A very close friend called me one day, and was very distressed. Between her tears, she informed me she had suddenly been let go of her job. She knew she had been having problems with her immediate supervisor but thought she had been dealing with it professionally and never felt there was a threat of losing her job. This was her dream job – and she had worked hard for the organization for nearly two years. The CEO loved her and my friend received kudos for her outstanding work by the CEO, the Board, and many of the people in the community that she worked with.
I was completely stunned that she was let go. After hearing the story and asking lots of questions, I came to understand one simple truth: her supervisor just did not like her. The supervisor had been out to get rid of her from the very beginning. This was just one of those situations that could not be fixed.
The HR manager who handled the termination was of little help. My friend was informed of the “at-will” status and because the supervisor felt they could no longer work together, the relationship would be severed. Perhaps the hardest thing to understand was the supervisor gave her an outstanding performance evaluation and even a raise the year prior. Then, just prior to her being terminated, lied to the HR manager about several situations. Many other employees admitted to the HR Manager that the supervisor was out to get my friend, regardless of the outstanding work she was doing. However, the HR manager felt there was no other option but for ties to be severed. My friend was given the option to resign, effective immediately. The CEO had agreed on a small severance package and agreed to provide her an excellent reference if anyone contacted him.
Needless to say, I listened to my friend’s grief and her frustration. She was extremely scared and knew the loss of income would drastically effect her family’s financial situation. My friend knew that personality conflicts happen, but she had never been in this type of situation in her entire career. She felt she had handled everything professionally, but regardless, nothing could be done since the supervisor was insisting on letting her go.
Many people have found themselves in this same situation – suddenly unemployed and going through an emotional roller coaster. Many successful people in the world have experienced major setbacks in their careers. How you respond to the setback and how you make the best of it is what will matter in the end. Here are some tips to help get through a sudden job loss.
Accept your emotions
In this situation, it is normal to feel angry, hurt, rejected, and a strong panic, regardless of the reason for the job loss. Grief is a very natural response to losing a job, and dealing with this is the first part of moving forward. Acknowledge what happened and understand that grief is normal. Sharing your feelings with close family or a close trusted friend will help you to get through the grief process, and help you to deal more effectively with what is to come.
Don’t Dwell on It
Rather than dwelling on the unfairness and how poorly it was handled, accept it for what it is. While you do not want to beat yourself up or allow yourself to become immobilized, use this as a learning opportunity. Remember … you are valuable!
Learn From It
Analyze the situation for future use, then put it away for now. Reflect on what you learned from this experience, and concentrate on your career priorities. Maybe this experience has a silver lining and you will find a better job opportunity as a result of this unfortunate situation.
Do Not Speak Out Publically
Becoming angry and speaking out only reflects poorly on you. Turn to people you trust for support. Under no circumstance is this the opportunity to blast a company, the supervisor, or anyone else. You will regret this later and it may come back to hurt your opportunities to find a new job.
Discover Your Strategy
The next step is to accept the reality that you are unemployed and develop a strategy to get back on track. Remember, this is a short pause, not the end of your career, so stay focused on the positive. Analyze where you want to be in your career and where you want this path called life to take you next.
Dust Off Your Resume
Update your resume, determine who your references can and should be, and highlight the accomplishments of your past positions. Review it carefully for content, grammar and typographical errors. Update your cover letter and highlight your skills that will benefit the hiring organization.
Network
Reach out to people you know and trust, and let them know you are in search of a new position. Taking action will help you feel more in control of your situation and you will find an outpouring of support and encouragement from friends and other contacts. Building relationships and strengthening your on-going relationships with friends can be rewarding and fun. Networking can lead to new opportunities so stay connected with your contacts and friends. Most job opportunities are found through knowing people.
Be Patient, But Persistent
Searching for a new job may take time. Be patient, but persistent. Remain positive during your search, and always be prepared for an interview. Get up every day and be ready for an interview. Dress professionally, or be ready to switch to professional clothes just in case a call comes in for an interview. Following a set schedule will keep you focused and will be more efficient and productive while you are unemployed.
Focus on YOU
During your down time, take advantage of your time by reviewing your career goals, focusing on your skills, accomplishments, and successes. Keep up-to-date by reading trade journals and reviewing your job skills and industry knowledge. Volunteer at your child’s school or local charity. Don’t forget to list any new achievements on your resume to explain what you did during your employment gap.
There are many ways to get through a sudden job loss. Just remain positive and proactive, and don’t let this unfortunate situation bring you down. While feelings of panic and uncertainty are normal, remember that the most effective job searches are results of targeted search strategies that leverage your experience and skills to a prospective employer. The good news is that many people who have been laid off move on to other opportunities and, in the end, find they are happy it happened as they found a more fulfilling work situation.
And my friend … well, she ended up in a better job making a little more money than the previous one. It pays to not give up!
