GETTING FIRED WAS A BLESSING

Once upon a time, in a state not terribly far away, I was fired!

?

?

Not from my current job of 6 years – thank goodness; rather, from a position I held well over a decade ago as a Career Advisor and Business English Instructor.

I loved this job, the team with whom I worked, my faculty, program managers, and especially, my students and employers.

?

?

To be honest, this was extremely unexpected and came out of left field with no prior write-ups or warnings. In fact, I was one of the top placement advisors AND accepted the additional responsibility of being the interim internship coordinator in addition to my very busy, full-time role. It was only meant to last a few weeks…but….4 months later, and quite successfully I might add, I was still doing both jobs and I honestly loved it! I was earning bonus after bonus for 9 consecutive terms – almost unheard of here AND during major economic depression. We were located in an area where unemployment rates were as high as 21%!

?

?

Why? I still do not know to this day, but have suspicions based upon “insider information.” One: The organization had a blatantly obvious nepotism rule. If you were not the president’s family member by blood or marriage, don’t plan to stay long. Two: Politics, politics, and more politics, which I can only go along with to a certain extent without opening my big, fat yet professional-speaking mouth. Three: I was making too much money for them to afford to keep me. And being an “at-will” state, it was at their will I must be let go.

?

?

How I was let go was the harshest part. A letter was sent to me via FedEx while I was on an approved, temporary FMLA leave. The letter went back unaccepted, as I was not home to receive it. The dean had to call me and tell me directly to my ear. No explanation. Just terminated and my belongings were boxed and ready to be picked up. Ever had the physical wind knocked out of you? It felt very much like that. I was angry, sad, confused, scared….a cyclone of emotions. I broke down and cried for an hour. Then, using every ounce of my spirit left, started networking immediately. Reaching out to everyone I knew and sending my resume out like one of those spam emails you get saying you have won money for which you never worked or applied.

?

?

Oh, and they fought my application for unemployment, which took 4 months to begin receiving (I found a new job and had moved by then). Because I QUALIFIED for unemployment, I was not eligible for any temporary assistance with food stamps, medical insurance or government help of any kind. Lost my house. My health insurance. Moved to a new state, took a job that paid considerably less (I am STILL earning less than I did at that job).

?

?

Long story short, it brought me to Utah. What a blessing that has been overall! I have a great job, have made amazing, lifelong friends, been able to work with incredible employers, have fun experiences I would not have had otherwise...hindsight is a beautiful gift. Remembering the hard stuff and seeing the good through grateful eyes.

?

?

I learned some things from that experience.

?- Sometimes a business changes directions and that’s okay.

- Other people may just be a better fit for a multitude of reasons (cost, personality, relationships, etc.)

- Some things are just beyond your control; get up, dust off your bruised, aching ego pants, and keep going. You can cry and indulge in junk food or wine later.

- Fortunately, we need to be forced into another direction that is best for us, even if we go unwillingly.

- I have become a much better career and job counselor for having experienced this.