tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445268929794278367.post7456808518007062840..comments2022-06-07T04:48:07.459-07:00Comments on Ask a Manager: You're Fired, Now What?WRGIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17036062696749142603noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445268929794278367.post-21121761308607487802009-06-30T08:09:23.036-07:002009-06-30T08:09:23.036-07:00Having just been through this, I can concur with t...Having just been through this, I can concur with the advice given.<br /><br />Funny thing, though, is the counsel given by well-meaning friends. "All things happen for a reason, so something better must be just around the corner" and "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade" and other such meaningless drivel can be as difficult as the actual lay-off or firing.<br /><br />First of all, don't delude yourself into thinking there's a reason for everything. Life is beautiful and chaotic and mostly random - that is how it should be. Assigning reasons to events is a fruitless exercise. The only reasons that exist are ones we make for ourselves.<br /><br />Another difficult part of it is that the well-established network can suddenly collapse. Colleagues and friends suddenly won't return emails or phone calls. Being unemployed often means being unable to influence events, and if you can't do something for someone, they may be less inclined to stay in touch.<br /><br />Yes, it sounds harsh, but it's undeniably true.<br /><br />Lastly, trying not to take the firing/lay-off personally can be excruciatingly difficult. The old standby of, "if you work hard, come in early, stay late, do more than expected and you'll be fine" is not true. Fact is that people get let go for reasons that often have nothing whatsoever to do with themselves; a decision made in an office on the 40th floor by people you've never met and who have no idea who you are might be the reason for it. A blip in stock price? A new director who takes it upon him/herself to slash salary costs? Who knows?<br /><br />For me personally, I'm still working through the grieving process, taking some time to re-evaluate my options. And I'm doing my utmost not to panic. OK so far - today is a good day. Tomorrow might be different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com