Job Dismissal and What's Next (Opinion Piece)

"We are sorry to inform you your position has been eliminated as part of a workforce reduction, therefore effective immediately you are no longer employed at _."

While I am paraphrasing based on my memory of the moment, these words are never easy to hear whether it is your first time or not. As someone who has always been employed I was not prepared for my first discussion on employment dismissal. After several days of processing, talking to connections and loved ones, and reflecting on what this really means to me, I wanted to author this article and share my experience and views with the hope this brings perspective to others recently effected across various industries on dealing with this type of situation and what comes next.

So it's another regular work day and you are joining a reoccurring meeting with your leader. Your checklist is scratched on a notepad, you have your list of action items, and are mentally in a place where you are ready to discuss what's in front of you. The call begins and one leader turns into two, and you inevitably get the news that you are no longer employed. Queue the shock, rushing thoughts, and emotions that you were not prepared to deal with during this routine discussion. This is where my first tip/piece of advice comes in:

Tip 1: You are a real person, with real emotions, and real stakes. Allow yourself to embrace what you are feeling and express it in a well thought out and professional way.

Yes, this is a loaded tip, but it's an important one. If your employer is compassionate, has any level of emotional intelligence, and appreciates you as a person and not just an employee they will likely ask if you have questions or anything you would like to say. You may be angry, you may be sad, you may be both, but one thing you should not be is ashamed to express this. Execution on how you express this is the critical piece. We all know the saying "It isn't personal...", but it is VERY personal for those on the receiving end. Luckily, in my case this was not something that was said. Empathy was shown, the reasons were articulated in an easy to understand way, and I was given my opportunity to speak. I expressed my disappointment, allowed my emotions to be real, and thanked them for all of the opportunities given to me and for my time in the company. The biggest thing to remember here is, if you enjoyed this company and would ever want to return in any capacity, think before you speak. This is your opportunity (while difficult) to sunset in a way that will not burn a bridge for you.

Tip 2: Take time to process what has happened, reflect on your experience, and plan on what's next.

Now that the call is over the important work begins. Not the redundant work of filling out applications and sending your resume to everyone that will read it, but the work on yourself. This is not meant to be a "shame on you for doing something wrong" self reflection exercise, but more of an exercise to self actualize an important event has just taken place that you need to process and handle carefully so that your future has a well thought out direction. Let's be perfectly clear, those of you reading this who are looking for the advice more than likely are career focussed and not job focussed. This is an important distinction to make as you gather your thoughts and conceptualize your next steps. Take the time you need to think about the experiences from the position you just lost and ask yourself:

• Was this position leading me into the right direction for my career?
• As I look for a new position, do I want to apply for something similar or different?
• What type of company do I want to apply to?

Understand fully you are not just applying for a "job", but you are applying to lend your experience and knowledge to an organization. You should make sure in turn that any organization you are attempting to apply to will help you thrive both personally and professionally while also helping you realize growth.

Tip 3: Dust off that resume and polish it up!

Now that you have had a day or two for reflection and brainstorming it's time to get that resume ready for a saturated and competitive job market. I would encourage you to not view your resume as a piece of paper that dictates your work experience and education, but as a written first impression of your professional background. This document is a tool that could make a break you getting into that targeted role at the company of your dreams. After reviewing the types of roles you are interested in make sure to tailor your resume (truthfully) based on those roles. I have even gone as far as having multiple resumes specifically designed for different roles. At the end of the day, when you are applying for a position, it is highly likely the companies Human Resources division use a screening software that identifies keywords in their applicants resumes. Do your homework and use this to your advantage. When 100 people apply for a role, you must do what you can to stand out without embellishing the truth. Also, don't be embarrassed or hesitant to have a resume writing company assist you. The tools are there, use them!

Tip 4: If you have professional connections, USE THEM!

If you are several years into your career you likely have encountered various individuals that you have built both a personal and professional connection with. Use this to your advantage and reach out for help. There are various things your connections can assist you with including:

• Possible position openings.
• Resume recommendations.
• Initiate an introduction to a new connection that can assist you.
• A good reference!
• Advice on how to proceed forward if they have been through this before.

The single most important commodity outside of your skillset and experience when looking for a job are people. Do not underestimate or take for granted the influence others can have in getting you into a new role. This is a highly relatable situation for many individuals, and in my experience if you have worked with or interacted with someone and it was a positive experience, they will likely do what they can to help you get back on your feet.

While there is much more that I could say, these are the four major tips I would give to anyone who has lost their position within their company. I hope this is helpful for those of you who took the time to read it and digest the information. Stay tuned for part two where I will go through my interview prep tips and process for those of you who are unsure of where to start!