Full Careers

I just got fired from my first career job (which I spent 4yrs building). How do I cope?

I worked for a supplier plant in the automotive industry since before there was even a plant (I was on the launch team for the projects). Yesterday I got called -totally out of the blue- into the HR office was told that due to the automotive industry slump and plant budget cuts, the corporation decided to dissapear my position, and me with it. This was my first REAL carreer job and this is the first time I've ever gotten fired. I'm still in TOTAL shock and denial! I mean I had a lot of plants for my life and for my professional development, now I have to start from scratch again as far as benefits go. I do have my experiences and projects under my belt so now I'm a much more qualfied therefore exensive propspective employee I just can't get over the fact that I got fired! I'm so depressed that I can't even begin to process this! Please help! I DO have next steps figured out. Where to submit my resume, contacts I've made through the years in the industry. But I'm also getting extremely anxious since, to add insult to injury, they let me go on the Holiday season so everyone is on vacation and I can't get moving RIGHT NOW.

Public Comments

1. Look at it as a positive, although you are temporarily out of job, its sounds like you have loads of experience and stuck it out with a new company. Take that and use it to your advantage, there are many employers that would like to have people like you that stick out through the beginning and know what the heck they are doing. Also maybe use it to go after something you always dreamt of, but were unable because of your job. Go online and start submitting that resume, and try to take advantage of the situation, you have some time, and use it to do something you will enjoy. Best of luck to ya, you will get through it.
2. I have been there before and unfortunately, I don't think there's much we strangers can tell you right now that you don't already know or that can heal you right away. I would just begin sending your resume out asap and doing what you can do at this point. On a personal note, if you have a church you like in the area, attend their Christmas service and perhaps begin getting involved more. Things like this that you might not think of can heal you more than some more logical remedies right now. You're in my prayers...I feel you.
3. Its usually hard to deal with being fired especially when you know there was no inappropriate behaviour on your part. However, take some time to relax and destress both mentally and physically. Do something that you've alwanted wanted to do but never had the time because of work (if you can afford to at this time). I hope you had some funds in reserve, so you can continue to pay your bills. While it is necessary to be dedicated and commited to any job you have, always rememeber that there's more to life. I am just comming out of a similar situation, and is now in a job that is a whole lot better. Consider being fired a window for opportunity, and make the most of it. Good luck.
4. Looks like you're doing the right things to get started on finding a new job. Getting laid off from a job that was no fault of your own is the new work reality. It's bound to happen to anyone and everyone at some point in their career (it's happend to me twice). I hope they gave you a decent package and if it's not too expensive take advantage of the COBRA health insurance they offer. Also, file for unemployment IMMEDIATELY. Don't be too proud to take advantage of the extra income that is due to you. Afterall, it's your money of which you've been paying for out of your paycheck for the past 4 years. Don't get to depressed or beat yourself up endlessly asking 'why me?'. Don't take it too personally and just accept that this is just the reality and nature of the current employment market. Send out the resumes, reach out to every contact you may have and announce that you are actively seeking employment and just keep going. As you mentioned since it's the holidays you're probably not going to get much response until the first of the year. So lay the ground work now, take a breather and relax for the next week or two, enjoy the break and make plans to hit the ground running in January. Good luck and just know that we've all been there and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And I promise you it is not an oncoming train!
5. The EXACT sanme thing happened to me; great salary, been with the company for over four years, and they hired a female sales manager and she got rid of v eryoone(I was the last to go) and brought in her own team. I was so devastared I cannot tell you. I am ashamed to say I begged a bit, just a tiny bit, and asked if I could work part time. What really got me was, she made a pont of coming into the office to watch my face when she fired me. She was and is a total b**ch...I was always respectful of her, even when she refused to let me take my accrued PTO. She said I could take the time off but I would not get paid for it. This is what I dealt with for over a year. She also gaslighted me and would give me several things to do all at once, told me very fast, and then would ask "Is it too confusing for you? Do you think you can handle it?" THEN to add insult to injury, she forwarded all the spam and garbage emails to me at home; finally I had to block her. I was very fortunate to have gotten a job almost immediately and then not too long after, a great job I now do at home and no longer have to deal with sort of thing. There is NO shock like being fired suddenly and w/o warning...nothing. Even when I was told I had cancer, it was not as shocking, as crazy as that sounds. With cancer, you have options and things to do and plan and go through your treatmnet, etc with a firing, you are blindsided and truly have no time to react or think. It is awful. But know this; the more time that passes the easier it will be, and then before you know it you;ll be working again. It will happen for you and you do have an excellent resume now.
6. A layoff is very difficult, especially the first time - losing a job is almost like a divorce or a death. It's a loss, and you are right to grieve for your loss. It really is cold for them to do this right before the holidays, but many companies do this because their budget is based on a calendar year. You also need to remember that this is not your fault, that you didn't do anything wrong, and that this may happen to again at some point later in life. It is a challenge, not a death sentence - as you say, you have gained experience and knowledge which will have value to another employer. Unlike a divorce or a death, you need to pick up the pieces quickly and move forward in order to keep those paychecks coming in. Keeping your focus on the future is the best way to do this. First, file for unemployment right away if you haven't already. Also look into whether your state offers any special programs for displaced workers - some states offer money for school (to improve your skills), transportation (to look for work), and so on. Now it's time to network. Review that resume - make sure you use spell check and ask a professional contact to look it over. monster, careerbuilder, etc. all have "advice" sections on how to prepare a resume and contact employers. Reach out to profesional contacts you may have and ask them to meet for a coffee or a lunch after the holidays - scheduling those meetings, or even leaving them messages, will give you something to do right away. Schedule time with yourself every to review the job boards, send letters, and make phone calls - putting some structure around this will make you feel more like you have work to do and will take the focus off of what you have lost. Also believe me when I tell you that I have laid off more people than I can remember and almost every single one of them has ended up in a better job and a better place in their lives. This is an opportunity for you to improve your situation - take that opportunity and run with it! Best of luck to you - hang in there.