Afraid of being fired?

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Hi all,

Last week, we talked about what to do if you are at imminent risk of losing your job.

But what about all those other moments? The times at work where nothing is obviously wrong, but you have this gnawing fear that you’re about to be fired - or laid off.

It’s an incredibly s**tty feeling.

This week, we’re talking about:

• How to cope with the fear of being fired or laid off.

• The magic question to ask your interviewers if you really want a job.

Let’s get into it!

-Two Minutes’ Notice

POLL OF THE WEEK

WHAT WE’RE READING

• High-Performers are Exempt from RTO Mandates. Their Coworkers Aren’t Happy. (Fortune)

• Are You Actually Going to Get Fired? (HBR)

• I’ve Been Laid Off Five Times. Here’s How to Cope If It Happens to You (Girlboss)

• I Was So Worried About Being Fired. . .That I Got Fired (ADDitude)

Coping with Fear of Being Fired

Your brain thinks that it’s doing you a favor. If it constantly tells you that you’re about to be fired, you will stay alert, work harder, and prepare for the worst. You’ll be safe.

Right?

Not necessarily. The fear of being fired can actually make your job harder and less fulfilling. It can even prevent you from leaving toxic jobs by convincing you that you won’t succeed in a better environment.

Here’s how to quiet that fear and feel better at work.

Note: Being fired or laid off is real concern right now for many people. If you have seen concrete signs that you may be fired or laid off, last week’s issue of TMN will be more helpful for you. Our thoughts are with you.

Write what you’re doing right.

We tend to remember negative experiences more strongly than positive ones. That’s why it’s easier to remember the one mistake you made than the thirty things you did right in a day.

Giving positive experiences more focus helps reduce our fears.

At the end of each workday, take a minute to write down:

✅ One thing you accomplished
✅ One way you helped someone
✅ One piece of positive feedback you received (even if it’s just a quick “thank you”)

Review your list when doubt creeps in—it’s proof that you’re doing better than your fear says you are.

Try reframing anxious thoughts.

Our brains love to castastrophize. Instead of letting negative thoughts spiral, try reframing them with the information you have.

Here are a few examples:

🔴 “I’m probably going to get fired.” 

🟢 “I have received positive feedback from multiple team members, including my boss. My work is solid.”

🔴 “My boss seemed annoyed in that meeting—I’m on thin ice.” 

🟢 “My boss has a lot on their plate. Their mood isn’t about me.”

Think about the worst-case scenario.

Stay with us for a minute.

If you lost your job tomorrow, what would happen?

• Would you have savings, severance, or unemployment to lean on?

• Do you have skills that could get you another job? (Spoiler: You probably do.)

• Do you have friends, family, coworkers, former bosses, or other people who could help you?

Taking a moment to think about what would actually happen if you were fired (rather than the catastrophic image in your head) can help you feel safer.

You are more than your job.

Your worth isn’t measured by your title, your productivity, or your employer’s opinion. You are a whole person.

Take some time to nurture parts of your life that have nothing to do with your career. The more you build an identity outside of your job, the smaller the fear of being fired becomes.

You don’t need to live in constant fear to be successful.

Your success is driven by so many things besides fear—resourcefulness, kindness, intelligence, charm, will, or passion. Hold onto those drivers of success and let go of fear.

You deserve to feel secure at work.

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The Magic Interview Question

Thanks to Ask a Manager for originally cluing us into this question. We have used it to land job offers for years.

You’re in the last few minutes of an interview. The conversation is going fantastically, and you’re in the home stretch.

Then, the interviewer leans forward and asks the toughest question yet.

Do you have any questions for me?  

If your brain short-circuits at this question, you are not alone.

Instead of saying you don’t have any questions, try asking this:

In your opinion, what differentiates employees at [Company X] who are good at their jobs from those who are truly great?

This question is pure magic for a few reasons:

✨ It shows the interviewer that you care about doing a great job, not just a good one.

🔮 It tells you how the employer measures performance. Are the “great employees” the team members who constantly put in extra time, or deal with their boss’ mercurial temper? If so, that’s a big 🚩.

🪄 It reveals how you can stand out in the interview process. Listen carefully, and use every detail you can from the employer’s answer. Did you show that you have the traits they spoke about in your interview answers?

If not, tell them a story of a time you showed those qualities to end the interview, or highlight them in your thank-you note.

Always remember: the magic question reveals much to those who dare to ask it 🧙

(We’ll see our nerdy fantasy selves out.) 

COFFEE BREAK

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We’ll see you next Thursday!