Losing a job can make you question who you are

No matter how good your work-life balance or the richness of your hobbies and interests, you inevitably base part of your identity on your job. When you meet a new person, you might introduce yourself with your profession. When you apply for car insurance, your premium is based on the risk your job title suggests that you present. And for some of us, the main time we assess our skills and strengths comes at our annual appraisal – and so our employer’s view of us merges with our own.