Why Sometimes Losing A Job Can Be A Good Thing

My mouth went dry and my heart pounded as the manager informed me my services as an outside sales rep were no longer needed!  I had never heard these words in my career up to this point and the rejection was like a sledgehammer to the gut!  

Going in to the job, 5 months prior, I was aware this was a new position and I was the guinea pig, so why did this come as a surprise?  It really wasn’t.  I was escorted out, my last cheque in hand, carrying a box of personal memorabilia one takes to work to make their cubicle feel like home.

Two million thoughts were swirling around in my mind.  How dare they!  I was doing my best!  Their loss? And the money, OMG, what about the money!!!  I was overwhelmed with fear about what I was going to do next!  

Looking back on this experience, I took away valuable lessons:

Doing a job “just for the money” comes with a price tag

Ask better questions in the interview – Is this a new position??

Look at the adversity of job loss an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally

Understand we sometimes have to know losing to appreciate winning

Continue to learn and grow no matter how secure you feel in your job

Nurture and your network continually

Listen to your gut

Oddly enough, shortly after I was hired as a sales rep with another company I had been rejected by the previous year.   After three years of that gig, I decided to become a Life Coach with a special interest in Career Design and have never looked back.  Career design may mean going back to the proverbial “drawing board” many times, and each step is part of the puzzle to bring employment satisfaction.  Embrace change – be flexible – value reinvention – Good luck!