You’re standing on the sidewalk outside of what used to be your office. In your arms is a cardboard box full of the crap that you accumulated during your tenure. Maybe you had to pack your things in front of your co-workers who all looked away at the Dead Man Walking so as not to catch the disease of Being Fired via your glance. Perhaps your things were already waiting at reception, your (former) HR person having done you the “favor” of packing your crap so that you wouldn’t even have to walk into the office.
Your boss decided he needed a scapegoat for some things that
went awry on his watch that had nothing to do with you. You know, that guy who you always
thought was a bit like an automaton with his “asks” for things like “rockstar”
performance and “championing the customer”. His taking license with the English language aside, he showed his
true colors and set you up for the fall.
So there you are, watching everyone walking around you in
the street with their jobs seemingly intact as you wonder just how in the world
you are ever going to get another job now that you have the Scarlet F branded
on you. Fear not- millions of
people have been fired before you and they were all able to recover. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
You Are Not A Loser
Never make the mistake of basing your self-worth on a
job. You are much more than the
sum of things you do to earn a check.
Assuming that you’ve truly been screwed, remember that you did nothing
wrong. The only person that can
take your self-respect away from you is…. YOU.
Own It (But Honestly)
Don’t start lying about what happened to you because as the
laws of reality tend to go for most of us, you will get caught. If asked why you left your last job,
you can reply with something like “Well, over the last few months it was clear
that the company and I were moving in different directions. I’ve been taking my time in looking for
the next opportunity to ensure that it is the right fit for me.” Some people will let you leave it at
that. If pressed, come up with an
example of something that your employer was doing (a new policy; treatment of
customers) and spin that into your answer. Companies that screw their own employees tend to have a lot
of questionable behaviors. It
won’t be hard to find a good example.
You will find that some potential employers aren’t as concerned
as you think about being terminated.
There’s no need to over-discuss the point. In fact, don’t even bring it up unless your interviewer
does.
Embrace Your Friends
If you have co-workers that you were friendly with, you will
want them to help vouch for you as a reference. Hopefully, you were a good person and a good co-worker. If so, this won’t be hard. And remember, it’s possible that they
may want your help in seeking their next gig once you’ve landed at yours.
Enjoy The Time
If you’ve been working hard for the past couple of years,
give yourself permission to slack a little bit (finances permitting). Your brain and soul both need time to
unwind. Do yoga, exercise, hit the
beach, read, or do whatever makes you feel good (provided that it’s a healthy
undertaking- no one benefits from drinking all day and night).
Good luck! I am definitely pulling for you!
