Laid Off

What to do When you are Laid Off

“Come to my office,” the director of our start-up company sternly told me. Ever since I arrived at the office last August, I knew something was amiss from the way my formerly friendly cubicle mates looked at me with askance glances.

“I’m sorry, “ the founder and CEO said, “but this just isn’t working out. You need to go.”
I felt the tears well up inside of me. “What do you mean? I speak 3 languages, bring an international perspective to this firm, and have been working overtime in the past few weeks.”
“We knew this position had been a stretch for you, “ the director said, “but the straw that broke the camel’s back was that no one knew where you were yesterday.”

“I’m sorry, that’s just the way it is. Let me walk you to the door.”

Coping

Like any loss, a job loss is a traumatic event. Especially being laid off or fired unexpectedly. The above experience happened to me last August. At the time it was a surprise filled with shock, dread, sadness, and anger.

I didn’t want to feel these emotions. At first I was angry and hurt. But then I became angry in a new way. My anger became a powerful motivator to prove my old boss wrong. And, it became a motivator for my life change. Instead of being sorry for myself, I used my anger to get up every day and to start again.

What you Can Control

When I was laid off, I had to rethink my whole career path and plan. I brainstormed a list of marketable skills, jobs I had done, and jobs I could do. Then I updated my resume, got out the phone book, and started looking. I looked both online and in the newspaper. Weeks went by and I got discouraged.

But I didn’t find my current job  through the traditional methods. I found it by networking. I let my friends and family know that I was actively looking. I took advice. I prayed, and took a lot of risks. And, I applied to a lot of jobs- even jobs I never thought I’d do.

And I kept on going. Chugging away each day. Getting up in the middle of night and brainstorming where I could go. Watching my bank account dwindle. Picking up odd jobs.

Being Surprised Along the Way

It was a great surprise to be offered a job in a related field in another state. Should I take the risk and move? Weighing my options and life circumstance, I did.  And, I haven’t regretted it but am now thankful for the day I was laid off. Yes, it was a painful experience. But, it proved to be a turning point in my life. 

Along the way it was a good time to return to the basics. To be thankful for family and friends. To remember that my idenity wasn’t in my career or even my job performance reviews- but in who I am.