Getting fired is a painful experience.

Pretty often it comes as a shock because although your relations with your boss may not have been the best, you did not expect this to happen. But it may not be due to you. No matter what, being fired is a painful experience.
Here’s some things you can and/or shouldn’t do.

1. Don’t panic

Sometimes you are laid off as your company changed their strategy and you learn about the new one at the moment you receive the termination. You are in shock and you experience all those negative emotions that are overflooding you: humiliation, anger, rage, sorrow, sadness, despair, embarrassment, … just name it!
At this moment it is really hard to perceive this as an opportunity to grow and pursue something positive in your professional life.

“When one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” Alexander Graham Bell

2. Take care of your personal brand

You need to be careful when talking about the situation and a general rule is to avoid black mouthing of your former employer.

3. Stop for a moment and reflect

This stage is extremely important to take maximum advantage of the moment when you have your opportunities open again.
Analyze what happened in terms of what you could do better in the future to ‘prevent’ it. Seek honest feedback as it will help you in the stage of career planning. Don’t stay too long here. Don’t let the past keep you from moving on; instead dream big and look for connections. Be here as creative as you only can be and in the way which is best for you. Brainstorm as good as you can. Start thinking forward.

4. Search what really drives you and find out what your life purpose is

According to the Gallup research on engagement, a minority of employees is truly engaged. The majority is not committed or emotionally connected. Then there is the group of the disengaged employees. At the moment you are losing your job, you are given the time to find out your life purpose, your talents, your future (career) path. This will lay the basis for you to redefining your goals for your future career plan.
Ask yourself…

• What is my life purpose?
• What would I like to be my legacy?
• What were my talents and interests since young age?
• What works out for me naturally and effortlessly?
• When do I have the feeling of FLOW?
• What job makes me feel connected to myself and others?
• Where do I see yourself in the future?
• What would I do if I was not afraid?

Make notes and prepare a plan in a format that suits you.

5. Admit accountability for your career

The central thing is that you are exclusively responsible for your career and when you are not in a blaming mode, it will help you to proceed.
Ask yourself…

• Am I ready to fully admit responsibility?

6. Plan your new Career Plan

Use the principles of a growth mindset, which could mean for you that you need to think about yourself as a person who does not have a fixed talent set, but rather has talents and skills that can be developed. If you have a growth mindset, you will be more likely to learn in a systematic way and invest your time in development. Also you will have more perseverance in trying as challenges will not make you quit. This is the time to question the fixed mindset which is holding you back.

It’s also an opportunity to explore your core values and the corporate ones: taking into consideration of what happened to you, look for companies whose values are aligned with yours, and prospective bosses and teams you would like to work with and corporate cultures that resonates with.
Analyze your strengths and think about the value that you can bring for the company. This is useful information for all stages of the recruitment.
Ask yourself…

• What is the type of a career move that I want to make?
• What are the career paths laying ahead for me?
• What are the consequences of choosing each career path?
• What are now my priorities to move forward and achieve what I want?

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

7. Close the competency gap

Find what is the competency gap between your current skills and the competencies required in your ideal job. Investigate what are the trends in your area of interest and plan how to take advantage of them. The gap analysis will help you to prepare the career action plan.
Ask yourself…

• What was the biggest career roadblock until now?
• How will I handle this roadblock which was limiting me before?
• What competences will I need to be successful in, in future positions that I am interested in?
• What are competences in demand in the market that I could acquire?
• Where exactly is the competency gap in my case? Is it for example technical or language knowledge or rather soft skills?
• What support do I need to identify the competency gaps if I get stuck?

Identify what are the resources that you can use. Lack of money is not the excuse!
You can follow workshops which are for free: Go to the events section of Facebook; Listen to podcasts; Go to libraries; Ask your friends and experts for recommendations; Consider coaching and mentoring as they are great development boosting tools.

8. Expand your network

There are people in your network that can help you. If you don’t ask, you miss out!
Go out of your comfort zone whatever it would mean for you:

• Join the groups of interest, either to gain additional knowledge or to learn new skills.
• Participate in networking events which are important for your career.
• Join professional forums and groups.
• Ask your contacts who is hiring and ask for recommendations of great workplaces.
• Ask for advice on best platforms and ways to look for a job.

Be active!

9. Make yourself visible

Update your resume. If needed seek help from friends or professionals to review it. Look at the information which is about you in the web. Check out your Linkedin profile and make it attractive for recruiters and employers. Prepare a comprehensive and engaging profile and ask for recommendations. Continue building your valuable contacts on LinkedIn. It works!
So, go for it and enjoy your new life!
Interested in this topic? More on this topic to come!
 
Contact us if you are in need of career coaching or career planning workshop at hr@hrconcept.com.pl