So, I was fired from work on Thursday. I've spent the last 4 years at that company making big sales. This year a different part of the company lost $20M in revenue so they went searching for people to fire. The VP doesn't seem to like me so I got the boot.
It's mostly ok. I was thinking of leaving anyway. I have a head hunter, and possibly two actually, looking after me and my job search already. I also have a pretty large network of other people that have been at this company and left that now work in the same space and have a good impression of me.
Here's the plan. Step 1. Spam my network.
With so many friends in the higher ed stem sales industry that know that I kill it out there I'm telling everyone I know I was fired and that I'm looking for work. If I had tried to do this without getting fired they all would have been acting against their own interest. Why would I help someone that helps keep me employed find another gig? But now that I've been fired for personal reasons people are like "damn the man, let's help this guy get a new job." The founder of the company that was bought by a bigger company that I work for is helping, VP of stem is helping, lots of people are now engaged in helping me find a new gig.
Step 2. Hard Work
Find a job is a full time job. I literally waited about 20 minutes before I started making calls asking folks to 1. say something nice about me on linkedin, 2. send out feelers to people they know. 3. Say a prayer, send some light, or whatever in my general direction. I've been doing this for 2 days and I'm still not done reaching my folks. I'm also calling others that have lost their job in the hope that they have connections to companies that I'm not even considering to help me land some interviews and a better gig. Then it's time to spam applications to random companies too. My industry is dying a bit so I either need to get into the places where it's growing or I need to find a new industry. Either works... I just like doing consultative sales for STEM.
3. Optimism
I didn't spend the last four years kicking ass at sales just to be defeated by one dumb ass with a short sighted plan. I know I'm going to find another job and it shouldn't take me that long. The fun thing is that they gave me severance. I was already planning on leaving. So, assuming I get a gig before my severance runs out they were kind enough to pay me for a job search and let all my network suddenly support me. I'm going to be laughing my ass to bank when I cash those checks and turn around and start a new job almost right away. The VP that fired me was trying to do me harm, but he doesn't know that he kindly just handed me $20k or more.
Also, based on what I know the company has a shit pipeline for next year. That means next year is going to be worse. That means that money they had this year for letting people go won't be around next time. People aren't going to get nice severance. They are going to get kicked to the curb. Again, he tried to harm me, but I don't think he recognizes that he helped me.
Anyway, shoot me an upvote, send me some love, and if you get fired don't waste time. Tell your network as fast as you can and see what you can put together. I'll keep you updated.