Here Is What To Expect, And Your Action Plan To Rebound, After Losing Your Job

By Jack J. Kelly

In my experience, it is highly likely that anyone with over five years of corporate experience willingly risks losing their job. Unfortunately, this is the new normalcy of corporate life. The situation is magnified by the fact that nobody likes to talk about being out of work. When a person is asked to leave, the first inclination is to keep quiet and not tell anyone due to embarrassment.

Whatever corporate jargon is used (getting fired, reorganized out, separated from the payroll, terminated, pink slipped, riffed or shown the door), the process is a frightening, painful and anxiety-ridden event. It may initially seem bleak, but have hope; this does not mean that your life is over. I would like to offer some reassurance and guidance as to what to expect and the actions to take to regroup and bounce back better than before.

Since most people don't share their status with others when they are in-between jobs, it looks like a rare occurrence. In an age when companies routinely relocate employees to lower-cost states or countries, deploy technology to replace real-life people and jettison older (i.e higher-paid) employees, getting let go has become business as usual.

The first thing you need to do is look after yourself. Be prepared; it is perfectly natural to experience a range of emotions including anger, depression, fear, humiliation, loss and, ultimately, acceptance. There will be a feeling of lack of self-esteem and guilt. The loss of your routine will have you feeling lost and disoriented. The adrenaline rush of working, comradery with your former colleagues and a sense of purpose will be missed and leave you feeling a little empty.

It is mission critical to get yourself mentally, emotionally and physically in shape. It is far too easy to slide into depression, anger and bitterness. It is natural to withdraw from your family and friends due to a false sense of shame. A slippery slope of negativity could lead to a tendency of overeating, binge-drinking, taking both prescribed and other types of drugs and breaking from a regular exercise routine. It is crucially important to push back against these harmful thoughts and actions.

Aggressively work to ensure that you don't slide into despair and remain positive and upbeat. Push yourself to eat right, sleep well, exercise and maintain your social relationships. Think positively and fight hard against any—and all—negative thoughts. Go to the gym, jog, ride a bike, do yoga or just walk outside. Please don’t feel embarrassed to seek out help or counseling. It is important for your mental and emotional health to continue socializing with others and not withdraw into your apartment or home.

While it is perfectly natural to grieve and feel sorry for yourself—just for a while—then you need to actively move forward. Be honest with everyone about your situation, as there is nothing to be ashamed of. The majority of experienced professionals have been there too. In fact, go out of your way to talk and meet with as many people as possible to improve your mindset, attitude and pick up leads for a new job.

Although tensions and pressure will be running high, don’t sign a severance or other agreements without taking time to evaluate them properly. As you are leaving, try to remain professional and avoid making matters worse by getting into heated arguments which will work against you when you seek out a new job. Ask for everything that you discuss at the exit interview in writing, so there are no future surprises. If you are in a highly-regulated industry (such as finance), negotiate what will be put on your permanent records that may go into central databases for all to see. Consider asking for a reference for when you start interviewing and inquire how your termination will be relayed to future references. Do some investigations into whether there were other—possibly illegal—reasons why they fired you (i.e. race, religion and age).

The shock, devastation and hurt feelings can easily lead to pessimism about the next job. You will have to work through these emotions. After a little time goes by and you start to process the news, take an objective look at what happened. Try to learn and benefit from the experience.

If you’ve been putting off any healthcare appointments, make them now while you still have coverage. File for unemployment. Start thinking and preparing how you will position this event to prospective interviewers.

Looking for a job is now your new job. Update your résumé and LinkedIn profile. Actively engage on LinkedIn to connect with as many people that can help you as possible. Set up meetings with recruiters, attend networking events and get in contact with corporate, internal recruiters. Call, email and meet with any-and-all former colleagues, acquaintances and friends that can help you with the job search. Prepare and practice an elevator pitch to sell yourself to everyone.

Don’t be ashamed of your circumstances. When it comes up in conversation, be brief and positive, “I understand that these things happen and I am glad that it did. I was considering making a change in my career and now have the luxury of time to pursue new opportunities!”

The pressures of not having an income are real and will need to be dealt with. Start getting your financial situation in order. Consider finding temporary, part-time work, or some management consulting. 

Don’t ever give up hope. Keep pushing forward, remain positive and strong. Hopefully, the best-case scenario is that you will find an even better job and earn more money than before.

Please check out all my Forbes.com articles by clicking on this link. Thanks, Jack.

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