Losing your job doesn’t mean you suck.
That’s the message the co-authors of a new book — and the celebrities who contributed to it, such as Oprah Winfrey and Lisa Kudrow — are aiming to get across.
“All the Cool Girls Get Fired,” by former fashion magazine editors Lauren Brown and Kristina O’Neill, is a survival guide for anyone who has been let go from a job, though it’s especially geared toward women.
They said that’s because there are more widely known examples of high-profile men who’ve been fired, such as Steve Jobs and Michael Bloomberg.
“It took us a minute to even figure out which women’s stories to include in the book,” said O’Neill. “It’s not part of that many women’s lore, getting fired.”
Brown lost her editor-in-chief job at InStyle magazine in February 2022 when the fashion publication went all-digital, while O’Neill was let go from WSJ. Magazine in April 2023 as part of a restructuring at The Wall Street Journal.
In addition to famous people’s accounts of dealing with job loss, Brown and O’Neill offer insights in their book from human resources, legal, and other career-related experts for moving on. They shared four tips with Business Insider on what to do after being let go:
Don’t sign anything, just decompress.
When executing layoffs, employers will typically ask the workers they’re letting go to quickly sign severance or other termination documents. There’s no need to comply right away, and it’s best you don’t, since getting the boot is a jarring experience, said O’Neill.
“You might be in shock,” she said.
Take time to process what’s happening, then review the materials you’ve been asked to sign, added O’Neill. You may want to negotiate for extended healthcare coverage or the option to keep your work phone.
“You’re actually the one in control,” she said. “Because what are they going to do? Fire you? They already fired you.”
Hire a lawyer who only gets paid if you win.
People tend to be too vulnerable after a layoff to do a good job of negotiating a better parting package for themselves, said Brown. She recommends getting expert help.
“The lawyer is your fighter, sword and shield,” she said. “They write the tough emails for you when you can’t.”
You don’t need to spend money up front on legal representation, as many attorneys work on contingency, noted Brown.
“You really have nothing to lose,” she said.
Regain control with spending hacks.
No longer having a steady income can cause anxiety. To regain a sense of financial security while job searching, look for small ways to trim your expenses, such as bringing cash to the grocery store instead of using a credit card.
“It makes you mindful of what you spend,” said O’Neill.
Use your new abundance of free time to negotiate lower fees for recurring expenses like internet service, and to reassess whether any monthly bills can be eliminated altogether, added Brown.
Also, take advantage of your lighter schedule to see every health-care provider you normally visit annually before your insurance runs out, said O’Neill. Likewise, if you’ve been putting off a medical concern, now is the time to get it checked out.
“Go on a doctor tour as fast as possible,” she said.
Lift your periscope.
Not only is there nothing wrong with asking people in your network for support after a layoff, it’s also a smart way to move forward, the authors said.
“Fall on your face for a week if you want, but then lift your periscope,” said Brown. “Ask for help. Women especially carry shame about being fired, but people will help if you ask.”
That’s especially true today, she continued, given that more people are looking for work than there are open jobs.
“There’s more empathy,” said Brown. “Thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people are going through this. You don’t have the exclusive.”
Meanwhile, remember that your value doesn’t disappear when your job does, added O’Neill. She pointed out that one of the experts she and Brown spoke to for “All the Cool Girls Get Fired” likened employees to library books.
“The company borrows you, but doesn’t own you,” she said. “The knowledge is yours.”
The writer of this article also previously worked at the Wall Street Journal.
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