So... You Got Fired

Sure, when The Donald announces, 'You're fired!' it's pure entertainment. But hearing those words coming out of your boss's mouth? Now, that's scary. Especially since your tumble into unemployment won't be followed by 15 minutes of fame, your own clothing line or a fan website. 'Whether you deserved it or not, being fired sucks,' says Michael Laskoff, author of Landing On The Right Side Of Your Ass (Three Rivers Press). But it happened, so now what? Well, we asked the experts to put it into perspective and provide the advice you need to get back on the corporate ladder.

Coping With The Shock	You're called into your higher-up's office, she shuts the door and tells you to sit down, and then BAM!, she gives you the boot. Once you finish picking your jaw up off the floor, you'll probably be overcome by a whole range of reactions. 'You may feel like curling up into a ball and retreating from life, but you have to deal head-on with the emotions the firing rouses or they will bubble up at an inopportune time, like at a future job interview,' says Laskoff. To address the issue, vent to a few close friends (or a therapist). Unloading everything will help you determine exactly what it is you're feeling. 'By assessing what went wrong and doing some reflecting, you may even realise that the job wasn't suited to your skills or that your heart just wasn't in it,' says Dr Susan Murphy, co-author of In The Company Of Women(Tarcher). 'Though you need to accept some responsibility for getting fired, you also have to recognise that your work environment could have contributed to it.' In other words, just because you lost that job does not mean you won't be an asset somewhere else.
Getting Off The Couch
Pounding The Pavement
Handling The Job Interview

Author: Beth Whiffen