After a job loss: what now?
Leaving your job unexpectedly (whether you resign, or are let go) has a particular way of knocking the wind out of you. One moment you’re in meetings, making decisions, carrying responsibility. The next, you’re staring at your calendar thinking, Well… that cleared up quickly.
For senior leaders, this kind of exit can feel especially disorienting. Work is rarely “just a job” at this level. It’s structure, identity, community, and momentum all bundled together. When it disappears overnight, the loss can feel bigger than you expected—and harder to explain to people who haven’t been there.
If this is happening to you, let’s be clear about one thing up front: there is nothing wrong with you for finding this hard.
The Emotional Whiplash Is Real
In the days and weeks after an unexpected exit, leaders often describe a strange emotional cocktail:
Shock, even if there were signals something wasn’t quite right
Relief, sometimes followed immediately by guilt for feeling relieved
Anxiety about income and stability, which has a way of hijacking every other thought
A wobble in identity, especially if work has long been a source of purpose
A busy mind, replaying conversations you’d very much like to stop replaying
Add to this the well-meaning advice to “just take a break” or “see this as an opportunity,” and it can feel like everyone else has skipped ahead to a chapter you haven’t finished reading yet.
Before You Move Forward, Something Needs to Close
One of the least talked-about parts of an unexpected exit is that it’s rarely neat. There are loose ends—financial, legal, relational, emotional. And often there’s grief, not just for the role, but for the future you thought you were building.
This is what I think of as closing a chapter. Not slamming the door. Not rewriting history. Just… finishing the chapter properly.
That can include:
Dealing with the practical mess so it doesn’t quietly drain your energy
Acknowledging disappointment or anger without letting it run the show
Letting go of a community you invested in, even if it no longer fits your life
This work is invisible from the outside, but it’s real work. And it takes more bandwidth than most people expect.
Getting Your Feet Back Under You (Without Rushing Yourself)
You don’t need to have your next big move figured out right now. In fact, trying to force clarity too early often creates more pressure than progress. A few gentler, steadier steps tend to help:
Stability first, brilliance later
If you can, focus on income and basic security before asking yourself big existential questions. Feeling financially steady—even temporarily—creates breathing room. It’s hard to imagine the future when your nervous system is doing the budgeting.Shorten the planning horizon
This is not the moment for a five-year vision. Think in 60–90 day increments. What would make the next few months feel calmer, more grounded, and slightly less exhausting?Notice the inner commentary
Many leaders default to being tougher on themselves than they would ever be on anyone else. Pay attention to the story you’re telling yourself about what this exit “means.” You don’t have to fix it yet—just notice it.Conserve your energy
You do not owe everyone an explanation. It’s okay to be selective about conversations and to say no to things that drain you. Rest is not avoidance; it’s maintenance.Stay connected, even as you let go
Leaving an organization can feel like losing a whole ecosystem at once. Seek out new conversations, fresh perspectives, and people who see you beyond your last title.
Where Coaching Fits (and Where It Doesn’t)
Executive coaching can be incredibly helpful after an unexpected exit—but only at the right moment.
Coaching is not about rushing you into the next role or slapping a positive spin on a difficult experience. It’s most valuable when you’re ready to look forward, even tentatively.
At that point, coaching can help you:
Make sense of what actually happened (without endlessly rehashing it)
Separate who you are from the role you just left
Reconnect with your strengths and values
Explore future options in a way that feels thoughtful, rather than reactive
When you’re ready to turn your attention toward what’s next, my approach starts by helping you step back and get clear on what really matters now, especially if your priorities have shifted.
From there, coaching can support very practical next steps, including:
Clarifying the kinds of roles, organizations, and leadership challenges that would genuinely suit you now
Reassessing your values, strengths, and what you want your work to give you at this stage
Making sense of your experience and shaping a clear, confident story about your career
Translating that story into concrete tools like resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and interview preparation
Thinking through timing, trade-offs, and opportunities so you’re not just reacting to what shows up
For many leaders, coaching offers something simple but powerful: a steady thinking partner and a clear process to help you move toward a next step that feels aligned, sustainable, and right for you.
A Gentle Truth to End On
An unexpected ending doesn’t cancel out the value of what you’ve done—or what you’re capable of next. Many leaders later describe this period as a hinge point: uncomfortable, unsettling, and quietly transformative.
When you’re ready to think about the future on your terms, executive coaching support can make that process clearer, steadier, and far less lonely.
For now, your only real job is to take care of yourself, close what needs closing, and give yourself permission not to have it all figured out.
Are you moving on from a job loss? If you’re interested in finding out more about executive coaching, book a chat with me.