Turning Termination Around Like An Angel

It’s tough losing a job. It doesn’t matter if you’re a corporate giant, a mid-level manager, someone on the production line or making lattes at the local coffee barista. The economy has hit just about every segment hard, and people lose their jobs because there just aren’t enough customers to pay salaries. It happens. If it’s not their fault, it isn’t much easier, but it happens.

It’s even hard for supermodels when they lose a job. At least it has been for Miranda Kerr, recently of Victoria’s Secret, who lost her Angel’s halo for allegedly being “disruptive.” According to an article in The Business Insider, “How Miranda Kerry Spun Getting Ousted From Victoria’s Secret In Her Favor,” Miranda was terminated for cause—which in the world of retail lingerie means she had a difficult reputation and was unable to sell underwear. At least her performance didn’t measure up to her co-workers—other “Angels” who seemed to be able to move those famous label bras and panties according to expectations.

Poor retail sales performance? Couldn’t make the numbers? Not measuring up to your co-workers? Difficult to get along with? These statements could be part of any performance evaluation and disciplinary action form. While they may or may not be a true assessment, she was able to spin her termination into a plus, which may give some lessons to everyone who has been fired from a job. Turning negatives into positives, especially when you’re looking for a job, is an essential tactic if you want to overcome objections and get the next job. 

First, as she said in the Sydney Morning Herald, she wasn’t terminated at all. She actually left voluntarily to spend more time with her family and daughters. Nice tactic, if you can get away with it, and apparently in the fashion world, she did. It can also work if there are legitimate reasons for parting ways with an employer. Some people with fantastic, highly-paid jobs are secretly miserable and would like to quit, held captive by “golden handcuffs” of a high salary, position and power—with the financial obligations to match. They can’t afford to leave a job. Or they continue on with a job they loved before their life took a different direction. 

Such is Miranda’s explanation. She’s been modeling since she was 13, and now with a family and children, she wants to take a different direction. That’s a noble reason for giving up what many young women with dreams of making it big in the fashion world would give their capped teeth and nose-jobs for. 

It may be an unlikely place to learn tips for bouncing back from a job loss, but Miranda’s experience could help anyone who has to get back out into the job market. You were going to leave anyway. The timing just got a little out of whack. There were legitimate reasons why you may have appeared “difficult.” The stress of reconciling one lifestyle for another made it difficult for you to perform your duties, and it is best that you and the company split when you did. No hard feelings. 

This explanation seems to have worked for a supermodel. It may work for anyone who has a high-stress, visible job in a tough, but forgiving, industry. Even a fallen “angel” can teach a valuable lesson to others who need redemption.

Photo Source: Wylio.com