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.
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The Clueless Graduate,
Jeff Sanders
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look like someone watched "up in the air" recently… haha nice post Jeff
I have felt the sting of being let go first hand. Last October I purchased a home, lost my job, and got married all in the same week. I figured that since I just graduated from SLU that my degree would allow me to find an even better job….. p.s I am still looking
I didn't know you got married? Congrats! Sorry to hear you lost your job in the same week. That hurts. What type of work are you looking for? I may not be able to help, but I'm curious to hear what you're up to.
I like your post. You are dead on. I was fired in a situation that was entirely the result of a communication problem. Interestingly, it was a Communications office. Information flowed down more than it did up. For the task I was assigned, the information really needed to flow up because it involved the development of our website.
I will never think back on my time in that office fondly. It was for the most part a period of pure agony. Being set free was a relief. It was scary because I had bills to pay, it was frustrating because I had no choice but to take all of the blame (HR wasn’t about to help me out), but it was an experience I gained a lot of personal skills from. These include the ability to stand up for myself, the ability to take necessary risks, and the ability to articulate things in finer detail. All skills that give me more mobility in my career.
I’m not happy that I was subjected to that kind of situation, but I’m lucky because I have an experience that others don’t. I’m more grateful than some of my co-workers for the culture of the company I currently work for, and I’m much happier now because I’m in a job more aligned with my values.
Great story! I’m sure many people can relate. Getting fired seems like the worst thing ever, but it’s really an opportunity to grow that many people overlook.
I’ve been fired several times.
(1) Once for being pregnant. During a layoff at Aladdin Mfg. I asked our manager about my layoff information. He told me he was firing me instead because I was pregnant and he thought I knew it when I started working there 2 months previously. Boy do I wish certain laws had been in place THEN.
(2) Job eliminated. Guess this wasn’t really being fired, but the company was going to close it’s doors. Made sense since they really didn’t know what the hell they were doing anyway. I’ve never seen 3 men more ignorant of how a TPA works in my life. Part of the reason they closed their doors though was somewhat my fault…I admit. After seeing one of the owners refuse to give some of our people any severance pay what-so-ever (for having work reduction they were being laidoff/let go) I DID make the conscious decision to stop trying to sell anything. These guys did more to piss off clients than to help them, so it was in my best interest to not have my reputation sullied further by their inability to comprehend the idea of building a “relationship”. They obviously thought they were still selling widgets and we should be order takers….morons.
(3) Fighting. Yup. Myself and spouse were working together at a company and on different shifts so one of us could be home with my 4 year old son. Hubby decided to start having an affair with one of our coworkers and she was coming to my house while I was at work. Needless to say, when I found out she and I had an altercation in a back ally (away from work). Of course, when someone ran to get the manager and he tried stepping between us…well, I slugged him too. The owner called me later that evening to tell me to turn in my uniforms. When I started asking why was it that both myself and husband were being fired yet the girl (oh, and I had gone to high school with her too) wasn’t, I was told “Well, she didn’t know he was married.” You are effing kidding me right? I’m like, she’s coming to my HOME. I have a 4 year old and my CLOTHES are in my BEDROOM.
All of the above turned out ok though. Each time I was able to move higher and higher with more opportunity for growth. The girl in question…well, she stayed there in that little podunk job and never developed any real marketable skills. That company eventually closed down. So I was pretty blessed though it sure didn’t feel that way at the time.
I would hate to lose my job now until I get somethings paid off, but since I work for a horse’s ass who seems to hold my age against me it could turn out to be a good thing. I’ve learned a lot in my years in the workforce….#1 is that I keep really good notes and I have enough saved to hire an attorney.