Drive Your Career: Termination is not Terminal

There are times in our lives when an event occurs, out of the blue, that will change the direction of everything. Getting fired is one of these moments. Not a reorganization where you are offered severance. Not a displacement taking place after your role was eliminated. I am talking about termination for cause, where you crossed a line professionally or personally that your leadership team has deemed irreparable.

Assuming this is the first time this has happened, you are reeling. Getting fired can be one of the most traumatic events in your lifetime. However, your response and recovery will ultimately lead you on the road of your choice. Give yourself a short period of time to grieve, feel angry, disappointed, and scared. Then stand tall and wipe your eyes, it is time to make a plan. These suggestions can be a starting point.

1. Honest self-assessment on your performance. What really happened here? Was it "Death by Cop"? Were you in a job that you hated trying to fake it? Were you ill prepared for the role's responsibilities? Are there distractions in your life that prevented you from focusing at work? Did you make a costly mistake? Learn from this experience, digging deeply on your strengths and value you bring to an organization. Ask a mentor or trusted professional peer for candid feedback. Keep a diary and make notes, a job search is your most important homework assignment.
2. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. No need to add an employment end date, for now. The goal is not to mislead anyone about your departure, but rather gain interest based on your experience and credentials rather than a distractive date in question. Ask individuals in your network that know you well and had a good experience working with you to write recommendations for you on LinkedIn. Make connections and join LinkedIn groups, increasing your network and exposure. Connect with as many people in your industry as possible. The more groups and individuals in your network, the better your chances to be "found" in search.
3. Prepare a short, honest response for the question you will be asked many times. "What happened?" "Why are you looking?" If you have a few years of history at the company, you probably had some accomplishments before the situation leading to termination. Start with an accomplishment- "The first 3 years at ABC Company I lead sales operations, taking the team from 10-15 employees and turning around the customer sales experience. When I moved into sales management, expectations were different, and I didn't succeed in that setting. I realize now that I am a better operations professional and leader than a sales driver, and that is why I am interested in your opportunity." State accomplishment, scenario, and lesson learned, in a succinct fashion. If the position was a short tenure, state it wasn't the best fit for you based on a couple key points, and although it was a hard lesson, you are glad to be refocused on a better aligned opportunity. Do not dodge the question nor shirk responsibility for what happened, but brevity is key.
4. Be prepared with five professional references. Let each individual you intend to list as a reference know what has happened, and why you will offer a potential new employer a conversation with him/her. Each of these individuals should be able to attest to meaningful work you did with him, and comment on your attitude and work ethic. If you can get a letter of recommendation as well, all the better.
5. Stand guard at negative talk. The moment you start blaming others in your explanation of your termination you lose credibility. Describe what happened in the format of accomplishment, scenario, and lesson learned, and you can give data driven information of why you are available. You have been let go, and no one wants to hear excuses in interview of why it was not your fault.
6. Prepare for interviews with intention. The focus on why you are interested in the opportunity will allow you to pivot back to good questions. "Yes, as I shared, I was let go from my last organization after my manager and I decided I was not meeting the expected numbers. I do feel strongly this opportunity at ABC company aligns with my strengths, and the product is one I can get behind. I read that business grew by 10% last year, what do you attribute to that growth?" Give your honest answer and jump back into the opportunity at hand. You do not want to hijack your interview in defense, have your offensive moves ready and go after the opportunity.
7. Closure with your manager who terminated you. The response here is not one size fits every scenario, however, closure with this manager is important for your mental well being as well as professional growth. Consider writing a note, or ask for a brief phone call. Thank him/her for his professional handling of a difficult situation. Share that you are disappointed in yourself and learned from the experience. Remind him of the good work you had done prior to the discrepancy, and you hope your paths cross again. The result could be a manager willing to be a reference for you, or at minimum, less heaviness on your head and heart about the way things ended.

Termination, although one of life's most challenging stressors, does not have to kill you. It is in these difficult moments that we learn, grow, and ultimately, end up stronger. Take this challenging lesson and let it empower you.