Q: My boss just got fired! He’s the person who hired me so I’m now unsure about my future at my job. What should I do?

A: While this is a difficult situation, it’s not impossible. A lot depends on whether you took the job to work for this particular manager, because of the mission of the organization, or for the chance to learn and progress in your career. Also consider how closely tied you were to him and whether you had anything to do with the termination.

Take some time to think about your skill set and the successes you have had in the job. Do the organization’s leaders know what you’ve done and can do?

If you took the job because you wanted to work for this manager and you are closely linked with him, then you probably should get your resume together and start looking. Unless you can commit to the organization’s mission and your work without him there, your chance of success is low, so you should probably move on. Begin your search with your boss who just left to see if he has a job for you in his new organization.

However, if you took the job because you believe in the mission and you think you can make a contribution to the organization while building your skill set, then we can talk about how you can successfully continue in your position.

Take some time to think about your skill set and the successes you have had in the job. Do the organization’s leaders know what you’ve done and can do? If they don’t know, consider how you can get the word out without sounding too full of yourself. This is the time to make yourself visible by volunteering for projects and staff teams. Your goal is to let people know that you bring real value to the organization and are loyal and committed to it, not to your former manager.

Give your organization time to replace your old boss and see whether you can work for that person. Hopefully, by the time the job is filled you will have made such a mark that management will be giving you new opportunities and allowing you to show your full potential.