Ask HN: Just got let go, what now?

3 points by pwaai ↗ HN
Worked in sales as an engineer, automated our POC builds (used to take weeks now takes a few minutes) but unfortunately the product struggles.

I don't know what to do!

3 comments

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Take a short breather and let your mind clear. Right now you likely are feeling a lot of emotions and want to figure out what actions to take - instead you need to allow the emotions to simmer down and instead think through next steps.

I don’t know your situation so I can’t tell you what to do after that, but for now you need to make sure you act on rationality, not impulse :)

Some practical next steps -

1) Take care of yourself first, workout daily. This will greatly help your mental game.

2) Punch-up your Linkedin profile and formal CV.

3) Define where you see yourself next? Another Sales Engineer role with a tech firm? Something else?

4) Start researching players doing interesting work in your market; then reach out to them.

5) Network; attend conferences, meet-ups, & events. Great way to stay social and uncover opportunities.

Let yourself grieve. Cry if you need to. Feel sorry for yourself. Go ahead. It's OK to do that.

For a day, maybe two. Then put it behind you.

You had some concrete accomplishments in that job. That's evidence that you can do things that will help other companies. Don't look down at yourself because you were let go. You can do good work, and you proved it. Use that proof. Use it, when you get down, to remind yourself that you've got genuine ability and talent. And use it in job seeking to demonstrate that you have something to offer.