'I Was Fired!' What to Do When You Get the Boot -- 5 Tips

Dear Salary Sally,

As an aspiring fashion magazine editor, I'm not the kind of gal to call in sick. In fact, I probably qualify as a workaholic. It's the only way to get noticed at a fashion magazine, after all. The pay is dreadfully low, so you have to be passionate and work hard if you want to succeed in the biz and earn a hefty salary.

I always come in early, am the last one to leave and work my butt off in between. In fact, it took three summers of running errands in three-inch pumps and fetching Starbucks for the higher ups before an editor noticed me and I got a real job offer. I jumped at the opportunity to work as an assistant editor and was sure I was on my way to the top.

A few months into my full-time gig with the magazine, I fell ill with the flu. I'd never taken a sick day before but I was puking my guts into the toilet and there was no way I could make it to the office. I called my editor and she wished me a quick recovery. I was so relieved.