Laid-off. Downsized. Mutual parting. No matter what you call it, being fired sucks. But it doesn’t have to. Take a look at some of the world’s best and brightest. Baltimore’s evening news program jettisoned Oprah Winfrey for being too emotionally invested in her stories.
Although the job growth statistics show that we’re well into the Great Recovery, layoffs still plague millions of Americans. Last month, nearly three million lost their jobs and two weeks ago
Trailblazers like Walt, Steve, and Oprah used the bad news as launching pads for transformative campaigns, companies, and concepts. In the new era of work, with the landscape increasingly dominated by freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses, reimagining yourself is easier — and more crucial — than ever.
So what do you do when you’re the one getting the axe? Here are five ways to own your job loss and move boldly forward:
#1 Grieve Later, Grieve Privately, Grieve Loudly
No matter how devastated you may be, don’t lose it in front of your boss, HR director, and colleagues. And definitely don’t dial up your girlfriend with the bad news while in the office. Let your closest friends and loved ones immediately know via text or email (only). But don’t be afraid to really let it all out after you finally clock out. Grieving loudly — in the appropriate setting — will help you purge the pain and ultimately get past it.
#2 Be the Person Who Takes Bad News Well
The minute the news gets around the office, your colleagues will ask “How did he take it?” It’s crucial that the answer portrays you as calm, collected, and confident. It’s ok to be surprised and saddened. It’s not ok to throw your coffee mug against the wall. There will many more opportunities to continue to display your composure while tying up loose ends (such as COBRA, severance, and exit memos).
#3 Goodbye Job, Hello Dream Career
Your gut reaction will probably be to jump on Indeed.com and troll through hundreds of job listings. However, there is another way. You can use your firing as a chance to examine whether your career is making you happy. Do you secretly want to voice commercials, design marketing materials, or write code? Now you have time! Go online and figure out how successful people in your desired field got to the top. Make a list of the necessary steps. Take a class or two. This is your opportunity to explore your dreams and make them a reality.
#4 Immerse Yourself in the Gig Economy
More and more of you are freelancing and sites have emerged to make it as easy and simple as possible to market your skills and find clients. But you still need to do your homework.
Learn about all the resources that you can exploit to launch your new career. Do online tutorials to fully understand the ins and outs of achieving success on each site. Join online communities to meet others in the same boat, learn from them, and forge relationships.
#5 Make Your Former Boss Your First Client
Reports indicate that by 2020, half of the American workforce will have worked on a contingent basis at least once in their careers. Even if you’re committed to landing another full-time position, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by asking your former boss to be your first client. What better way to remind yourself of your strengths, stay current in your field, and stop burning through savings and severance? The good news is the world of freelancing is at your fingertips.
As someone immersed in the future of work, I’m always interested in hearing stories of career transitions and transformations. Tell me yours @MichaKaufman.
