By Neha Ghosh

I didn’t see it coming.

One September morning last year, I walked into what I thought was a routine meeting. By the end of it, I was walking out of the building with a single envelope in my hand and the awkward weight of a goodbye that wasn’t really mine to give.

I still remember the numbness in my fingers as I tried to register the words being spoken at me—phrases like “we need someone who can get the job done faster”, “more strategic”, and the polite, crushing “we’re so grateful for everything you’ve done.”

It wasn’t supposed to end this way. I thought I was on track for a promotion. I’d poured myself into that job—late nights, early mornings, ideas scribbled on napkins in cafés, endless Zoom calls across time zones. I believed I mattered there.

But just like that, I didn’t.

The Freefall That No One Warns You About

For months after, I was in a fog.

People told me to take time for myself, to “enjoy the break.” But it wasn’t a break. It was waking up in the middle of the night with a tight chest, scrolling job boards at 3 AM, and feeling my stomach drop every time someone asked, “So, what do you do now?”

I didn’t feel like myself anymore. I’d spent years tying my identity to my work—“marketing manager,” “head of content,” “team leader.” Without those labels, who was I?

It’s almost a year later, and I’m still figuring that out.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Job Loss

Let’s be honest: getting fired is traumatic. It’s not just about losing a paycheck. It’s about losing structure, routine, and a sense of purpose. It’s about the shame that creeps in during family dinners, the resentment that bubbles up when a former colleague’s promotion pops up on LinkedIn, and the quiet sadness of realizing you weren’t as indispensable as you thought.

Here’s the thing no one tells you: You might not feel like you for a while. And that’s okay.

I spent months frozen—too anxious to apply for jobs, too proud to ask for help, too overwhelmed to do much more than binge Netflix. I didn’t recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror.

But slowly—painfully slowly—I started crawling out of that hole.

How I’m Learning to Rebuild (And What’s Actually Helping)

I wish I could tell you there’s a five-step plan to bounce back after being fired. There isn’t. But here’s what’s been helping me inch forward:

1. Move, even when you don’t want to.

Some mornings, I force myself out the door for a walk. Just 10 minutes. It’s not about fitness; it’s about reminding myself that I’m still here, still moving forward.

2. Reconnect with people.

When I wanted to hide from the world, I pushed myself to say yes to coffee invites and lunch dates. Isolation feels safe, but it only feeds the spiral.

3. Take baby steps toward job hunting.

I started small—updating my LinkedIn headline, rewriting my resume, sending one application a week. Progress is progress.

4. Allow yourself to grieve.

This is big. You didn’t just lose a job; you lost an identity, a community, maybe even a dream. Cry if you need to. Write angry journal entries. Let yourself feel it.

5. Detach your worth from your work.

This one’s still a work in progress for me. But I’m learning that my value isn’t tied to KPIs, promotions, or job titles.

Facing the Job Hunt (When You’re Still Hurting)

Looking for a job after being fired is brutal. The rejections pile up. The “we’ll keep your resume on file” emails sting. The silence is deafening.

Some days, I send out applications like a machine. Other days, I stare at my laptop for hours and send nothing. Both are okay.

Here’s what I keep reminding myself:
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to keep going.

Things No One Tells You About Life After Getting Fired

• You’ll feel jealous of people who still have jobs.
  And then guilty for feeling jealous.
• Your confidence will take a hit.
  But confidence is a muscle—it rebuilds with use.
• It’s okay to pivot.
  Maybe this is a chance to explore something new. Or maybe you just need a job to pay the bills for now. Both are valid.

Why I’m Sharing This

Because I wish someone had told me it’s okay to not bounce back right away. That it’s normal to feel lost. That even successful, smart, hardworking people get fired—and it doesn’t define them.

If you’re reading this in your pajamas at 2 PM, wondering what’s next: you’re not alone.

It’s okay to take it one step, one application, one deep breath at a time.

So, What Now?

I’m still job hunting. Still rebuilding. Some days, I feel like I’m getting closer. Other days, it feels like I’m back at square one.

But I’ve stopped seeing this as the end of my story. It’s just a messy middle.

And maybe that’s enough for now.

Do you have a similar story to share? Let me know in the comments box or via email at ptcdnow@gmail.com