A now infamous 1973 study found that 41% of participants cited public speaking as their greatest fear, even over death. However, public speaking may have a new rival for biggest fear.
According to a study from Zety, an online career service, of approximately 1,000 U.S.-based workers, 58% of workers confessed they were afraid of getting fired. Those workers were so afraid that 54% admitted getting fired scares them “more than death” and 65% said getting fired scares them more than sickness or poor health.
Looking further, a surprising 76% of respondents reported they have experienced being fired at some point in their careers. Of those, 75% admitted they had felt ashamed of getting fired. Around one in three (31%) hid getting fired from their family and 29% hid getting fired from their friends. Sadly, 64% said that job loss would make them feel useless.
With three-quarters of professionals experiencing being fired or laid off at some point in their careers, the odds are that you’ll be there someday if you haven’t been before. Having the rug pulled out from under you isn’t something you can ever be fully prepared for, but there are things you can do to get over the disappointment of being fired — and do it quicker.
Consider these suggestions from Indeed.com to help you move on from your termination:
- Process your emotions. It’s understandable to feel angry and upset about losing your job, so take some time to process your feelings. You might reflect on the experience, thinking about what you could do differently in a future employment opportunity.
- Care for your health. Prioritize your mental and physical well-being by getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and staying active. If you find that getting fired has affected your mental health, you might schedule an appointment with a counselor to discuss your feelings.
- Request honest feedback. Getting fired can serve as an opportunity to engage in reflection, so consider contacting former colleagues to request honest feedback regarding your strengths and weaknesses. After speaking with a few people, you can look for specific themes or items that you can improve on during your job search.
- Update your resume. Try to ensure your document provides an accurate reflection of your work experience and skills by updating it with relevant details, and you can include any new skills you gained in your previous role.
- Update your social media accounts. Many hiring managers check online presences when reviewing candidates, so review your information to ensure you have a positive social media presence that makes a professional impression. You may also use your professional account to contact your network and let others know you’re looking for a new opportunity.
- Contact your professional network. Your professional network can be a great place to find prospective job opportunities. If your network is small, you might attend industry events or contact people in your industry to form relationships.
- Send an appreciative email. Sending an appreciative email to your former supervisor that expresses gratitude for the opportunity and maintains an open line of communication may benefit you as you look for other jobs because you might use your previous manager as a professional reference.
- Consider a temporary job. Getting a temporary job can help you build new skills while earning income, even if you don’t plan to remain in the role over the long term. Working in a temporary role might also help you expand your network and gain exposure to potential employers.
- Continue learning. When you’re unemployed, you might have more time to develop your knowledge and skills. You can invest in yourself by signing up for professional development courses or reading books that can help you in your future efforts.
