I was fired from my Director level job of almost 10 years, I had no discipline and performance reviews were meets or exceeds every year.

50 Comments

1. AnonymousJanuary 6,2025 at 3:39PM UTC

   I can totally relate. I wasn’t fired but I was laid off (again!) in May. I was making nearly $160,000 and I was getting desperate after 4 months and accepted a much lower level position for $85,000. No other offers. Yes, I should be happy I have a job but I feel very demoralized that I worked so hard to move up in my career and now…. I have an MBA and my PMP. Many years experience. All we can do is keep networking (LinkedIn is a good resource) and keep applying. The beginning of the year are best times for jobs with the budget there. Best of luck to you!

2. Vanessa LontocJanuary 6,2025 at 3:43PM UTC

   I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. It's incredibly tough to lose a job, especially after such a long tenure. Remember that your skills and experience are valuable. Keep networking, updating your resume and online profiles, and don't give up hope. It's important to be patient and persistent during your job search. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon nowadays to be looking for a job for more than 6 months. Consider exploring different avenues, such as contract work or consulting, while you continue your search for a full-time role.

3. Michelle StewartJanuary 6,2025 at 4:17PM UTC

   Are you interested in higher ed? You may not get quite that pay - it all depends on where you might land.

4. AnonymousJanuary 6,2025 at 8:37PM UTC

   Since you said that you were fired, I would be curious to know how your are framing this job or the "Reason I left my last job" question. Also, not knowing more details of what led up to this, could there be toxic people from your last job who are spreading rumors or saying negative things about you to perspective new employers. Just a thought.

5. GirlBossanova627261January 7,2025 at 1:48PM UTC

   Along with the others who commented I sympathize with you. Knowing you have support and are not alone is a great first step. I am a HR Director and find myself in a similar situation. The job market is tough. A BSN is transferable to many organizations including hospitals. I recommend targeting areas where healthcare is strong. I also recommend applying to roles you might not think are relevant as healthcare is hurting for talent. I would also advise connecting with a trusted headhunter. More than leads, talk to them about market conditions and pay. They speak with companies everyday and have insights others won’t. Last take the time to decide what truly makes you happy. Establish the acceptable standard of living and attack roles you want such as lower paying but personally satisfying, example a small hospital or science research facility. What will truly make you happy and feel I made a difference.

6. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 5:43PM UTC

   Thank you!

7. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 1:50PM UTC

   We're you fired or laid off? There's a huge difference.

8. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 5:42PM UTC

   The exact words were " you are being terminated for performance, effective immediately".

   This was not a layoff. The people laid off had their "positions eliminated" and received severance packages.

   Because I was in a higher level position, I was terminated because the company must technically have that position (even if it remains unfilled for some time so they save the money and eventually hire someone at a lower pay rate).

   Corporate America is a beast!

9. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 6:23PM UTC

   I would speak with an attorney to understand your options.

10. AnonymousJanuary 8,2025 at 1:32PM UTC

    Just came here to say the same thing… I would speak to an attorney about your options. Sounds like wrongful termination if you had no prior disciplinary or performance issues, unless there was some egregious violation (I doubt it but had to throw that out there). If you’re in a protected class, you may have some additional recourse. I know a lot of people would prefer to simply move on, but if the company has done something unethical, or illegal, you may at least stop it from happening to someone else.

    Hoping you at least collected unemployment to help bridge the gap of income while you’re looking for something else. Wishing you all the best!

11. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 2:48PM UTC

    I am sorry to hear you were fired (?) from your last job. Since you were very senior level, I suspect you may have been aware of the vibes, priorities and politics at play, and if you weren’t, someone(s) were keeping you in the dark. Or maybe it was a simple as they can terminate-at-will senior employees without any PIP and you’d mentioned many layoffs..

    It’s now a 2-part problem: 1.) how to reframe the separation from previous employer in neutral but accurate language and 2.) how to reassess what your best leads may be in the current market. I have no doubt that person with BSN/MBA could find work readily, it’s just what directions could you be open to now?

    As painful as separations are, they are also opportunities for reinvention and pivots. I hope you find some promising avenues. Keep your chin up .

12. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 3:32PM UTC

    you are not alone AT ALL. I am sory for your job loss (i was in a similar position 6 years ago). very hard to recover. Initially, you'll be in a honeymoon period and think this is do-able, to replace the job and income. But if you're not a nurse or skilled laborer, it's very tough out there. Look on Indeed if you don't believe me. Advice: update your CV. get on Linked In. Network all over the place (friends got me on at my last two jobs). Also, DO VOLUNTEER WORK during this season of no work. it's a great way to get out of your head, help others, network/connect, and keep your CV active ....

13. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 5:36PM UTC

    Thank you, I am an RN and have taken on a part time role, use LinkedIn and have been networking. But this is a tough job market even with my background.

    The part time job is 12 hours and it is nights, the 12 hour shifts are now the norm for nursing but it is killing me physically.

14. Julie landauJanuary 7,2025 at 5:11PM UTC

    You’ve been through a lot and it’s clear you are a resilient and capable professional. Ladies already have great advice, here are 2 more to move forward and be fully engaged in your search with the right energy.

    1. Reframe your experience: write down 5-10 unique skills or accomplishments from your career. These are your superpower, qualities that make you stand out. Use them as a foundation to explore roles and opportunities you may not have considered before.
    2. Expand your network with boldness!!! Only 20% of the job are on LinkedIn or other job boards. Reach out to leaders or companies that are inspiring you, not just to apply for jobs, but to have conversations. Share your expertise, ask for advice. Most people are happy to help and may open doors you didn’t expect.

    You are not alone, surround you with people who can help you to gain clarity and confidence in your next steps. You’ve got this.

15. AnonymousJanuary 7,2025 at 5:32PM UTC

    Thank you so much for the additional suggestions. My confidence is pretty shaken, I have been an RN for 30 years and only had 3 employers during this time, never been terminated or even reprimanded in my career.

16. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 7,2025 at 10:16PM UTC

    You wrote: "Only 20% of the job are on LinkedIn or other job boards."

    I'm not sure where you heard this, but this is nonsense.

    Please stop spreading misinformation to jobseekers. Looking for a job is tough enough as it is in this market without people spreading lies like this.

17. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 7,2025 at 10:22PM UTC

    What were you actually doing? Were you working in a clinical setting? There are many healthcare tech companies that might need your skills. There are also speciality job boards - I'm pretty sure there's a nursingjobs. com.

    You could also try the HIMSS site - that's the healthcare IT trade group - they have a job board.

18. Tracy SaundersJanuary 8,2025 at 1:31PM UTC

    Hi, I am so sorry to hear about this. Sadly, this is such a common occurrence that I recently posted about it on LinkedIn. This is exactly why I founded BossmakeHer. To support women leaders in this situation. Positioning yourself to break through to a role you want, need, and deserve will be the key to making a successful move. Feel free to learn more over on our site: https://www.bossmakeher.com. Hang in there! You've got this. ??

19. CEJNYCJanuary 8,2025 at 1:38PM UTC

    You may have an age discrimination claim, even in an at-will state. Of course, that's a double-edged sword because the word gets out in an industry that you've sued. Talk to an attorney specializing only in employment issues and weigh both the pros and cons, including reputational ones, carefully. Separately, it seems the larger employers are moving away from remote work.

20. Karen LJanuary 8,2025 at 1:57PM UTC

    HR Director here. Let's change mindset first! Don't use the terminology "fired" unless it was conduct or performance. You were let go, laid off, position eliminated. You don't want to plant negative connotations with the wrong words.

    The difficulty is not you. Since covid, the world has changed and the job market is the worst-- especially for white collar professionals. Networking is key along with mindset. I'm with you. Been looking for a year!

21. AnonymousJanuary 8,2025 at 2:37PM UTC

    I am so sorry about you ladies losing your job as I loss mine as well due to the position being terminated and have recently find out the company may be going under, I have been out of work since August (which is nothing compared to you ladies) but knowing I have never been without a job (unless it was due to family circumstances) scares me since I have applied to more jobs than I can count and have only had one respond back but I never even made it to the interview process

22. Karen KnellyJanuary 8,2025 at 2:10PM UTC

    I too was laid off really for NO REASON as far as work performance. Like you, I prefer to work remotely but realized I would need to be on site. Take an on site job. Maybe it will work out. If not, you’ll have a job and can continue your search.

23. kim HolleyJanuary 8,2025 at 2:41PM UTC

    I am in the same situation. I had excellent reviews and received a raise, but then the owner let me go. No reason, no disciplinary action, no complaints, no legit reason, but I work in Arizona (at will), so I did not receive any compensation either. It looks horrible on my resume, and people look confused when they ask while I am being interviewed.

24. GirlBossanova934974January 8,2025 at 2:47PM UTC

    The thing to do now is get the most amount of severance you can get. DO NOT SIGN anything from this employer in regards to severance especially you are a protected class aka over 40 years old. DO NOT SIGN! You should shooting for getting 3-6 months of severance. Strongly suggest you contact his person on LinkedIn. He specializes in cases like this and often wins several months of additional severance. https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-goodman2001/

25. Titra HamiltonJanuary 8,2025 at 3:11PM UTC

    Your situation was mine in 2022. I was terminated from a Director role when venture capitalist purchased the company. I had superior performance and was told that my termination had nothing to do with my performance. They abolished the position to free up overhead to make "strategic hires" and promoted others who looked the part. I got my severance and dipped. I was tired of working 14 hours a day anyway. They are basically trying to position the company to grow big enough to sell again. Skills like ours are in demand, but companies don't want to pay what we are worth, so I went independent (1099). I posted my resume on Dice, indicating that I was open to 1099/C2C work. I have two clients now and haven't been this happy at work in years. Now, I am looking to transition into W2 for the benefits, but will always keep 1099 clients. I am getting paid less, but I do have good benefits and the tax write offs, and I use both clients to get my income up to what it used to be as a Director. You can do it.

26. AnonymousJanuary 8,2025 at 3:29PM UTC

    I'm sorry to hear you were laid off. Yes, many middle managers are being cut to save some money. That 10 year mark...yep, been there. It's 100% not you.

    Get everything you can from unemployment. Get a severance and negotiate.

    Start the job application route. Update your resume, online accounts. Start networking. Head hunters, etc. Remote or in person. If you were a strong performer, you'll find something. It may take a while 6-12 months. I hope sooner for you. Just play the numbers game.

    Run your personal finances and see what you can live on. It may be a lean year. You may face changes (I and some friends have had to sell a lot and considered moving too- it can be stressful, but run the math too - so you know the lowest you'll go for salary---and, in one case a friend left her apartment and lived with family---so if folks have supports in their life, start calling them in- or putting them on notice).

    Good luck!

27. AnonymousJanuary 9,2025 at 8:28PM UTC

    Are “Directors” considered middle managers??

28. AnonymousJanuary 8,2025 at 4:02PM UTC

    Capital One has a lot of openings. If you're located near a people center (NY, Chicago, Mclean, Richmond, Plano, SF, San Diego), that might be a good fit for you! It's an awesome company.

29. Marcia SmithJanuary 8,2025 at 4:10PM UTC

    Here is some advice for updating your LinkedIn profile:

    Your LinkedIn (LI) profile can be just as important for your job search as your resume. Because

    networking can be an important part of your Job Search Strategy, your LI profile must accurately

    and effectively present your experience, qualifications, skills, education, and more. Your LI

    profile tells a story about you and every section of your profile - including your banner - is a part

    of that story.

    Be sure to proofread your profile to ensure that all of the spelling and grammar is correct.

    Banner

    Your LinkedIn banner is the first thing that people will see when they look at your profile. Canva

    is a wonderful (and free) app that you can use to create a winning banner. The correct banner

    size is 1584 X 396 px.

    Your LI banner is a great place to highlight your values, skills or brand. You can post another

    photo and provide your email address and link to your website or portfolio. An appropriate

    picture here could be one of you speaking to a group of people - showing that you are an expert

    that others want to hear from.

    This banner is a critical part of your personal brand - the colors, feel, and font that you use are

    all important. The goal is to increase your visibility and attract new connections and job

    opportunities.

    Profile Photo

    Here are a couple of guidelines for a winning profile photo

    ● Make sure it is clear and has a high resolution

    ● Your photo should take up most of the frame

    ● You should be the only person in the photo

    ● Most people look straight into the camera, but a few have chosen to look away - and

    they are still great photos. The main thing is to be yourself and show that beautiful smile!

    ● Use a plain background - or remove the background from your photo before you upload

    it

    ● Look natural and wear something nice - not overly casual, but a suit is not required here

    ● The correct photo size is 400 X 400 px

    LI has a new feature where you can upload a short video in addition to your photo

    Headline

    The headline should be creative and describe you as you would like a hiring manager to think of

    you. Anyone visiting your profile should quickly and easily see your profession and key

    skills.The current limit is 120 - 200 characters

    LI suggests using the following formula for developing a headline:

    1st: your role

    2nd: a short overview using keywords

    3rd: an illustration of your value using quantitative data

    Here is an example:

    Nonprofit Grant Writer | Full Cycle Grants Management| Budget & Research Expert | $250,000+

    Annual Grant Acquisition

    © 2022 Dr. Marcia Smith

    Remember that your headline should be more than just your title - highlight your strengths,

    skills, and accomplishments. Ask yourself why you love your role and what motivates you. This

    is the best place to differentiate yourself from the competition in the job hunt.

    Career Interest Button

    You can use this button to let recruiters know that you are opent to work - even if you do not use

    the “Open to Work” badge. Some employers would retaliate if their employees look for work, so

    you must know the environment that you are operating in and only provide information that will

    not put your current job at risk.

    Contact info

    Help people contact you with a professional email address, a website, and the link to your

    profile if you have one.

    About section

    In this section, you can tell people who you are, what you’re doing, and what you want to

    achieve. While you are on your job search, this is the perfect place to share what role you are

    looking for (see topic 2 - Your Dream Job) and a little about your expertise. Here, you should

    incorporate the appropriate keywords for the role you are seeking..

    In this section, the first 265-275 characters will show up first - before anyone needs to click to

    “see more”. These first characters should be interesting and highly informative -with the goal to

    entice the reader to want to see more.

    In this section you should present the kinds of roles you’re looking for and why you’d be

    successful.

    ● Personal or professional accomplishments that you are particularly proud of

    (certifications, awards, etc.)

    ● Hobbies or skills that make you stand out or tie into the kind of job you’re looking for.

    ● Use numbers and show your accomplishments with specific information and data.

    ● Present your greatest strengths and areas of expertise.

    ● Answer the following questions:

    ○ What exactly do you do?

    ○ What is your value proposition (How are you different from everyone else in your

    role)?

    Show that you have a growth mindset - and if you have worked with cross-functional teams,

    explain how and what these teams accomplished. At the end of this section, you can ask the

    reader to take the next step: "Contact me to learn more at janesmith@gmail.com!"

    Featured Section

    Here, you can post letters of recommendation or presentations/reports that you created.

    Experience

    Your experience section should match what you have on your resume. Be sure to highlight

    important awards & recognition that you may have achieved in the past. Use bullet points under

    each employer to make the text easier to read and provide as much detail as you can.

    Education

    Your education section should match what you have on your resume

    Volunteer section

    In this section, you can highlight any volunteer work that you have done - BUT if your volunteer

    work is DIRECTLY related to the job you are seeking, you can also include it in your experience

    section and just say “pro bono work” by the experience. I have done this in my own profile.

    Skills

    You can highlight up to 50 skills - so use this section. Your co-workers, former supervisors,

    peers, professors, and members of your network can validate your skills.

    Recommendations

    These work like a letter of recommendation. You should ask your co-workers, former

    supervisors, peers, professors, and members of your network to write you a short

    recommendation.

    Projects

    Here, you can highlight specific successful projects that you have completed throughout your

    career.

    Organizations

    In this section, you can list associations, groups, clubs, and professional societies that you are a

    member of.

    Interests

    This section lists all of the influencers, companies, and schools that you follow as well as all of

    the LI groups that you are a member of. It is important to follow experts in your field.

    Causes

    Here, you can provide a brief list of the causes you support - such as Animal Welfare, Arts and

    Culture, etc. While this section is clearly not the most important, it shows that you have taken

    the time to complete every section of your profile.

    Profile URL

    You can create a custom URL for your profile - like https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciasmithdbamba

    Go to your profile and in the upper right corner, you’ll see “Edit public profile & URL.” Once the

    page refreshes, look in the upper right corner - there will be a button to change the URL

    Social Selling Index Score

    This is a score based on profile optimization, networking, content, etc.

    According to LinkedIn, people with a high index score obtain 45% more opportunities. To learn

    your Social Selling Index score, go to the official LI Social Selling Index page.

    Things to avoid on your profile:

    Complaints - about former employers, any employers really, or other people on LI

    Political opinions - yes, we all have them, but this is not the place to share them

    Anything that is unrelated to your position, your industry, and your job hunting goals.

30. AnonymousJanuary 8,2025 at 4:58PM UTC

    Following

31. Karen LJanuary 8,2025 at 6:06PM UTC

    Okay, it changes a little and I never recommend fibbing, but you don't have to share all the details! Leave it vague and if interviewers ask, be prepared to tell a reasonable story or what you learned from it. Hope for all of us!

32. Lesley HatchJanuary 8,2025 at 7:50PM UTC

    at will? that means you can be fired or laid off at any time with no severance?

33. AyianJanuary 8,2025 at 7:57PM UTC

    Yes. Severance is not a legal obligation. Being laid off allows an employee to claim unemployment without an argument, but firing means that, depending upon the response from the employer, it may be denied. It's a method failing or dishonest businesses may use to save themselves more money.

34. hawkinscarlaJanuary 8,2025 at 9:01PM UTC

    Yes.

35. AnonymousJanuary 9,2025 at 1:34PM UTC

    It does

36. AnonymousJanuary 9,2025 at 2:35PM UTC

    Yes

37. AnonymousJanuary 9,2025 at 4:41PM UTC

    Yes, I did qualify for unemployment benefits but in my state that was $200 a week for 3 months . At will employment means your employer does not have to have a reason to terminate you and as long as it is not illegal such as age race or sexual discrimination which you must prove that's the end. Employers are protected.

38. Afo Ogbeyalu KaluJanuary 9,2025 at 12:44AM UTC

    Suggested career alternatives . . .

    With your stated educational background, you more than likely have the prerequisite courses for a Long-Term Care/Nursing Home Administrator's License. You would just need externship credits. Check with your state to find out the requirements. The license may more effectively position you for Nursing Home/Assisted Living/Elder Care leadership roles.

    Nurse Extender/Ancillary Staff/HHA/PCA/CNA Educator/Trainer/Instructor

    Healthcare Consulting (private practice, for a law firm, for an insurance company, for tech/Fintech companies, pharmaceutical industry)

    Director-level positions for Non-profits/NGOs/CBOs

    Just remember to tailor your cover letter and resume to better meet the requirements of whichever job posting you respond to, and demonstrate how your skills are transferable, and the value you would bring to the organization.

    The job board of citylimits.org is an under-utilized resource. My clients have had success registering with that platform, among others.

    Best of luck!

39. AnonymousJanuary 9,2025 at 1:39PM UTC

    Try 31 years!!!!

40. Kathy SijanJanuary 9,2025 at 1:47PM UTC

    What area of remote work? I have a friend who recently retired from home IV sector. Need more detail in order to connect to colleagues.

41. AnonymousJanuary 9,2025 at 4:37PM UTC

    More Case Management, Utilization Review, or Documentation. I have not done bedside nursing in over 20 yeats

42. Beverly L.January 9,2025 at 2:56PM UTC

    Given your credentials you would be very attractive to health insurance companies and pharmaceutical/biotech companies. There are a number of roles that are remote in both industries. In Pharma focus on patient services roles. Try United Health Care.

43. AnonymousJanuary 10,2025 at 2:56PM UTC

    6-9 months at this level is pretty normal. Don't panic!! Trying lower level won't work i my experience. As a hiring manager l'm thinking you are over qualified and will jump quickly or will be outside of my salary range. Hang in there - you will get there!

44. AnonymousJanuary 10,2025 at 4:36PM UTC

    My partner has an MBA from Columbia and was an SVP, and he too has found it impossible to find work as of late. I lost my job as Director of Ops with stellar reviews every year, not a single warning, nothing, and the actual reason I was let go it illegal but that's another story. Hold out hope, utilize connections as much as possible. Every interview I've gotten has been through someone I know.

45. Ellen Smith FaganJanuary 10,2025 at 4:36PM UTC

    Equal value or better - not lower level but HIGHER level. WIN.

46. AnonymousJanuary 10,2025 at 5:52PM UTC

    One other thought having been in your position. "create" a consulting company for an interim in your resume. It will help block the view of being out of work. Create a linked in page for it, etc. You might find that you can pick up some side gigs to tide you over. But it shows initiative and that you believe you are high level. Recruiters and others know what it is, but its does help get through the AI bots.

47. MidwestMaven456January 10,2025 at 8:29PM UTC

    No one can tell you what is best for you, your financial situation and your bills. If you have to take a job now to make ends meet, pay the mortgage, tuition for kids, etc. don't feel bad about that. There is no shame in taking a job to pay bills. And FYI, having been there, I know that those with jobs, get offered jobs.

48. C HJanuary 11,2025 at 1:26AM UTC

    I’m hearing and reading that mid—senior level management roles are hard to come by and will be for awhile. With your background you could pursue life sciences healthcare and health insurance consulting roles in the interim.

49. AnonymousJanuary 14,2025 at 2:44AM UTC

    I'd consider going into business for yourself as a consultant in the industry that you used to work in, which may be more profitable and give you better control over your schedule and you'd also should be able to easily due most of the work from home.

50. AnonymousJanuary 27,2025 at 12:49AM UTC

    My biggest advice to you is to not lose faith in yourself. Do not be afraid to take risks because you know what you have to offer is a lot. This is advice I did not and still will not take for myself out of the fear of rejection, as I share a similar experience as yours. I had been a director for a publishing company for just shy of 25 years, I received numerous "Employee of the Month" awards and under my direction the company won 19 worldwide recognized "Benny" awards. I too had never been written up or received any kind of disciplinary actions. I was in my early 50's at the time and made over $90k. The company replaced me with someone half my age and half my salary, they did not let me take any personal belongings when they let me go (they would mail them to me). I did not receive ANY of my awards and worst was the fact that I had a credenza full of "my portfolio pieces" that was a collection of my best work containing my published name within my copies of the "Benny" award winning books and etc. In my line of work this was invaluable and necessary to show future employees what I have done and therefore what I could do. It was as though the past 25 years of my employed life did not exist. I was absolutely devastated. Long story short, I lost my home (and pets), my car and ended up homeless. Twice I tried to commit suicide. I lied about having a home address just to get a job at Walmart, where I still reside because it is a job and I desperately need one. The pay is horrible and I feel like I have a wealth of un-used knowledge going to waste, yet am fearful to even try anymore, as I am now in my 60's. The worst part is how I feel about myself, un-valued. So believe in yourself, go on to be the success you are meant to be and may your former employer get what they deserve...mine did, they are no longer in business. Best of luck to you!