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Last month, I was fired for the first time in my professional career.  The emotions that I felt during the “walk of shame” out to the car and the anxiety on the drive home is something that I will never forget.

 

Here are a few of the key lessons I gained from this experience:

1.    As Mark mentions in the "Getting Fired" podcast, “I am not my job.”  Tell others what happened, especially your family.  I am very fortunate to have a loving wife and son who were there for me when I needed them.

2.    Networking is your #1 tool for finding a job, period.  If you have been neglecting your network, I strongly recommend that you start by listening to the latest CT podcast, “Staying In Touch – Examples.”  In my case, I discovered that two key people provided positive referrals for me, without me asking.  One was a cousin who happened to be friends with my future boss and the other was a plant manger I worked for over ten years ago.

3.    And the coup de gras…if you are willing to do the work that it takes to gain a competitive advantage over the other applicants, get the Career Tools Interview Series podcasts.  I estimate my effectiveness employing these techniques at about 40%, yet I was able to confidently articulate my qualifications during all (5) of the interviews I had.

I start my new position tomorrow at a great company with a seemingly bright future.  The commute will be an additional 12 minutes each way, but I figure that I still have plenty of MT and CT podcasts to catch up on!

Maybe others can share their lessons learned from similar experiences?

 

 

thebeezer's picture
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Congrats on making this transition so successfully. I've fortunately never had to face that situation, so I hope when that day comes I can handle it as well as you have.

chris.g.hess@gmail.com's picture

Skip,

Congrats.  Glad to see you didn't let your situaiton it keep you down.  Put on you big boy pants and went and kick some ass!