Don’t trash your last boss
Don’t trash your last boss.
The second you start trashing your former employer, you’ll lose the respect of any potential employers listening in the room and run the risk of being branded a complainer or a gossip-monger. “You don’t want to spend an interview explaining that you were fired,” says Drexler. She adds that even if your last boss was a real jerk, it’s still important to keep calm and accept that you were fired since, as she puts it, “people will always have different opinions.”
Even if you weren’t fired for cause, never admit to stealing from the company or engaging in any illegal behavior—even if your former employer is taking legal action against you. “If someone asks why they should trust that this won’t happen again,” says Drexler, “just explain how you’ve learned from the experience and say ‘I’m ready to move forward.'”
Don’t get angry or defensive
It can be tough to listen to everything that’s being said, but you must. Don’t get angry or defensive. Pay attention and learn what truly went wrong, so you don’t make the same mistake twice (if there even was a mistake).
Accept that you were fired and move on
One of the hardest things to do after being fired is to accept that you no longer have a job. And while it’s easy to get caught up in your own emotions and take it out on yourself or others, try not to dwell in the past. Regardless of what happened at your job, try not to blame anybody else for your firing (or yourself!). The more difficult thing you can do right now is learn from your mistakes and move on.
Don’t burn bridges
The importance of networking cannot be overstated in today’s business world, so it’s important to leave your place of employment on the best terms possible. Your boss may not have been your BFF (or even your BF) at the time of your firing, but with a little bit of effort and a lot of sincerity, their help can be solicited. Just don’t burn any bridges!
First, if you’re fired from a job but know there’s no way in hell you’ll want or need a reference from anyone there ever again, then by all means: Give ’em hell. Have yourself a nice cry and talk smack about ’em wherever you like; they won’t get that reference anyway!
But if you think it’s even remotely possible that someday you’ll want to call on this person for help getting another job—be it right away or in five years—then get classy now and grease the wheels for later. For example: If someone’s left their current employer on good terms and is asked to come back as an independent contractor, they’re likely to be asked for references first—and if these pesky past colleagues are still around, what do you think? They better damn well end up being able to say something good about you!
Take a week off to collect yourself
- Get to a quiet place, and take stock of what you want to do next.
- Stay off the phone and social media, which is always a good idea when you’re in transition. These things can just distract you from thinking about what’s important.
- Don’t make any big decisions right away, but don’t languish either—spend your time on activities that give you perspective and will help shape the next phase of your career.
Be confident in interviews
Now that you’ve got a killer resume and are ready to start looking for your next big opportunity, you need to be able to wow an interviewer. They say that first impressions are everything, and never is this more true than in an interview. The first thing an interviewer is going to notice about you when you walk into the room is how you carry yourself. Use good body language—a firm handshake, smile, make eye contact, and be polite. You will only have one shot at this so make sure it counts!
Another way to set yourself apart from other candidates is by being prepared. Dress appropriately (try not to overdress or underdress), research the company if you’re unfamiliar with them (especially if you’re applying for a marketing position), have questions ready for the interviewer (this shows that you’re interested in the company). Most importantly, don’t seem desperate—you want them to want YOU! At the end of the interview, ask for the job by saying something like “When can I start?” It won’t always work but it’s worth a shot!
Be specific about why you were fired
When you prepare for job interviews, you need to have a plausible and specific explanation for why you were fired. Make sure that you can talk about the circumstances in a concrete way that is also respectful of your former employer. Practice saying your story in front of a mirror, and get someone to help you rehearse it so that you’re prepared when this question comes up.
You’ll be asked about it again and again, so the more comfortable and familiar with the story you are, the better.
You can bounce back from being fired, and this article will help.
You can bounce back from being fired, and this article will help.
Of course, you know that. You’ve known it all along. There is no shame in being fired; everyone has been there at some point or another, and hey, you could use the experience as a springboard to a new job! But sometimes it’s hard to see that when you’re in the throes of the experience itself. So to help remind you of your resiliency and strength as a worker, here are some brief stories from people who were fired before they landed their dream jobs:Getting fired can be one of the most devastating experiences you will ever have—even if you see it coming from a mile away. Most people do not see it coming, and that is what makes it such a traumatic experience. You feel betrayed, confused, and lost.
You have every reason to feel this way, but you should never let your feelings define who you are. You should never feel ashamed or embarrassed about getting fired. Even CEOs get fired. No one is immune to it, especially in today’s world where jobs are volatile and companies are constantly changing.
While it is difficult to bounce back after losing your job, there are ways to make sure you do not go on a downward spiral that could potentially ruin your life. Here are some practical tips:
So… you got fired. WTF?
It’s okay—we’ve all been there, and it sucks. We’ve put together a list of things to do once you’re axed from your job so you can get back on track as quickly as possible.
What To Do When You Get Fired:
1) Take a walk around the block. Literally. You need to take this moment to breathe and get some space from the situation before you do anything else, so go for a walk around the block and try to clear your head. You can’t expect to make good decisions about what’s next for you if you’re still feeling shaky and uncertain.
2) Take an inventory of your skills. Make a list of everything you can do well, no matter how irrelevant it may seem in this moment. It’s important to remind yourself of all of the incredible things you have going on, because it will help you focus on how strong and capable you are.
3) Make a plan. Figure out what you want to do next, then figure out how to make that happen. If that means going back to school or pursuing a new certification, brainstorm what steps will get you there and create an action plan with those steps included in it. Make sure
So… you’ve just been fired.
First of all, don’t panic! It’s going to be okay. But it’s also totally normal to feel anxious, overwhelmed, and even a little hopeless right now.
We get it—we’ve all been there. And while we can’t promise you that everything will be perfect (or even good) in the near future, we can give you some tips on how to put yourself in the best position possible to move on after this setback.
1) Take time to process
It’s important not to make any major decisions right away, so resist the urge to burn bridges or send out your resume without thinking things through first. Even if you don’t realize it, getting fired is an emotional experience, and emotions are often what inspire poor decisions. So take some time for yourself—one or two days at most—and just breathe, cry, or scream into a pillow if you need to. There’s no need to pretend that everything is fine when it isn’t—you’re allowed to be upset about what just happened! It’s also helpful to talk things out with someone neutral who knows about your situation (a therapist is great for this). Give yourself space and time to figure out what happened and how you
Getting fired is the worst. You feel like somebody’s kicked you in the teeth, and no matter how much you tell yourself that it’s all going to be okay, it’s hard to feel like things will ever be right again.
But here’s the thing: they will be okay. Maybe not right away. But they’ll be okay—and they’ll even be better than okay, eventually. Here are 5 steps to help you get back on your feet after being fired:
1. Give Yourself Permission to Feel Your Feelings
It’s important to let yourself experience the full range of emotions that come with getting fired—even if you know it was coming, or even if you’re relieved about it! Allow yourself to cry and laugh and eat as much ice cream as you want (we recommend [name of ice cream]). If you need to talk your feelings out, but don’t have anybody in real life who can listen, consider reaching out to a therapist or counselor for short-term therapy services.
2. Regroup from a Job-Loss Low by Taking a Break
If you’ve been working non-stop for years and years at a job that you hate, getting laid off could actually be a blessing in disguise! Take some time
You got fired. It stings. I’m sorry that happened to you. But believe it or not, you’re in good company. The greatest people that have ever lived have been fired, and some of them were even fired from multiple jobs!
Just think about it: Hitler was turned down by the art institute he applied to twice! Richard Brantley Gilbert was fired from his job as a restaurant dishwasher when he was only 15 years old. Even George Clooney was once fired from his job at a movie theater for being “too handsome.” So really, you’ve got some pretty amazing peers who can maybe provide you with a little bit of support and comfort.
But let’s get down to business: what do you need to do now? Don’t panic. You’re not alone, and there are strategies you can use to get right back on your feet and back in the game—and it starts with understanding why you got fired in the first place.
So you got fired.
No need to panic.
First, let’s get a few things straight: Getting fired is not the same as failing. When we fail, we learn something that helps us do better in the future. There’s no shame in getting fired—it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you or your character. It means that your experience and skills did not match the needs of the job you were hired to do, or that there was some kind of personality mismatch between you and your boss or coworkers.
So don’t be discouraged! Your potential is still there. It’s just going to take a little more work to realize it.
Here are some steps to help you figure out what happened and how to get back on your feet:
It’s a fact of life: getting fired happens to everyone. It sucks, and it doesn’t matter whether you think it was a long time coming or if you’re certain you were unjustly fired—it’s still going to hurt. So let’s talk about what you should do next.
First, give yourself some breathing room. You don’t have to come up with the perfect plan right away. In fact, that’s probably not going to be helpful at all! Instead, give yourself a day or two to process your emotions, maybe even indulge in a little Netflix binge session with your cat (or dog). Whatever feels good and helps take your mind off the situation is good.
Second, start making a list of things that make you happy (or at least bring out your sense of humor)—and do them! For example:
– Watch all the episodes of Parks & Recreation again
– Take yourself on a date to [your favorite restaurant]
– Play hooky and go see [that movie everyone has been talking about] by yourself
And third—start working on your next move. You’ve got this!
Anns is a contributor at PanyamCements. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
