motivated.
• Do the time. Be proactive and schedule at least 17-20 hours a week for dedicated job search activities.
• Start with the end in mind. Stephen Covey’s famous quote says a lot to an executive in job search. When focusing on the success of finding a job, you work from a higher energy level and happier disposition, which amazingly moves the process forward faster.

When unemployed, even the most upbeat person can become depressed and less than enthused about the future. Looking for a job is one of the hardest things (and biggest stressors) an executive can face in life. Use your executive talent to help overcome job search roadblocks and pitfalls. This may be your finest hour as an executive, transitioning your skill set to help yourself be successful in finding a new position.