What to do when you’ve been laid off or fired: Embrace it.
Getting laid off or fired isn’t easy. According the BLS, 1.5 million employees have either been laid off or discharged between January 2023 and April 2023. We see the news every other week - yet another company is conducting cuts. Layoffs are their own unique experience, as it’s typically a group and it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing a bad job - but either way it sucks. When you’re fired, it brings a whole different level of anxiety and emotion - you should know it’s coming, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Both Erica and I have been terminated from employment once. And we both know how difficult it can be to manage the stress that relates to it. But there are always opportunities to find the silver linings. Here’s how we manage when we’ve gotten fired or laid off.
Seek to understand, and don’t dwell. If it’s a layoff, it can be difficult to understand how you were selected and it’s not always clear - sometimes leadership doesn’t have a great answer for it either, ask questions on how the decision was made and accept the answers they’ve given you. If you’ve been fired, know that you did play a part in your journey to being in that seat. It is super easy to react instead of listen and accept. It’s important to find ways to not dwell on the crappiness of the situation, whether that means going into job hunt mode or finding a way to decompress with trusted friends/family. Just don’t wallow, it doesn’t help.
Learn from your experience and take nuggets with you to your next role. We’re big on self reflection - what did you learn from your experience? How you can you move into a new role with a fresh perspective? Identify key learnings and bring them with you. Write them down if you have to!
Start reaching out to your contacts. Take the time you need to process, and gear up. It may take you a week or two, it make take you a few hours. Everyone is different, and there is timeline to process. Acknowledge the emotions and create a plan. Identify contacts who may be able to assist you in your search. Networking is a key element of the job hunt.
Create a plan. Job hunting in itself can be a full time job. Create a solid way to track your applications (we recommend using Huntr.io, Notion or Trello) with links and details about each role. Identify how many roles you plan on applying to each week and be sure to incorporate some sense of routine - workout, spend time with friends, do the normal things so you have balance.
Seek help if you’re really struggling. Mental health is important and if you think you’re just not handling it well, seek professional help. There is nothing wrong with getting the help you need it can create long term impact on you in a positive way!
Find the silver linings. Often times when we’re laid off or fired, it is a good thing. Maybe you’ve been burned out and this is a relief, maybe you’ve been wanting to go for awhile, maybe you’re ready for a big change. Whatever it is, look for the silver linings in the situation and reframe your mindset.
How do you handle getting laid off or fired? Share your thoughts with us.
