As one of the leading recruiting agencies in Houston, Murray Resources knows that a demotion can feel worse than getting laid off or fired. At least in the latter two scenarios, you get to leave behind the situation and embark on a new path. With a demotion, however, you have to not only deal with office gossip, but also less responsibility along with a potentially lower salary as well.

Talk about a kick in the gut!

But keep in mind: demotions happen for many reasons, some of which may have nothing to do with your skills and abilities, such as downsizing or reorganization.

Regardless, a demotion still hurts. Below are some tips to help you deal:

Don’t Get Emotional (at Least Not at Work)

Getting demoted will stir up a lot of emotions – most of them negative. As a result, you might feel the need to get angry or lash out. But don’t do it. If you play your cards right, and prove yourself, then a demotion can be a temporary situation. You need to focus on staying motivated, producing high quality work, and achieving goals.

Also, remember, even if you do decide to seek employment elsewhere, you’re going to need positive references from your current employer and colleagues and getting angry and emotional is not a way to garner them.

Ask What You Can Do to Improve

Perhaps a demotion wasn’t due to company restructuring, but rather poor performance on your part. If that’s the case, then find out what you need to do to improve.

For instance, if you were promoted into a management role only to find your leadership skills lacking, then do what you can to shore up that skill set – if you want to get promoted again.

Don’t Wallow in the Past

Don’t think about all the “what ifs” and things you should have done differently. The fact is that the higher ups have made their decision and you need to live with it. The question is: what are you going to do about it?

Only you can make the decision whether you should move on or stay put. But whatever you do, don’t look at the past; only look to the present and the future.

Keep Your Job Search Quiet

If you do decide to quit and find something new, don’t make a move until you’ve secured a new position. The reality is that a steady paycheck – even if it’s a job you don’t want – is better than unemployment. So go ahead and start networking under the radar, polish your resume, enhance your LinkedIn profile, and apply for new jobs. But keep it quiet until you find something new.

Need some additional help with your job search? Call Murray Resources.

As one of the leading recruiting agencies in Houston, we can assist you with the entire job search process – from crafting a strong resume to preparing for interviews – all so you can find job opportunities that are a great fit for your skills and background.

Ready to get started? Contact us today.