The current situation on the labor market is far from ideal - in many companies, not only are they reducing plans for recruiting new employees, but they are also reducing staff. Not in all cases, dismissals take place in compliance with all the nuances of labor legislation. A real situation prompted us to write this article - one of the victims of such a dismissal told about her story. After she handed in the report for the first quarter, she was told that she was fired, forced to write a statement and literally “squeezed out” from her workplace. That same evening, an ambulance was called to her - her heart ached, her blood pressure rose. A few days have passed - health problems continue. We decided to figure out who can get into this situation and what needs to be done next.

There are several reasons why you may be the victim of sudden layoffs:

1. Victim of reduction. The most common option at the present time. Things at the company are not going too well, the management decides to reduce part of the staff, and divide its functions among the remaining ones. There is a chance to talk with management and convince, if not of irreplaceability, then of postponing dismissal - but it is scanty. You still have to look for a job.
2. Someone else is taking your place. It may not necessarily be someone's relative or acquaintance. Perhaps management felt that in a crisis situation you are less effective than another specialist. You are being sacrificed to the strategic interests of the company. The situation is hopeless, it is better to negotiate with management for your own benefits in exchange for your accommodatingness - either a longer term for “leaving” your position, or for severance pay. If you managed to bargain - use the situation to the fullest for further employment. And do not forget to maintain normal relations with colleagues and management.
3. Leader's sacrifice. There are two subtypes here. In the first case, you and your manager simply have a mutual (or one-sided - and you don’t even know about it) personal dislike. The leader is forced to tolerate you as long as the company needs you (due to the affection of the highest management, personal high qualifications, or key participation in an important project). As soon as circumstances change, you are fired. In the second case, the leader changes - and a new one comes with his team. And there is no place for you in this new team.
4. You don't fit into the current situation. Perhaps the company is changing faster than you, it is difficult for you to work in constant changes. Or vice versa, you are sure that you know everything better than anyone and have ceased to value your work - you have become defiantly careless and this irritates the management. You have begun to ignore important areas of work and do not notice it. The result is the same - they part with you.

What to do if you are the victim of a layoff? If one morning, when you come to work, instead of the usual greeting, you hear from your boss an indistinct request to go into the office, where you are confronted with the fact: “You are fired!”. Even if the boss delicately tried to convey the “verdict”, and you are not a naive young lady, the stress and negative emotions caused by such a resignation are provided. It is especially unpleasant when there are no visible reasons for dismissal, and you are forced to write a letter of resignation.

So, what you need to do to survive this unpleasant event:

1. Don't fall into despair. If you are fired from your job, do not fall into despair, collect your thoughts and think that this is just a job, and life does not end there. No need to narrow your whole life to the size of a desk. Don't go into deep thought about what you did wrong. Such questions will arise in your mind, but don't let them occupy all your thoughts. This situation is already over, and you are not yet ready to draw conclusions for the future. Extraordinary endurance, optimism, calmness under the most difficult circumstances - all those qualities that will help you survive the dismissal from work.
2. Leave with dignity. No need to splash out emotions on colleagues or, even worse, throw a tantrum with a scandal to management. Act as if you yourself decided to quit. Thank your colleagues for their cooperation, put your documents and workplace in order.
3. Don't consider yourself a failure. Your dismissal does not make you a failure or a bad specialist. Perhaps this happened for reasons beyond your control. In order not to unsettle yourself and not engage in self-flagellation, instead of self-blame, remember your merits, victories and achievements. Add to this a list of your accomplishments that stayed with you after you lost your job: family, children, friends, hobbies and experiences. You will see that you have not lost everything, but only a part (perhaps not the best) of your life, which you will replace with a new one.
4. Find time for yourself. After you lose your job, you don't have to look for a new one right away. Don't go to interviews with a pained face and don't beg for a job. Relax, take time and attention to loved ones, take care of your own health. In no case do not go on about emotions and do not drown your problem in alcohol.

Even if you are unemployed, try to follow the same routine of the day that you had at work. Only "working time" should be spent trying to get a new job. For a new job to be more successful, you need to work on the mistakes, no matter how painful it is. Try to figure out what in the dismissal depended on you and what did not. If you realize that you partly gave rise to a dismissal - not making enough effort, being late, and so on - try not to repeat this at a new job.

Work occupies a serious place in the life of a modern person. Belonging to a certain profession and social status, as well as having a permanent job, can increase self-esteem and self-confidence. At the same time, work is one of the main sources of stress for a person. At work, he spends almost all the time, and professional skills need constant confirmation and improvement. No less serious stress is finding a job or losing it.

Practically from the very beginning of labor activity, and even earlier - from the moment of entering a higher or secondary educational institution, work turns into one of the main stress factors for a person. Today, many people are afraid of not finding a job in their specialty, and, having found it, they are afraid of losing it. Labor relations are built on fierce competition, which creates additional stress in the form of relationships with management and colleagues.

Higher education does not guarantee a quick search for a job in the specialty. Moreover, many managers choose employees based on personal subjective criteria and the possibility of their compliance with an established team. Many employers have mutually exclusive requirements for potential candidates, for example, "work experience of 5 years" and "age not older than 25 years". In Russia and the CIS countries, workers already after 35-40 fall into the risk group, and even top managers of large companies and strong sales specialists are not immune from unemployment and stress.

Loss of work occurs for various reasons - the economic crisis, downsizing or a personal conflict with management. Even in large cities, job loss is a source of stress, not to mention small towns and small towns. A long and fruitless job search is a common cause of negative emotions, neurosis and depression.

Basics at work include wages, relationships with management and colleagues, overwork, too little or too much work. A rare employee simply sits out the time in the office "from call to call." Most are forced to leave the workplace much later than 18.00 or 19.00. The schedule also has a negative impact on the psyche, in which the employee can be called even late in the evening or at night.

No less serious - excess or lack of duties. Some managers tend to overburden employees without additional pay. Conversely, the lack of tasks also puts significant pressure on the employee's psyche - after all, the manager can ask at any time what has been done.

Even the most advanced and competent specialist may doubt his competence and not know whether his specialty will be in demand in the labor market and whether he will be needed by the current leadership. Losing a job is not always a voluntary initiative of an employee. Many become victims of intrigues or mobbing by colleagues or management, some fall under layoffs.

For many, the invitation of the boss to the conversation, followed by the announcement of the dismissal, is a serious blow. A feeling of injustice, fear of the future, resentment - these are the negative emotions that a dismissed employee experiences. After all, the loss of a job for many means the loss of a source of funding for the family and a depressing feeling of timelessness and uncertainty.

Can dismissal bring positive emotions?

Even if an employee is subconsciously ready for dismissal and it is not a surprise for him, he experiences not the most positive ones. At this moment, the belief in the discovery of new opportunities is not able to console a person - after all, he loses not only a source of livelihood, but also confidence in the future for himself and his family. Men experience job loss more acutely than women. This leads to dangerous consequences in the form of alcoholism or depression.

A dismissed employee needs to make some efforts so as not to “break down” and not go headlong into addiction. You should not immediately rush to look for a new job, as a job seeker under stress will not be attractive to a new employer. If a person “holds the blow” calmly, then he begins to see in his condition not only minuses, but also pluses. One of the positive aspects is more time with family and children and attention to those things that were previously not enough time because of work.

Losing a job is especially difficult for people over 40. Employers perceive them as not flexible and trainable enough, in addition, the age of an employee can make a younger boss feel an inferiority complex. However, many find a way out of the situation by getting a job where their knowledge and experience will be valued or by organizing their own business.

On the one hand, you should not delay the search for a new job, on the other hand, it is unlikely that an effective solution would be to start it in a depressed state. It is necessary to give yourself some time to understand your expectations for a new job and to go through all the stages of mourning. Also, during this difficult period, it will be useful to work with a psychologist.

Being fired from a job is no longer a rarity, and more and more people are trying to figure out how to survive parting with a job. The termination of the contract is not always caused by the lack of the necessary professional qualities; for completely different reasons, ambitious and talented people leave their jobs. Psychologists give some advice on how to survive the dismissal from work.

First wave of emotions

When a person hears the phrase "You're fired", the range of emotions can be varied from resentment to rage. Don't let off steam right in front of your superiors, shedding tears or pounding your fists on the table. In many cases, it will be more beneficial to leave the workplace with dignity. If the dismissal seems unfair, the dispute can be resolved in the labor inspectorate or in court.

For reference! By decision of the court, you can be reinstated and receive compensation for the time of forced rest. This right is enshrined in Article 392 of the Labor Code.

In most cases, management seeks to gently part with employees, so you can safely demand compensation or letters of recommendation. By resolving the conflict in your favor, you can feel more confident and, if you wish, go in search of a new job.

Reorganize in a new way

When the employment contract is terminated, you need to take time to recover. Everyone who was fired experienced a bit of disappointment and was dissatisfied with themselves. Many do not tell their relatives and friends about what happened, which is fundamentally wrong - you need to speak out, release emotions and look at the situation from a different angle.

Advice! Psychologists say that by repeating a story over and over, a person becomes more aware of his feelings, and eventually begins to perceive what is happening less sharply. Gradually, the very fact of dismissal will cease to be significant, which means that there will be nothing to worry about.

Pouring out his soul to his interlocutors, a person begins to understand what caused the dismissal. If this is a lack of professionalism or competence, it makes sense to take refresher courses and read professional literature. A good solution would be to change the type of activity.

As for the cases when the employer initiated a dismissal order due to a difference in views, then a couple of days is enough to restore peace of mind.

On the way from the old job to the new one

Upon learning of the impending dismissal, many regard it as an extraordinary vacation. But psychologists strongly advise not to postpone the search indefinitely - the absence of the usual load can cause neurosis or depressive disorder.

Being a long period in search of work, a person imperceptibly falls into depression. A negative attitude prevents you from successfully passing interviews, soon, and the desire to work disappears. Internal experiences are transferred to the body, and psychosomatic disorders may appear.

Interesting! You can often notice how a person who has lost his job or retired is rapidly aging, more often than usual falls ill.

Free time should be put to good use!

If you can’t quickly get a job in a new company, you shouldn’t cool off and waste your free time in vain. It is necessary to adhere to the usual daily routine, filling the schedule with new cases:

• learning foreign languages;
• reading fiction;
• hobby;
• sports;
• visiting doctors.

Employment

Going to the interview, you should be mentally prepared. Whatever the reasons for leaving a previous position, you should not speak negatively about a former employer. Briefly and as dispassionately as possible describe the situation. It is advisable to focus on your professional qualities and achievements.

Advice! If there is a link to a “bad” article in the work book, you can make a duplicate of it at the penultimate place of work without an unflattering entry.

When communicating with a new boss, you should carefully ask about job responsibilities and privileges. It is irrational to agree to the very first proposals - you need to evaluate working conditions, wages and the amount of work. When expectations correspond to reality, you can send to the personnel department for employment.

Retirement

Finding what to do after being fired is the hardest thing for retirees. Elderly people are practically not invited to work, and it is extremely difficult to find a job again, especially in a profession.

In addition, age makes itself felt, and often apathy follows dismissal from a favorite position, and the risk of depression increases. On the other hand, many see a plus in dismissal, after many years of service, they finally begin to take care of themselves, find new hobbies.

At first, you should spend more time communicating with former colleagues, not moving away from them. Gradually, you need to understand yourself and understand what you wanted to do all your life besides your profession - it can be creating oil paintings, breeding purebred dogs, traveling the world and much more.

In no case should you lock yourself up, make yourself an endless weekend, consisting of gatherings on the couch. The more things are planned for the day, the more you can get positive emotions and new experiences.

Being fired from a job is no longer a rarity, and more and more people are trying to figure out how to survive parting with a job. The termination of the contract is not always caused by the lack of the necessary professional qualities; for completely different reasons, ambitious and talented people leave their jobs. Psychologists give some advice on how to survive the dismissal from work.

First wave of emotions

When a person hears the phrase "You're fired", the range of emotions can be varied from resentment to rage. Don't let off steam right in front of your superiors, shedding tears or pounding your fists on the table. In many cases, it will be more beneficial to leave the workplace with dignity. If, the controversial issue can be resolved in the labor inspectorate or in court.

For reference! By decision of the court, you can be reinstated and receive compensation for the time of forced rest. This right is enshrined in Article 392 of the Labor Code.

In most cases, management seeks to gently part with employees, so you can safely demand compensation or letters of recommendation. By resolving the conflict in your favor, you can feel more confident and, if you wish, go in search of a new job.

Reorganize in a new way

When the employment contract is terminated, you need to take time to recover. Everyone who was fired experienced a bit of disappointment and was dissatisfied with themselves. Many do not tell their relatives and friends about what happened, which is fundamentally wrong - you need to speak out, release emotions and look at the situation from a different angle.

Advice! Psychologists say that by repeating a story over and over, a person becomes more aware of his feelings, and eventually begins to perceive what is happening less sharply. Gradually, the very fact of dismissal will cease to be significant, which means that there will be nothing to worry about.

Pouring out his soul to his interlocutors, a person begins to understand what caused the dismissal. If this is a lack of professionalism or competence, it makes sense to take refresher courses and read professional literature. A good solution would be to change the type of activity.

As for the cases when the employer initiated a dismissal order due to a difference in views, then a couple of days is enough to restore peace of mind.

On the way from the old job to the new one

Many regard this as an extraordinary vacation. But psychologists strongly advise not to postpone the search indefinitely - the absence of the usual load can cause neurosis or depressive disorder.

Being a long period in search of work, a person imperceptibly falls into depression. A negative attitude prevents you from successfully passing interviews, soon, and the desire to work disappears. Internal experiences are transferred to the body, and psychosomatic disorders may appear.

Interesting! You can often notice how a person who has lost his job or retired is rapidly aging, more often than usual falls ill.

Free time should be put to good use!

If you can’t quickly get a job in a new company, you shouldn’t cool off and waste your free time in vain. It is necessary to adhere to the usual daily routine, filling the schedule with new cases:

• learning foreign languages;
• reading fiction;
• hobby;
• sports;
• visiting doctors.

Employment

Going to the interview, you should be mentally prepared. Whatever the reasons for leaving a previous position, you should not speak negatively about a former employer. Briefly and as dispassionately as possible describe the situation. It is advisable to focus on your professional qualities and achievements.

Advice! If there is a link to a “bad” article in the work book, you can make a duplicate of it at the penultimate place of work without an unflattering entry.

When communicating with a new boss, you should carefully ask about job responsibilities and privileges. It is irrational to agree to the very first proposals - you need to evaluate working conditions, wages and the amount of work. When expectations correspond to reality, you can send to the personnel department for employment.

Retirement

Finding what to do after being fired is the hardest thing for retirees. Elderly people are practically not invited to work, and it is extremely difficult to find a job again, especially in a profession.

In addition, age makes itself felt, and often apathy follows dismissal from a favorite position, and the risk of depression increases. On the other hand, many see a plus in dismissal, after many years of service, they finally begin to take care of themselves, find new hobbies.

At first, you should spend more time communicating with former colleagues, not moving away from them. Gradually, you need to understand yourself and understand what you wanted to do all your life besides your profession - it can be creating oil paintings, breeding purebred dogs, traveling the world and much more.

In no case should you lock yourself up, make yourself an endless weekend, consisting of gatherings on the couch. The more things are planned for the day, the more you can get positive emotions and new experiences.

Being fired is one of the hardest experiences you can face in your career. As an acting coach, I have personally witnessed the shock, grief, and anxiety that comes with it. Being fired can bring on helplessness and self-doubt in the form of a frightening loss of control over the situation and the voice of a merciless inner critic - especially if your colleagues have kept their jobs.

Your perception determines how successfully you will move to the next stage of your career and life. Although being fired temporarily knocks the rug out from under your feet, it won't ruin your career if you learn how to control how you feel about what happened.

In my work with senior executives who have been laid off, I have watched some of them pull themselves together, move forward and finally succeed, while others get stuck in a cycle of anger and self-blame. Destructive thought patterns keep them in a morass of failure, making them unable to regain ground under their feet and decide on the future. Below, I offer three ways to quiet your inner critic, increase your resilience, and stay productive after a layoff.

Keep a positive attitude. To bounce back from failure, stop replaying the same thing over and over in your head. It adds more problems than helps to solve them. The way you think affects recovery after a layoff. I will give as an example the stories of two 50-year-old men with whom I worked. Let's call them Owen and Bob.

Owen took the news of his dismissal hard, although it was the result of a merger of organizations and was not based on the results of his work. He kept blaming himself, wondering, “How could I not see where this is going? I'm not fit for science and I'll never get another job in my fifties." Instead of contemplating future plans, Owen spent time self-torturing and randomly looking through vacancies, becoming more and more upset. When Owen came to see me a few months after being fired, he was barely out of bed in the morning. He could not get rid of self-criticism, constantly blaming himself for losing his job, while some colleagues kept it - and as a result, he slipped into depression.

Bob also survived the dismissal, but acted differently. After the initial shock of the news, he updated his resume and LinkedIn page to show that he was looking for a job and began to systematically build connections with his audience. Despite worries about temporary unemployment, he constantly reminded himself, "I have marketing skills, and now is the right opportunity to take advantage of to explore your career opportunities." Within a few weeks, Bob found potential job opportunities. More than thirty of his acquaintances agreed to help find a job.

The key difference between Owen's and Bob's stories is not that one feels better after being fired than the other. Initially, both were equally upset by the loss of their jobs. But, unlike Owen, Bob focused on controlling the situation and did not engage in constant self-criticism.

Don't let negative thoughts take over. After being fired, it's perfectly normal to find yourself in the grip of anger and self-deprecation, and these feelings can settle in your head for a long time. Being aware of the feelings that come with being fired is important, but it's also important to pay attention to what you say to yourself and determine if your feelings are helping or hindering your goals. By questioning your inner critic, you can stop the self-blame cycle that is holding you back.

Here are a few examples of common negative thoughts, paired with questions you can ask yourself to keep your eyes peeled for the future.

Thought:"I could have done more and prevented being fired."

Question:“What reason do you have to believe that I could have prevented the dismissal?”

Thought:“Firing will result in a loss of skills or some other handicap.”

Question:“Why am I sure that this will lead to a deterioration in my abilities?”

Thought:"I was unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Question:“What could have made my work unclaimed?”

Thought:"It's a misfortune from which I can never recover."

Question:“What career opportunities am I currently free to explore?”

Shift your focus from disadvantages to advantages. Typically, when you lose your job, you try to figure out what you did wrong and ponder over all sorts of miscalculations. By focusing on your weaknesses, you are more likely to forget or minimize your strengths.

To replace a demotivating approach with a more positive one, take a look at your entire career. If you are just starting out, think back to your educational experience so far. The purpose of this exercise is to find out what professional and personal failures you have already experienced and what problems you have overcome on the way to your current position. Recall how you suffered from another difficult situation that you eventually overcame.

With this in mind, ask yourself the following questions.

• What strengths did you use to solve your problems?
• What have you learned about yourself in the process of overcoming problems?
• How can you use your strengths during this transitional phase of your career?

In resilience training developed by psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania for the U.S. Army, participants teamed up and took on tough combat missions using their team skills. After being fired, you can use the same approach, looking back at situations where you have persevered in the past.

With the right mindset and active questioning, being fired is more likely to be an opportunity to succeed than to end in failure. The ability to determine your life course, choose the angle from which you look at the situation, and develop a conscious attitude towards your advantages are just a few of the unexpected benefits that await you after you have dealt with the baggage of anger and frustration. As my former client said when starting a new job, “I wish I had known that I would have been so happy a year from now when I was out of a job.”