First of all, as difficult as it may be, try to stay calm. If you go off the deep end, ranting and raving in the presence of either your boss or your co-workers, this may well be the last thing they remember about you, and the first thing they tell someone who calls for a reference.
So, try to behave like the consummate professional you are, and avoid the tendency to give in to your emotions while at work. You may be tempted to try to argue with the decision. Don’t! As a general rule, management has carefully evaluated the reasons for cuts in their work force, and rarely, if ever are these decisions reversed.
If you put up a fight, you will only convince management that they made the right decision after all. You can—and should—ask questions—but be prepared for evasive answers. Having to fire someone is a distasteful task for most people and being asked to give a reason for the decision is equally unpleasant.
You’ll probably be wondering why YOU got laid off and not the newcomer down the hall. There are a variety of answers to this question, but the chances of getting an honest answer are slim to none. Your best course of action is to simply move on: perhaps losing your job is the best thing that could happen. Many a successful company has been started after the owner had been fired from a previous position.
It is in your best interests to demonstrate a spirit of cooperation. Be careful to avoid the appearance of any impropriety. And above all, don’t take things that don’t belong to you. Your department may well have multiple calculators/staplers/tape dispensers, but that’s no reason to walk off with one!
One of the most difficult things will be sharing this news with your spouse or significant other. Once again, try to stay calm when relaying this information. If you’re angry when you present the situation, your partner is likely to mirror your behavior and things may escalate. If, on the other hand, you’re able to help them see it as an opportunity to break out of the mold, he or she may just agree with you and help you move on.
You may experience financial hardship of some description. One of your very first tasks should be to take a long, hard look at your budget, trimming expenditures where possible. While you are evaluating opportunities, try for a part-time job. Not only will this mean additional income, but it will also avoid you dwelling on your dismissal. The sooner you can return to your old self, the better things are likely to be.
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