When the Trump administration swiftly dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development early last year, thousands of development professionals were unexpectedly thrust into survival mode overnight. Contracts were frozen, teams dismantled, and long-planned career paths suddenly disappeared.
In the months since, those whose jobs were affected have not only faced an unprecedentedly challenging job market, but also significant emotional fallout. From feelings of betrayal to the loss of the communities they both served and worked in, a grieving process was understandably triggered.
“I think the stages of grief are really important,” Radhika Bhatt, a climate and social impact career coach, said. “I saw some people just not attempt to process what happened and jump straight into the job search, and that’s a fast track to burnout.”