Rebounding from Career Setbacks

Reprint: R1410J

It’s not easy to recover from a big career disappointment such as getting fired or being passed over for a promotion. Many people sink into anger or denial, blaming situational factors or company politics. Though that’s a natural response, it can also prevent them from breaking free of the destructive behaviors that may have derailed them in the first place.

People who successfully rebound from career losses take a different approach: They do the hard work of figuring out why they lost, identifying which new paths they could take, and then seizing the right opportunity—whether that’s a different role in the same organization, a move to a new company, or a shift to a new industry or career.

Drawing on in-depth research and the authors’ consulting experience, this article offers practical guidance for transforming anger and self-doubt over what seems like a failure into focused exploration and excitement about the fresh possibilities the situation presents.

To gauge your ability to rebound from career setbacks, take the self-assessment at hbr.org/assessments/mirror-test.