What You Should Do If You’ve Been Fired

If you have been fired, try not to panic. There is a very good chance that you will find work. Being fired can be something of a shock. However, it can just be a blip in your career.

Below, you will find some tips that can help you if you’ve lost your job.

Stay Calm

No matter why you have been fired, try to stay calm. Leave the workplace in a professional and respectful way. When you do, you’ll make a better impression on your employer.

If you think you have been wrongfully terminated have a lawyer look over your employment contract.

Try to uncover the cause of your termination. When you know why you’ve been terminated you can take action, if required.

Learn What Compensation You Could Be Entitled To

If you have lost your job because the company is downsizing you may be entitled to compensation.

Try to negotiate severance pay, if you can. Talk about health insurance and other benefits. Do this before you sign a non-disclosure agreement or any other documents.

Ask For References

If you are still on reasonably good terms with your former employer, ask for references. Having a reference can show:

• Why you lost your job
• How good you were at your job
• That you were in employment
• What skills you picked up
• Where you proved to be a valuable asset

If you are not on good terms with your former employer, ask someone else for references.

What To Do Next

The next thing that you need to do is to process what has happened. It’s OK to mourn the job you’ve lost. Accept your emotions, try to relax, and process all of your feelings.

Take Care of Your Health

Try to stay active and take care of both your physical and emotional health. Exercise every day, get enough sleep and prioritize your well-being. When you do all of these things you will be in a better position to look for work.

Work On Your Resume

Now it’s time for you to work on your resume. Ideally, your resume will look as good as possible. Update your resume so it covers:

• Your recent employment
• How long you worked in each position
• Your skills
• What you achieved in your last position
• What you can offer your new employer

Look For A Job

Start looking for work as soon as possible. What you need to remember is that you have bills to pay. You may even have a few dependents.

Look for work in your local area and consider opportunities you would have ordinarily turned down.

You may not be offered your ideal job for quite some time. This is normal. In the meantime, look for a way to make ends meet. Consider accepting a lower paid position if it means the bills are paid.

If you’ve been fired it may have thrown you. However, it’s possible to pick up the pieces, learn from your experience and move on. Use the above tips to help you.

Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash