So your boss said the dreaded “F” word: “You’re fired.” It may feel like your life is over. It may feel like you won’t be able to get back in the job market because if one boss doesn’t want you, who else will? Well, you’re not alone in feeling this. In 2014, according to, The New York Times, one in five U.S. workers was laid off in the previous 5 years and about 22% of those who lost their jobs still hadn’t found another one. Though the job market is still scarce, there are many people who have found new jobs after being fired and this is how you can as well.
Getting fired is an extremely stressful situation. You are unsure of the future, you may be panicking, and you have your resume ready to ship off to any company offering any positions. Stop for a moment and take a deep breath. The American Institute of Stress suggests, “BREATHING! That is right, simply breathing. It is free and can be practiced anywhere- I bet you are even breathing right now! The key, of course, is focused breathing.” Put those thoughts aside and just breathe. Panicking will only make things worse and it won’t alleviate the situation.
It can be easy to think that everything is over and that your future is in shambles but it is vital that you remember the importance of self affirmation. Remind yourself that not everything is over. Remind yourself of the positive attributes you have that employers will want in an employee. The Association for Psychological Science stresses the importance of self-affirmation on performance. “Self-affirmation has been shown to have powerful effects – research suggests that it can minimize the anxiety, stress, and defensiveness associated with threats to our sense of self while keeping us open to the idea that there is room for improvement.” Self affirmation can give you the courage you need to go out and tackle that job hunt.
The temptation to accept any job that comes your way will be very strong in this particular situation, but ignore that urge. Salary.com suggests instead to “spend time researching companies so you can target organizations where you’re most likely to have success.” This will take time but it will save on grief and strife in the future.
According to Time.com, “the average job search process takes just over six weeks— 43 days, to be exact— but that varies considerably by industry.” And that’s only if you apply to one place. Imagine applying to several places at several different times. That can result in a lot of waiting. Use the time waiting to beef up your skills or keep the skills you already have exercised. Salary.com recommends to avoid having gaps in your resume by volunteering. However, it suggests volunteering at places that coincide with your field of work.
Depending on how long you’ve been away from the job hunt, the interview process may be extremely different than what you remember. If this is the case for you, research. Find out what has changed and adjust accordingly. Salary.com says, “In addition, spend time reading blogs and books from career experts in order to get some coaching on the best practices for job hunting in today’s workforce.” Once that’s done, polish your resume and you should be good to go.
While you are dealing with the stress of finding a new job, worrying about how your bills will get paid and even deflecting any negative thoughts, exercising your body and mind will help you manage your feelings. James Pennebaker, a University of Texas Austin psychologist and researcher was featured on a Psych Central article about the importance of keeping a journal. He believes that “writing about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thus reducing the impact of these stressors on your physical health.” UlifeLine also promotes the importance of exercising, “Exercise promotes chemicals in the brain that improve your mood and make you more relaxed.”
The “F” word doesn’t have to define you. Instead adopt a new “F” word: future. Getting fired is the start of a new future and as painful as it is to go through, the benefits of growth will pay off.
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