I don't usually go down the route of giving career advice because, well I don't know if it would be any good...but I was in Ottawa the other night to speak to a group of Marketing and PR folks and ended telling a bunch of folks (and this was not part of the main presentation but rather in a group of 20 or so people after the presentation) that "If you haven't been fired from a job you are not trying hard enough to do interesting things"
Sounds like pretty bad advice huh?
I admit that it probably is...but after thinking about it more and explaining myself to a this group after the event I am coming around to believing my own (probably horrible advice)
I should probably explain why I say this...I have been fired from a job in the past and while the termination was from no fault of my own it did offer me an experience that I never imagined I would go through and it allows me now to speak on this topic as a non-expert :)
Here is some general stuff I learned from my experience:
When you're given the ole' heave ho, don't take it personally. Unless you were caught sleeping with someone or something you were not supposed to, or caught embezzling money, chances are you are just being let go cause you someone has to go and you are the unlucky one.
Don't waste time on bitterness. This is something I wish someone told me...just forget about it and move on...any time you spend being angry or bitter is time you are not working on getting a new gig.
Rejection happens to everyone; accept it as a fact of life. If I had a nickel for every girl who said no when I asked to make out with me, I would have $45...see what I mean?
Follow your dreams. Take a few hours and figure out what you really want to do. You have no excuses anymore not to take a chance and try to do something that will make you happy.
Take care of yourself. Just cause you are fired doesn't mean you are without a job...it just means your new job is working at finding a new job. Treat it like a real gig and work at it....BUT (and you will notice that is capitalized) you also have to do small things for yourself to keep yourself from going crazy. Read a book for pleasure, go for walks, catch up on some bad TV, give yourself "massages"
Tell everyone you know that you were Fired. Don't be embarrassed, people get canned all the time and there shouldn't be a stigma attached to it. Scream it from the rooftops because if you are not honest people may find out and by telling people they may know of a gig that could be your dream role!
Disclaimer : These idea are mine and probably not those of anyone associated to or with me. I currently am working in my dream role but I still know that one day I will be fired. I am hoping it will be in 10 years and not 10 months but the fact remains I will be let go some day because my job is to do interesting things every day and interesting things sometime scare people :)
Sounds like pretty bad advice huh?
I admit that it probably is...but after thinking about it more and explaining myself to a this group after the event I am coming around to believing my own (probably horrible advice)
I should probably explain why I say this...I have been fired from a job in the past and while the termination was from no fault of my own it did offer me an experience that I never imagined I would go through and it allows me now to speak on this topic as a non-expert :)
Here is some general stuff I learned from my experience:
When you're given the ole' heave ho, don't take it personally. Unless you were caught sleeping with someone or something you were not supposed to, or caught embezzling money, chances are you are just being let go cause you someone has to go and you are the unlucky one.
Don't waste time on bitterness. This is something I wish someone told me...just forget about it and move on...any time you spend being angry or bitter is time you are not working on getting a new gig.
Rejection happens to everyone; accept it as a fact of life. If I had a nickel for every girl who said no when I asked to make out with me, I would have $45...see what I mean?
Follow your dreams. Take a few hours and figure out what you really want to do. You have no excuses anymore not to take a chance and try to do something that will make you happy.
Take care of yourself. Just cause you are fired doesn't mean you are without a job...it just means your new job is working at finding a new job. Treat it like a real gig and work at it....BUT (and you will notice that is capitalized) you also have to do small things for yourself to keep yourself from going crazy. Read a book for pleasure, go for walks, catch up on some bad TV, give yourself "massages"
Tell everyone you know that you were Fired. Don't be embarrassed, people get canned all the time and there shouldn't be a stigma attached to it. Scream it from the rooftops because if you are not honest people may find out and by telling people they may know of a gig that could be your dream role!
Disclaimer : These idea are mine and probably not those of anyone associated to or with me. I currently am working in my dream role but I still know that one day I will be fired. I am hoping it will be in 10 years and not 10 months but the fact remains I will be let go some day because my job is to do interesting things every day and interesting things sometime scare people :)
4 comments:
Saul, I'd apply to Freshbooks. But I'm too busy doing crazy things. I'm hoping they're still hiring when I fire and ban myself from doing retarded things :)
I love your attitude - this is a great post! I'm sharing it with a friend who got laid off recently. I think it's natural to feel insecure or ashamed after a lay-off but your way of looking at it is so much more empowering. You rock!
Sounds like good advice. I was just laid off so this give me a lot to think about.
Hey Anjelika,
Sorry to hear your news. If you lived here I would hire you....without an interview!
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