Newly hired? Now you’re fired.
Break out the tissues. This post contains sensitive material.Today someone got laid off. Or, in politically correct speak, their “position was eliminated.” Perhaps they knew it was coming. Perhaps not. But the worst of it is this: they had just embarked on a new career and had a bright, exciting future in front of them. Could this be you?
This is how it works. First you’ll hear rumors of layoffs. The rumors result in office-wide shock and paranoia. Your colleagues begin to console each other. A co-worker assures you that you “deserve to stay” because you are smarter, more skilled, more attractive and generally all-around cooler. You’re glad that all your hard work went noticed by your superiors, but worry that those who mandated the layoff at the national level don’t know you — you are just a name that fills a position — and the newest person on the team. What’s more, according to the rumor mill, the positions being eliminated may solely be decided by how recently people were hired.
So there you have it. You went through four years of college and graduated. You land the job, are praised for a job “well done” and then all the sudden, your high expectations are dashed and you are no longer employable.
Getting laid-off is a humbling experience, especially if you’ve never experienced real financial hardship or big disappointment. But there's plenty of time to fix things and get back on track. Look at the situation as an opportunity. Consider an unpaid internship or temp work while you search for another job. Think about moving to a place where there are more career opportunities in your field. What about graduate school? Perhaps this is best time for you to get that advanced degree.
But, while you spend hours looking for jobs, be sure to make time for yourself too. Hit the gym five times a week. Use your free time to blog more. Rent multiple seasons of your favorite TV melodrama.
A youthful outlook helps too. That great next job might not emerge next week or even next month, But, remember, time is on your side -- so take a deep breath. You’ll likely be working for decades!
Labels: job security, jobs after college, real-world knowledge, recession
Posted by Seymour Jobs on 4/20/2009 01:28:00 PM
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3 Comments:
I'm the kind of person that tries hard to see the silver lining in every cloud. Although it may seem hard to find a silver line when you just get fired from a new job, but I see one. You have a newly updated resume, fresh interview skills and no emotional attachment to coworkers. So make use of that great resume because if you got a job once that means you can do it again.
I think turning a layoff into a positive opportunity is an excellent suggestion. Just as Seymour mentioned, it could be the best time for you to seek another degree or to help others via charity work. The most important thing is to not let it get you down. Layoffs happen every day and there are millions of others who have experienced exactly what you're going through. The point is to not be a victim, but rather an opportunist who takes charge of their future and seizes the day!
I like to think when one door closes another opens up. Even in this economy there are jobs out there. Who knows, your next job could be a better fit than the last. Keep a positive attitude and network, network, network.