How many times have you been fired?

I've been fired once and that was enough for me, lol!

I was fired from a healthcare job that I (mostly) enjoyed and had been an employee at for approximately 15 years, almost my whole adult working life. I'd held three different positions there over the years. This job had been my "home away from home" and I had some really great friendships, connections and memories. If I *had* to work (and I did) it was a decent place to be. I felt pretty lucky. Not to mention, I needed that paycheck, of course!

The firing was due to scheduling conflicts and lack of communication (on their part) as I had followed policy and procedure, as I had always done throughout the years there. The fact that I was being fired meant that any job doing a reference check on me that I applied to in the future would be told by my former company that I was not rehireable, despite all of my years there as an employee with a good reputation. Being that I spent most of my working life at this company, they were the only reference I could put down. I had no other options to choose from.

I felt devastated and betrayed when it happened, but soon became very angry. They tried to fight me on unemployment, but I fought back, and "won" during phone court, so it turns out the state saw the company had been in the wrong, as well. I won't lie...I felt some satisfaction in that! However, even though it's now been a few years since this happened, I still feel some disappointment in that whole situation.

This made me realize three important things for certain:

(1) It CAN happen to you!

(2) You can have a long history as a dependable, dedicated and valuable employee and give years of your life, but when it comes down to it, there is just no such thing as "job security"!

3) You must figure out how to be your own boss!

Same here. My last boss/job was pushing unrealistic targets not to mention another member of staff in my same rank who felt the need to **** stir behind my back. Poisonous company and I left because I had the guy call me thinking I was my boss and begin to Bad mouth me only to realise seconds later it was me. Lol I laugh now but that was about all I was going to take. I quite the next day with no job to go to. I ended up working for myself and never looked back. I've had a fantastic time learning how and it made me realise you don't have to rely on someone else to line your pockets. I've had awesome up and bad lows but I feel I gained lots of knowledge in the process.

I relate so much to what you're saying! I think you're the only person I've talked to that's been fired more than myself. Don't know if that will last at the rate I'm going. I wish I could find a way to be my own boss!

I have been fired 3 times. I probably quit 6 different jobs. I just could not deal with working for someone except myself.

I've never been fired from a job, however, I have fired a few employers from my life.

Terra

wow, I'm so happy this thread was revived.

I still hold the same belief I did in 2010: Entrepreneurs get fired a lot more than the average worker.

I take it as a badge of honor!

In fact, I share getting fired in my six figures a year professional business practice: Our Story | Adam C. Libman

Landen,

It all depends on why you got fired .

For example, did you get fired because 1.) you were caught moonlighting, 2.) sexually harrassing a co-worker, 3.) you sucked at the job, etc....

Honestly, it depends on the reason.

And ultimately, getting fired can be a great thing because it closes doors you should of never opened in the first place.

However, to get specific to your question, it always hurts, no matter the reason.

The best way to recover from getting fired is to understand why you got fired, and understand that in most cases YOU didn't get fired as a person, as a complete human being.

You got fired because you sucked at doing your job. And once you can separate yourself as a totality from that as your role as worker, you can recover faster.

The problem arises when your identity is rooted in your job. Like a Doctor. A doctor usually says, "I'm a doctor". Or accountants say, "I am an accountant".

When what the doctor should say, "I do Doctoring" or the accountant who should say, "I do accounting".


Who you are and what you do aren't the same. Perhaps in specific moments.

Kobe is more than just a BB player. Allen Says is more than a forum admin. Frank Kern is more than an Internet Marketer.

The key is getting over being fired is to understand why you got fired, understand YOU didn't get fired (the little you did), and increase your skill set in a specific area so you are in demand.

And this is where I want to finish: make yourself desirable.

Most people fear getting fired because they are afraid of the "what happens next". As in having to do interviews.

It's about relationships, just like in email list building. You should always be touch with your professional list of people, giving them updates on what you are doing. And let them know how awesome you are. Because there are plenty of jobs for those with specialized skill. Even in this economy.

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