Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Learn to manage your fears
• Part 2 of 3: Prepare for the worst-case scenario
• Part 3 of 3: Consider the risk of being fired as an opportunity
• Tips
• Warnings

The thought of possibly losing your job can be very frightening indeed. How will you support yourself and your family if you suddenly lose a source of income? Unfortunately, fear of losing your job can turn into an obsession. In addition, the fear of dismissal dramatically reduces a person's productivity and hinders his career advancement. If you want to show your potential, you have to give up the fear of being fired.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Learn to manage your fears

1. 1 Assess your situation. Is there any real reason to fire you? Try to observe the process of work and the office as a whole to see if there are any signs that you may lose your job. If after a few days you still could not find a single sign, then we can assume that these fears are only in your head, and in an amicable way you have nothing to worry about. Here are some signs that might lead you to think you might be fired:
   • your workload and workload have noticeably decreased;
   • a new management has appeared that wants to develop the company or enterprise in a different direction;
   • colleagues suddenly start avoiding you;
   • you are no longer invited to important meetings and business meetings;
   • your boss constantly criticizes your work.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Adam Dorsay, PsyD

   
   
   Relationship Consultant Dr. Adam Dorsey is a licensed psychologist in private practice in San Jose, California. He is one of the founders of Project Reciprocity, an international program at Facebook, and a consultant to the Digital Ocean security team. He specializes in working with successful adult clients, helping them solve relationship problems, cope with stress and anxiety and make their lives happier. In 2016, he gave a TEDx talk about men and emotions that became very popular. Received an MSc in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and a Degree in Clinical Psychology in 2008.

   Adam Dorsay, PsyD
   Relationship Consultant

   Our expert agrees: “Start with the big questions. Is your fear justified? Have you got a trial period? It is a good idea to reach out to a friend you can trust and discuss with them how real your fear is. If there really is reason to believe that you might be fired, take decisive steps to avoid it. "

   
   
2. 2 Send your fear where it belongs. If there is no clear evidence that your workplace is in danger, try to understand the source of your worries and fears. Your fears may be the result of your own personal experiences in the past. Identifying the cause of this irrational fear can be the first step towards eliminating it.
   • Were you very shocked when from your last place of work you were "asked" without any warning?
   • Have you ever watched a friend or loved one who had to go through difficulties after losing their job?
   • Are you afraid of being fired due to low self-esteem?
3. 3 Talk to colleagues. If you feel that your fear of being fired has some real basis, find out how your colleagues think and feel about their own workplace. You might be surprised that many of them have the same fears as you do. In addition, many executives take advantage of the fear of being fired in an effort to keep their employees on track.
   • If you feel that your boss is simply manipulating you, it is quite possible that you should start looking for a new job for yourself.
   • Don't complain to your colleagues. Otherwise, it may reach your superiors.
4. 4 Talk to your boss. Politely ask your boss for a meeting to discuss problematic work points. Show your boss that you care about your position at work and want to do your best job. Chances are, your boss will be impressed with your initiative and reassure you.
   • Offer your help and participation in additional projects that will make the work of your management easier.
   • Understand the fact that it rarely happens that an employer's attitude towards you is based on personal motives. Chances are, your boss is focused on the big picture and the productivity of the company, rather than your personal involvement.
   • List your personal accomplishments in this workplace.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Adam Dorsay, PsyD

   
   
   Relationship Consultant Dr. Adam Dorsey is a licensed psychologist in private practice in San Jose, California. He is one of the founders of Project Reciprocity, an international program at Facebook, and a consultant to the Digital Ocean security team. He specializes in working with successful adult clients, helping them solve relationship problems, cope with stress and anxiety and make their lives happier. In 2016, he gave a TEDx talk about men and emotions that became very popular. Received an MSc in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and a Degree in Clinical Psychology in 2008.

   Adam Dorsay, PsyD
   Relationship Consultant

   Talk to your boss if you have a relationship of trust with him. Measuring your performance is the best way to find out what you are doing well and what else is worth working on. Ask your boss to rate what responsibilities you do best and what he thinks you could improve in your work.

Part 2 of 3: Prepare for the worst-case scenario

1. 1 Update your resume. Add to it the new skills and experience you gained in this job. An updated, ready-made resume will give you the confidence that you can quickly recover and move forward in the event that you do lose this job. Knowing that you are ready for this scenario will help allay fear of the unknown and the future if you are fired.
   • Be careful when submitting your resume - it must be a covert process. You don't want your management to know that you are looking for a new job.
2. 2 Take a look at the employment contract. If your contract provides for a certain social package, pay attention to what compensation you will have in case of dismissal. Knowing that you will have the resources and time to find a new job will give you a little respite.
   • The legislation of the Russian Federation stipulates compensation in some cases of dismissal (in case of staff reduction and liquidation of the company). So, in these cases, the employer pays severance pay in the amount of one average monthly earnings; compensation of average monthly earnings for the period of job search - is paid monthly for the second and with the permission of the employment center for the third month, and for those working in the Far North and in areas equated to it - from the second to the sixth month inclusively after dismissal. And also compensation for dismissal earlier than two months, allotted by law to warn employees about dismissal on these grounds - up to two average monthly earnings.
3. 3 Pay attention to unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits will help you survive for a while until you find a new job. Find information on what requirements are available for those wishing to receive unemployment benefits.
   • Citizens eligible for unemployment benefits are divided by law into two categories. The first category: workers who were dismissed on all grounds, except for the commission of guilty acts. The second category: citizens who have never worked or have a break in work experience for more than one year, including those who were dismissed for committing unlawful misconduct.
   • Citizens of the first category in the first payment period (twelve months) will receive benefits in the following amounts: three months - 75% of the average monthly earnings; four months - 60%; five months - 45% of the average monthly wage. Citizens of the second category receive an allowance in the amount of the minimum amount multiplied by the district coefficient.
4. 4 Collect recommendations. Before leaving your old job, collect as many guidelines as possible to help you find a new job. Therefore, you will need people who appreciate your work. It is also a great idea to maintain a good relationship with these people by contacting them from time to time by email or phone.
   • It is important that the authors of your recommendations remember you well - then, most likely, they will confirm these recommendations to your future leadership.
5. 5 Keep up with open vacancies. Make sure that your resume and references can be found and viewed by recruiting agencies and other companies. To do this, try contacting recruiting agencies in your city and find out what vacancies they can offer you. Tell them that you are looking for a new job.
   • Make sure your manager is not aware that you are looking for other jobs.

Part 3 of 3: Consider the risk of being fired as an opportunity

1. 1 Take the time to get to know yourself better. Try to calm your mind and relieve stress from your past job. If you do end up getting fired, you will have plenty of time to focus on the things that make you happy and enjoyable. You will be able to learn something new about yourself and sort out your career goals. You may even find that you would like to do something completely different, which is fundamentally different from your responsibilities in your previous workplace.
   • Concentrate on your health. Incorporate exercise into your regular schedule. Balance your diet. Get enough sleep.
   • Accumulate new experiences and memories. Now you have the opportunity to enjoy an inexpensive travel or hiking trip.
   • Acquire new skills that you did not have enough time for while you were working.
2. 2 Spend time with your loved ones. Enjoy time with your family. Fully focusing on work, we sometimes forget what is really important in our life. If you get fired from your job, you will have a lot of time to spend with your children, your spouse, your parents, and other people who play an important role in your life.
3. 3 Read biographies of famous people who have succeeded after being laid off from one of their jobs. So many successful people around the world have once faced layoffs. Sometimes dismissal from the workplace, which, in fact, was not the ultimate dream, opens up an opportunity to find your true calling.
   • The writer J.K. Rowling also once lost her job as a secretary and even was homeless for a while before writing the Harry Potter books.
   • Michael Bloomberg once worked for an investment bank and was also fired, using his severance pay wisely to start his own financial operations and data company. Today Bloomberg is one of the most successful companies in the world.
4. 4 Get your confidence back. The constant fear and anxiety that you might be fired is very detrimental to your self-esteem. If you do leave this job, you will have a chance to remember what a wonderful person you are. All that can change after you are fired is your employment status. You will realize that you are still the smart and capable person that you were before working in this place, and the other company will definitely agree with you.

Tips

• Don't let the fear of being fired get in the way of doing your job well. For some people, this fear is simply paralyzed, which affects productivity and work efficiency.
• Be bold. Of course, it is quite difficult to openly and correctly respond to criticism from your boss, but he will be amazed and impressed by how you took the initiative in your workplace.
• Meditate. Meditation can help you clear your mind, relieve work-related stress, and finally let go of your fear of being fired.

Warnings

• Don't burn bridges. Even if you feel you have been treated unfairly, it is best to stay on good terms. After all, you do not know when and under what circumstances you may encounter these people again.
• Don't quit yourself until you get fired. If you are going to leave your job just because you are afraid of being fired, you are depriving yourself of the opportunity to receive decent unemployment benefits in the event of a layoff, as well as other benefits of unemployment.
• Never share your grievances with colleagues or other employees. After all, you never know who these rumors may reach.