Photo Courtesy of JS's (flickr)
Getting fired was one of the scariest things I could imagine when I entered the job market fresh out of college. I feared having to explain to a future employer why I sucked at my last job so badly that a security guard had to throw me off their property. I feared having to fill out an application and check the box that asks if you’ve ever been fired or asked to resign, and then having to list the reason. I thought getting fired would somehow put me on a public “Do-Not-Hire” list and I’d be banned from employment forever. I imagined only being able to work as a janitor or simply giving up with no possibility of a future. Scary stuff.
I’ve worked a number of different jobs since college and I’ve seen someone fired at every one of them. The best story was when I worked at Steak ‘n Shake and the guy that makes the shakes beat up my boss in the parking lot while the entire restaurant watched. He then tried to beat up the cops that came to arrest him. Good times. If you have any great stories about people you know getting fired, include them in the comments below.
So, how could getting fired possibly be a blessing?
1. Goodbye Crappy Job (You probably should have been fired)
The reality is that you were probably fired for a good reason. Even if you weren’t, you were working somewhere that doesn’t want you there anymore. That’s reason enough to feel free of any burdens you can now leave behind. Losing this job can now become one of the greatest blessings because that source of stress is gone forever.
2. Learn from the Experience (Figure out what went wrong)
Don’t let an experience like this one slip away. Treasure the fact that you have a story to tell and a lesson to learn. Share you experience with others and be sure to discuss what you could have done differently to improve the situation. Unless of course you were trying to get fired, then you can brag about how brilliant you were.
3. Eliminates Fear of a Future Firing (Don’t Make it a Habit)
What doesn’t kill you just might make you a little stronger for next time. Believe me, if you’ve been fired once you’ll probably be fired again before retirement. But don’t make pissing off your boss a habit. Just focus on how you are able to handle the opportunity if it presents itself again.
4. Collect Unemployment (Use Sparingly)
You might be thinking that unemployment checks will start rolling in as soon as you’re fired, and they might if you qualify and apply on time. You could get up to six months of income from the government; just try not to abuse your fellow taxpayers for too long. At the very least, a few checks will help you avoid a crazy financial mess if you weren’t prepared with an emergency fund. Make a plan today assuming you’ll be fired tomorrow.
5. Personal Time (Use Wisely)
Free time will be your greatest source of happiness but it can quickly become your greatest source of stress if you don’t keep busy. Take a few days off and enjoy the freedom. Then get to work. Work out, take naps, clean your house, read a good book, read this blog, and begin work on steps 6 and 7 immediately.
6. Time to Start a Business (Move Quickly)
If you’ve had a business idea roaming around in your head, now is the time to take action! Seriously. This is the best time to start planning and executing that business idea you’ve only been dreaming of until this golden opportunity struck. Move as fast as possible to get the building blocks going while you’re still unemployed. Then make a plan to continue it if you choose to head back to the 40-hour work week thing.
7. Hello New Career (Make an Intentional Decision)
This should go without saying, but I’m going to kick the elephant in the room anyway. This is your chance to start over. This is your chance to begin life on a brand new journey, one in which you are the captain of your ship. Sound lame? It shouldn’t. It should sound like the best thing you’ve ever heard. Do some research and start applying to the best jobs in your new field now.
Being fired won’t prevent you from getting another job. Many of my previous and current co-workers have been fired before. The reality is that if an employer likes you and thinks you’d be a great addition to their business, they will overlook past “hiccups” because you’re that awesome. Just make sure to impress them that much more.
At the time of this writing I have never actually been fired. I got really close once, but I quit before they took action. Strangely enough, I wrote this article because my fear of being fired has almost disappeared. I would say that has happened for a few reasons. First, I have confidence in my own abilities to find a replacement job. Second, I never expected any job to last forever. Third, I view being fired as an incredible opportunity to send my life in a new direction. And fourth, I like change. I have complete faith that being fired would ultimately benefit me, even if the initial shock is a little unnerving.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your comments below about your experiences with being fired, or especially if you’re the one doing the firing.
The Clueless Graduate,
Jeff Sanders 
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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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