Being fired is a situation we never want to be in, and yet many of us have found ourselves being unceremoniously let go from a job. Whether we liked the job or not, it can still feel pretty terrible to get fired. If you have recently been let go from your job, you might feel like you’ve got a new lease on life, and that you’re free to start over and find a position that makes you happy.
In the wake of getting fired, you might also feel angry, resentful at your bosses, and sad that you’ve lost a job and a pay check. These feelings are all perfectly normal in the wake of such a changing life event. These feelings will subside, and you’ll need to learn how to handle such an event in a way that leads you on to better things.
Here are a few ways to manage your life and your mental health in the wake of getting fired:
- Don’t take it personally. Even if you felt like you were just a cog in a corporate machine or you worked for a close-knit, small company, getting fired hurts. Remember that this decision isn’t necessarily an indication that you are a bad employee- rather, it could have been a financial calculation that the higher ups needed to make for a variety of reasons. They need to keep their company running smoothly and efficiently, which sometimes means letting go of valuable, talented employees.
- See the opportunity. Although getting fired stinks, this is a good opportunity for you to re-examine your life and see where you could go. You can rethink your professional and personal goals and take a little time off to do things you love before you jump back into the workforce. Getting fired is a chance to go back to school, invest in a new hobby, relocate, or do many of the things you’ve always wanted to do.
- Reinvent yourself. Getting fired isn’t a setback, but rather an opportunity. Take a break from work if you can and ask yourself what kind of job you could do that would really make you happy. Ask yourself, if you could get paid to do anything, what would you do?
- Utilize your resources. Check out local, state, and federal programs that can help you when you’re unemployed. You can receive education and job training while you are unemployed to set you up for a different career if you choose to go for one. Find people in the field you want to be in who can teach you and mentor you as you grow professionally. Find out ways to turn your hobby into something you could make money from.
- Leverage your professional experience. Update your resume and create professional profiles online. This is a valuable resource you can use to connect with other professionals and get your job experience out there.
Even if you’ve been fired, remember to never give up on your personal or professional goals. Being fired doesn’t mean you’re useless- it just means some things don’t work out the way we plan them. Use this time to regroup and create a new plan for your life. Who knows- maybe you’ll find an even better way to get a pay check!
