Sept. 30 is an ominous date for Mary Gilleece.

Last year on that day, she lost her job as a database administrator at a small college in Newton, Mass. Exactly two years earlier, she was laid off from a similar job when her department's work was outsourced.

While the layoff was a painful surprise, she says she was happy at first to be let go from the second position, which she held for about 18 months, because she felt mistreated and disliked her boss intensely. Yet moving on has proved difficult, especially because her unemployment insurance ran out in May.

"I've been living on fumes ever since," says Ms. Gilleece, who lives in Cambridge, Mass., and allows that she is more than 55 years old. She has been networking and interviewing for jobs but says, "I couldn't even find temp work over the summer."

Losing a job isn't a rare occurrence in an era when companies routinely cut staff as a result of corporate restructuring, mergers and outsourcing. More payroll jobs have been lost than created in the past four years. Yet being individually fired from a job carries its own particular sting, often blended with shock and damage to one's self-esteem and finances.

Bouncing back from getting fired is one of the biggest tests many people are likely to face. For some, it can be an invitation to sink into despair. Others are able to quickly reel themselves out of the depths and find an even better opportunity.

What separates the two outcomes?

According to well-known career guru Harvey Mackay, the first ingredient is simply the ability to move on. In his latest book, "We Got Fired! ... And It's the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us," he posits that getting fired actually can propel a career forward.

If that kind of optimism at first seems cavalier, there is no denying that a resolutely positive outlook almost always beats out a gloomy one. Mr. Mackay fills his book with interviews with well-known business executives, sports figures and celebrities, including Michael Bloomberg, Larry King, Jamie Dimon and Robert Redford. The one thing these superstars have in common is that through some force of will, or ego, they didn't let adversity destroy them -- or even hold them back.

"Many of them were not successful when they got fired -- that's the big break that they had," says Mr. Mackay, who is chairman of Mackay Envelope Co., Minneapolis.

Other tips from Mr. Mackay: Don't hold a grudge or burn a bridge with your former employer. Be sure to exercise regularly to clear your mind, lighten distress and keep in shape. And be prepared for the possibility of losing a job by developing a robust professional and personal network that you can tap when you suddenly are out of work.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks people face is how to characterize a firing in future job interviews. Many people are pushed out for a confluence of reasons -- they tend to be average or below-average performers and run up against interpersonal problems that can't be resolved. Others lose jobs in a power struggle or culture clash that has nothing to do with their performance. Be honest with yourself: Take the blame for your own poor performance, if necessary, and then demonstrate that you have become stronger through the experience.

You likely still will have to deal with negative emotions toward a past employer. "The bad memories start flooding in, and then you start saying things you shouldn't say," Ms. Gilleece says. "It is really difficult to stay objective."

Most career experts advise people not to use the word "fired" during an interview. Stay away from negative comments about past co-workers, too. Instead, talk about ways that you helped your previous employer. "There's always something good that you've learned from your past employer and position, even if you hated that job," says Kathy Sanborn, a career coach and author of "The Seasons of Your Career."

If there wasn't a lot of enmity when you left, Ms. Sanborn also recommends that you get a letter from the boss that fired you, including some positive points about what you contributed to the company. Failing that, you can ask a former co-worker to write an impressive letter of recommendation for you.

"Armed with proof that someone at your old job thought you were a good employee, you can go into your next job interview with more confidence," Ms. Sanborn says.

Not giving up also means using the time away from work to reassess you career. Seek out new opportunities, including nonprofit work, where you can develop a fresh track record and meet new contacts who can serve as references.

Ms. Gilleece, for example, has been helping a friend start a technical school during her time off, by writing requests for grant money and reports to help the school apply for licensing. She hasn't earned a cent from the work, but there have been other rewards, such as the satisfaction of being part of a project and surpassing even her own expectations.

"I've done things I didn't even know that I could do," she says.