An Open Letter To Anyone Who's Been Let Go
As many of you might know, last week I was laid off. It was completely unexpected and I was pretty hurt that my position wasn’t deemed “essential”. When you lose something so definitive as your job, it’s hard not to take things personally.
Was it something I did wrong? Why wasn’t I good enough? Oh god, my bills can’t pay themselves. How the hell am I going to find another job in this economy? And lastly, Fuck this.
Yes, it sucked. Royally. But losing a job you love isn’t the end of the world. So pick yourself up and brush yourself off and show everyone you’re ready for the next chapter. Here’s how:
Get angry – You have every right in the world to be upset. Let yourself. Once you get home or even in your car as you drive away, scream. Cry. Be so mad you exhaust yourself and fall to the floor in a heap with heavy breath. But do not, I repeat, do not let this anger out while you’re fresh from “the talk” packing your things. It’s one thing to be visibly distraught; it’s another to make a fool of yourself in front of those who would otherwise gladly recommend you for your next job. Keep your cool, then rage in private.
Treat yourself - The first thing I did when I got home (after a hot shower), was go shopping. This is harder to justify if you don’t receive severance, but trust me, you deserve something nice. Whether it’s a nice bottle of wine, a new pair of shoes, or a meal at a fancy restaurant, reward yourself for having a job in the first place. Celebrate the fact that you did quality work and met great people along with it. Just because a company downsizes doesn’t mean you’re worthless. Indulgence is key to realizing you’re pretty amazing, then and now.
See family – I’m working on this one because they live so far away but if you can, in the coming weeks, see your family. Nothing grounds me more than driving through my hometown and having heart to hearts with my mom and sister. Your family will always support you, whether you think so or not. You are not a failure in their eyes, even if you do wear yoga pants every day now and don’t get up ‘til noon. Heed their inevitable advice, though. It’s probably true. Plus you can save some money by doing laundry for free.
Try new things – For a while now, I’ve been putting off writing my first book. A full-time advertising job came with a lot of long days and late nights, and by the end of the day, all I wanted to do was sleep. Take this opportunity of having little to no professional responsibility and do something you’ve always wanted to do. Trust me, what once was a busy 40 hour week that flew by will quickly turn into days that drag on indefinitely, unless you do something about it. Who knows, you might just find your new calling.
Self-promotion – Now that you’ve done some emotional healing, start marketing yourself for future employers. If you’re like me and haven’t updated your résumé in a good while, now's the time. This will allow you to hone in on exactly what you want to put out there about yourself. Then translate it to your online presence. This means LinkedIn, Twitter, and your personal website or blog as these are the things employers will look at with a keen eye, especially if you’re a creative. Who you are outside of work is actually incredibly important in determining if you’ll get work at all. Put your best face forward. For me, my best face includes a little sarcasm and a lot of sharing what’s important to me. Be passionate and let your personality shine, on and offline. People will notice.
Reach out – When you’re good and ready, reach out to companies you’d like to work for. Many people see job-hunting as a tedious or bland task but it doesn’t have to be. Be creative in your networking. Tweet your favorite agencies and start a conversation with them. Meet for coffee and talk about what drives you and where you want to be. However, no one wants to hire someone who’s on their knees pleading for a job (despite how desperate you may actually be.) Simply show them “I love what you do and want to be a part of it.”
I hope these things will help guide you towards your next chapter. Albeit, I haven’t quite figured out some things myself but that’s okay. As my mom always says,
“People and things come in and out of our lives for a reason: to teach us lessons, to help us grow, to inspire gratitude for what we have, and to give us strength to become what we aspire to be.”
Carpe diem.