5 Things To Do If You Lose Your Job
Hey, look at me mom! I have a blog now! It’s not a fancy Substack but now, at least I know that I am good enough and smart enough. But doggone it, will people like me? TBD.
My first entry right out of the gate is a sensitive topic. Much like the birds and the bees talk with your children, it’s uncomfortable to talk about but you really need a plan BEFORE it happens. I’m talking about what to do if you lose your job.
Story time - I already had a great job with great people however, an opportunity that was too good to pass up presented itself. More responsibility, developing strategies, and the opportunity to improve an evolving brand. It appeared to be fantastic…until it wasn’t. About 3 months in, my spider sense started tingling. It really felt like the expectations of the position shifted dramatically and I really did not feel confident in the long-term prospects of my job security. First thing I did? Purchase an external hard drive to back up all of my work. This will be a key part of the story later. But first we need to talk about month 5.
I logged into my virtual one on one with my boss to find HR was also on the line. Rut-roh. It was not to give me an award or kudos - it was to let me go. At that split second, about 178 emotions went through my mind: Shock, shame, confusion, anger, money, family, computers, wireless keyboards and even a sense of relief.
Apologies were given, help was unenthusiastically offered, a paltry severance was discussed and the truth bomb that the very computer I was taking the video call on was going to lock me out about 12 seconds after we hang up. So, let’s dissect what your priorities should be at this moment:
1.alert YOUR Family and/OR Spouse
The first thing I did was stare at the wall blankly while I tried to process what happened. Second thing I did was text my wife to let her know. It just felt that notifying those closest to you was the natural reaction. True you will need help finding a new job but much more importantly, you will need mental health support.
2. FILE FOR Unemployment
Assuming you want to continue to pay the bills, immediately filing for unemployment is a MUST. This will not apply if you were fired for cause (stealing, assault, microwaving fish) but if the circumstances of your dismissal were not tied to angering them, and you take your dismissal respectfully, most companies won’t fight paying it. Different states have different laws but whether or not you received a severance will affect how soon you are able to start collecting benefits.
3. Sayonara Computer
If they don’t shut off your computer immediately, be sure to log out of every website and application you were logged into. If you weren’t backing up your data on an external hard drive like I was (there are plent available on Amazon), either upload your work to a Google Drive/Dropbox or start emailing files to yourself. And hopefully you weren’t attached to that monitor, mouse and keyboard because you will be sending that back.
4. KEEP YOUR emailS
Chances are they will shut your email off immediately. This is a great reason to regularly backup your email while employed. If you get your work emails on your phone, the emails will still be there but you won’t be able to send/receive anymore. This is super important because you always want to close communication loops and keep channels open. People you deal with internally and externally can be the key to helping you find your next job. Also, should there be any legal issues involved in your dismissal, you are going to probably need access to your email.
5. UPDATE YOUR resume and linkedin
Hopefully you weren’t keeping your resume exclusively on the work machine they just decommissioned (and if you were, you deserved to be fired). I’d update it immediately. Let your LinkedIn network know you are back on the job market. (Bonus points if you do so in a unique way: I created a video post.) Register with recruiting agencies and headhunters. Add your resume to Indeed. The job market has been brutal for about a year now so start applying to new jobs immediately.
closing thoughts
I am not going to get into the mental side of losing your job. That’s worthy of an entire series of blog posts and truthfully, I don’t believe I am far enough removed from my situation to give proper advice.
I do encourage you to check in on any friends or coworkers who were let go. It truly means a lot to hear from people you spent days, weeks, hours, months, years with but it’s even more significant, and flat out disappointing, when they don’t reach out.
If you have any advice, please pop in the comments.
