Getting fired can happen to anyone. People are fired due to performance issues and failure to meet their manager’s expectations (reasonable or unreasonable).

However, in many cases, being terminated has nothing to do with you and your work. In today’s business world, layoffs and “job reductions” are standard operating procedure. You can lose your job due to downsizing, restructuring, a merger or acquisition, or any of a long list of corporate changes that are not related to your performance.

Whatever the reason for your termination, rest assured that you CAN bounce back from being fired. You may even be able to look back on your firing as a learning experience someday.

However, even in the heat of the moment after hearing “You’re fired!” (or “You’re laid off!”), you must try to put your emotions aside and think about the practical steps to take to ensure a smooth transition to your next position.… Read the rest