The 8 Stages Of Job Loss

Losing a job can feel like losing your sense of self.

There are 8 stages.

If you’re in this right now - you’re not broken.

You’re human. And there’s a path forward.

After coaching 1,000+ people through it, here’s what I’ve seen again and again:

👉 The 8 Stages of Job Loss (and What Comes Next):

1) Shock
What just happened?
Even if you saw it coming, the ground still moves 🌪

2) Anger
“This wasn’t fair.”
You replay conversations. You feel betrayed.
Blame gets loud here 🔥

3) Judgment
“Was it me?”
“Am I damaged goods?”
You start to isolate.
Self-doubt takes the mic 

4) Reflection
The fog begins to lift.
You ask better questions:
What do I really want now? What would feel meaningful? 🧭

5) Action
You dust off the résumé.
You send the emails.
You step back into the ring 🥊

6) Rejection
It stings. It’s normal.
This is the training montage. Cue Rocky music 🎵
You’re building muscle 💪

7) Breakthrough
You get the job.
And strangely—that can feel just as disorienting as losing it.
Pause here.
You’re not lucky. You’re ready ✅

8) Meaning
You look back and realize: that chapter had to end.
You didn’t just bounce back.
You built forward 🛠️
And sometimes, you even feel… grateful 🙏

⚡ Remember: you don’t have to move through these in order.
 
You might loop. You might stall.
 
That doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It means you’re human 

So… what stage are you in right now?

💡 If this resonates, repost to help someone who might be in it too.
 And follow me here for more ways to get through it. Eric Woodard

🚀 Let's get your career stuff handled, find time to talk here. 📲