I got fired.

It was plain and blurry at the same time. I was in a meeting room and there were several people there including HR. They were blunt and straight to the point, “we’re letting you go.” That was the part that was plain as day. More words came after that but it felt like I was walking in fog and I couldn’t really concentrate on the words; it was all rather blurry.

It was kinda like rain with sun still shining through the clouds. But maybe a little bit gloomier… and no sunshine at all.

Okay, fine. It sucked balls. Happy?

I’ll give you space to roll your eyes and snicker at the irony of the Get Hired Coach getting fired.

Done? That’s cool. I’m rolling my eyes at myself too.

Now let’s talk about getting fired. As I said, it sucked big time. You go home alone or to your spouse or your family, utterly defeated. And many questions come to mind.

“What just happened?”
“Am I that disposable?”
“Why?”
“Am I such a big failure?”

Although sometimes you see signs that you might be getting fired, I can honestly say it’s pretty hard to emotionally prepare for it.

It’s that gutted feeling where we feel like a big sack of old potatoes sent to the trash to make space for new vegetables. It’s embarrassing and humiliating, especially experiencing that part where HR has to escort and watch you while you clean out your office.

So what do we do when we get fired?

In the words of a wise woman (me), here’s my advice: GET OVER IT.

Get over it… in a good way… as soon as possible. Here’s how.

1. File an unemployment claim

First thing! While we might still be feeling like a loser as we come home “terminated”, the first thing you need to do is file for unemployment and get it out of the way. Depending on where you are in the world, the claim might take time to process which would certainly be no fun if you’re strapped for cash.

2. Give yourself time to grieve

While some people might use this incident as motivation to jump back on the job wagon, most people aren’t geared to take such a major blow to the ego so easily. For a few days, allow yourself to take it slow and process what happened. Give yourself a time limit (2 days – 1 week) and do what it takes to restart and refresh. I personally alternated between crying and watching soaps. I know some people who take walks, enjoy gardening or even go on a trip on a hefty severance pay.

3. Treat this as an opportunity

Well, I did say grieve. However, when you’re done with that, consider this as an opportunity rather than a loss. Like any finite space, you gotta take out the old to bring in the new. You’re suddenly open to go any direction and possibly dust the cobwebs off from dreams brewing in the back burner. If that’s out of the question, then this is your opportunity to gain clarity on what you want or do not want in your next job.

4. Revisit your finances

If you’re in a situation where you can’t chill for a few months, revisit your finances. Re-budget, re-strategize. Include the entire family in the planning process. The average job searching time is 4 months. Prepare a plan that will cover your most pressing financial needs for at least 4 months.

5. Strategize your job search

Why is this the last thing? I believe you can’t have an efficient job search process if you don’t clear your head. Removing all the judgement from being fired (in #2), getting clarity in what you want (#3) and minimizing financial worries (#1, #4) already puts you ahead of most candidates. It’s time to sit and strategize your job search. This includes planning your approach to job leads, reviewing your skills and knowledge and researching the job market.

Getting fired might seem like the end of the world. It’s almost a solid statement of how replaceable we are in a company. However, you need to remember that you are also free to “fire” them and look for a job. As long as you have the skills to conquer the job market, this is your opportunity to pick yourself up!

xoxo,

Meema

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