Being fired is a distressing and frequently humiliating experience. It’s hard to go home and break the news to the family. Maybe you saw it coming, or maybe you didn’t. However, termination is a fact of life and a business decision; thousands of people get ‘fired’ each week. They too, are dealing with the same emotions of anger and diminished self-esteem. Although tough to swallow initially, see termination as an opportunity, and a time to secure an even better position! How can you turn a negative experience into a positive one? Well, here are some guidelines:

Resign yourself to the following fact:

It’s human reaction to feel hurt, loss and anger; in today’s fast-paced world where most people owe large amounts of money and have other obligations, worry takes a grip on their life. However, it’s perfectly normal to have these feelings. Take a break, recharge the batteries prior to setting and executing a new career path. From assisting clients going through this difficult stage, I always sense financial hardship is the most difficult to deal with. The fear of not having enough money to pay the bills, and the unforeseen expenses that always seem to occur. The trick though, is not to hide from your financial commitments, face them head on, be honest with yourself, your spouse, and the advisors around you. Inform the bank, mortgage company, and other lenders of your situation; they will help you work out a payment plan. The message is to deal with the situation quickly and authoritatively.

Learn for this experience:

After coming to terms with the fact, learn from it. Life is one continuous learning experience, so gain something positive from it. Realize that the world isn’t coming to an end; there is a whole new life you can create for yourself. Evaluate where you are, want you want to do, and where you want to be in 3 to 5 years. Most importantly, take stock of what factors led to your termination and learn from them. Numerous downsizes occur not because of the particular employee, but because of other issues. For your peace of mind, try to find out what they were. If the termination was a result of your work or a lack of organization skills, it may be time to take a time management course. Once you land the next position you will be more prepared to meet the demands.

Embarrassed by the situation?

Don’t be; you have nothing to be embarrassed about. As we said, many people are in the same position. You will successful if you take a positive look at the benefits rather than the pitfalls. Everyone has down times; be determined to learn and continue to grow.

Positive People:

Negative people are unhealthy to be around; they drain you. Find people who provide you with energy, humour, drive, and direction. Listen to success stories from people who have overcome similar circumstances and are now on the road to success. Seek a mentor; someone you respect who can be a sounding board for you, maybe they are well-connected in the community, an ideas person, a person who can assist you to steer a path, a listener, or someone who will provide you with answers to the pertinent questions people have after being downsized. Employ a career coach; they are trained to provide guidance during a transition.

Rest & Relaxation:

Have some quality time for yourself; rest is good for you emotionally and physically. Gather your thoughts, good and bad; enjoy some social time with family and friends. Do things you have wanted to do for a long time, or read a book. Rest and relax; get your mind, body, and spirit together so when the time comes to launch your job search you will be firing on all cylinders.

Call on professional help:

Seek the help of a career professional if you want an expert opinion; they are there to listen, and to provide support and guidance during this negative period in your life! It takes a strong person to realize that external help could be of beneficial. The sooner one takes that step the more positive your life will be as you move forward.