The 3 stages of dismissal: How to get through them successfully

Whether you saw it coming or it hit you completely out of the blue, getting fired is a traumatic experience for most people. Many employees are shocked by their own reaction because they respond differently than they do to other challenges. However, this is completely normal. Losing your job is not a common occurrence. Many people only experience it once, and it is impossible to prepare for it.

At IDA, our career counsellors describe the period following termination as three phases: Wait – Think – Act. The length of time you spend in each phase is highly individual, and the phases may also overlap. It is important that you wait, think and act at your own pace.

Read on to learn more about how the three phases may play out for you.

WAIT: The shock phase and the rollercoaster

Many people experience shock when they are dismissed and ask questions such as: How are we going to pay our bills? What will my partner say? Why did it have to be me? Will I be able to find another job in Denmark? Am I allowed to apply for other jobs without contacting the authorities? Could I have prevented it?

The next day, you might say: Phew, what a relief – this is a good opportunity to try something else. The day after that: Gasp, what now?

It is important that you, if you have been dismissed, allow yourself to go through the rollercoaster, which is why the first few days after being dismissed are not the best time to make good decisions. Therefore, you should wait before doing anything, even though it is a natural reaction to think that you can get away from the unpleasant experience by moving on to something new as quickly as possible.

In addition to waiting, you also need to vent your thoughts and feelings to someone you trust at home or among your friends. There can be many different reactions to being dismissed; you may feel anger, relief, sadness or something else entirely. You may worry that you are disappointing those around you or that you lose face by losing your job. In all cases, it is important that you express your feelings, do not keep them to yourself and give them time to settle before you embark on something new.

For some, this may take a day, for others it may take much longer, and that is perfectly normal. It is also not unusual to swing from one emotion to another.

THINK: The reflection phase and reaching out for help

In the next phase, you will typically have recovered and processed the initial shock of losing your job. Many people now experience a kind of emptiness, which can be frightening. The key here is to get your thoughts in order.

You now need to start thinking about what your next career move should be.

But you need to take it in small steps, and this may require you to arm yourself with a little patience. You need to start thinking and clarifying, rather than actively searching for a job, because you may not be completely balanced yet, and you risk saying yes to something you will later regret.

In a busy everyday life, most people do not have the energy to reflect on their working life, but you have the opportunity to do so now:

• What are you good at?
• What strengths, abilities and talents do you have?
• What do you want from your future workplace?

During the reflection phase, the world is your oyster. Perhaps you know exactly what you would like to work with. But this is also where you can consider whether you are using the skills you would most like to work with – or whether there are other jobs or industries you dream of trying out.

You can get help with all of this by talking to friends and colleagues or by using one of IDA's many tools:

• Fill in your competency profile
• Take the strengths test

You can also book a career consultation, and we will help you with any questions you may have.

In Denmark, many engineers and scientists are offered an outplacement programme by the company from which they are being made redundant. It is a good idea to accept this help – or get help from IDA or other professionals. For many, being dismissed can be stigmatising, so you may benefit from professional help in dealing with the situation.

ACT: The action phase and your new everyday life

Once you have clarified what you are looking for in the future in terms of professional challenges and a good working life, you can move on to the action phase and start acting on your reflections and the help you have received.

If you are an international professional, you need to investigate the rules regarding job search permit if you are a citizen in a country outside the Nordic countries and the EU/EEA, depending on the length of your notice period. Please be aware that there may be a long waiting period to obtain a job search permit and you will need to pay a fee to do so. The rules in this area are subject to change and IDA does not advise on job search permits. So to get answers to your questions, please visit the New to Denmark website. 

IDA has created a guide for the entire job search process – from job search strategy to how to handle job interviews, tests and job searches on LinkedIn, an essential tool when searching for jobs in Denmark: Go to the job search guide. You are also welcome to contact us at IDA if you need feedback on your CV and application.

In this phase, you will also need to structure your time so that you can get back into a routine. This requires self-discipline and self-management, both in terms of finding focused time for your job search and, equally importantly, taking time off from your job search so that it does not take up all your time. Job hunting is mentally demanding work.

Therefore, you should make a plan for when you will focus on job hunting, e.g. from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the afternoon, while taking a break from job hunting from 4 p.m. until the next morning, when you may have arranged a coffee meeting.

Make a plan for the three most important things you want to do or research today or this week and set times for when you want to do them.

Also, add activities to your calendar that you know are good for you and keep you busy in a healthy way. These could be gardening, playing tennis or going for a walk in the city. Your job search will be better and more focused if you remember to take time off from it.