No matter what the circumstances are, losing a job is a life-altering event. The absence of purpose, routine, personal value — nevermind a paycheck — is terrifying.
First, stay calm. Take time to evaluate your finances and form a plan for what's next. Try not to let your emotions run the show. Losing your job doesn't mean you're a failure; it just means whatever you were doing wasn't right for you. Think of it as an opportunity to find something more in line with who you are and what you want.
Below, seven coaches from Forbes Coaches Council offer their advice on how to move forward.
1. Embrace It!
Use some of your downtime to take a vacation to restore and revitalize your heart and mind. It is emotional to lose a job. Give yourself permission to grieve the loss. Then get back on the horse and ride it to your next destination. Read books like: "You're Fired!: Why Losing Your Job Might Be The Best Thing to Happen to You, We Got Fired!:..And It's the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us." Know that many great people were fired and you are one of them. — Dr. Cherry Collier, Personality Matters, INC.
2. Get by With a Little Help From Your Friends
Reach out to your professional cheerleaders. Ask if they would be willing to write a recommendation for you. Develop a list of contacts you can reconnect with and source information and leads from. Create a list of accomplishments from previous roles and practice pitching your overall message of value. These activities will build your confidence and help you prepare for a proactive job search. — Barbara Safani, Career Solvers
3. Give Yourself Time
Yes, there may be a silver lining heading your way, but it's normal and expected to have a difficult adjustment period. Develop a plan for moving forward and stick to it, knowing you will have good days and bad days. You cannot job search 24/7, so make sure your schedule is filled with other activities that contribute to your health, well-being and connection. — Kim Eisenberg, Kim Eisenberg Consulting
4. Focus on the Positive
In hindsight, losing your job can be the best thing that ever happened to you. Thinking of it as a blessing in disguise, and as a pathway to bigger and better things for you, can hep you establish resiliency rather quickly. Take some time to yourself, whether it's a few days or even a week, to collect your thoughts. Write down your game plan and hit the ground running with enthusiasm. — Wendi Weiner, JD, NCRW, CPRW, CCM, The Writing Guru
5. Reframe Your Idea of "Failure"
Most of us, whether we publicly admit it or not, have been fired from our jobs, and that is okay. Losing my job forced me into an uncomfortable place where I had to learn on the fly and led me to launch my business full time. At first, I felt like being fired was a failure, but I learned it was a gift because it forced me to take action and thrive. — Jessica Miller-Merrell, Blogging4Jobs
6. Focus on Your Strengths
I do believe being let go from a job is often a gift in disguise. I believe the smartest way to get back on track is to re-visit and identifymy strengths (the things that energize me and the things that drain me) and make a list of my values (the things that are most important to me). In combination, this is much like a roadmap of where you'll do best and be happiest. — Cha Tekeli, Chalamode, Inc.
7. Look at This Moment as an Opportunity
Let go of the associated emotions and reframe this as a great opportunity. Reconnect with what you really desire for your career and life; reset your goals to align with that desire, and create a plan of action to execute. That plan should lead you to an organization and role that fits your vision. You'll find yourself thriving very quickly! — Jen Kelchner, Kelchner Advisory
