Being fired can really rock your confidence and get you down about your career and your skills. Not to mention the loss of pay and the task of finding a new job. While being fired is tough to deal with, there are some things you can do to get over it and move on to your next career option. No matter the reason, getting things moving as soon as possible afterwards is the best way to recover. Here are some expert tips to get you through this challenging time.
Take a Day or Two to Assess
Unless you’re incredibly lucky, there may be a bit of time after getting fired that you won’t have steady work. Use this time to reflect and assess what happened and where you want to go moving forward. Don’t use this time to wallow and mope because that’s time wasted and will only make you feel worse. Take this time to evaluate your goals and decide what kind of job you want to start looking for.
Start Looking for a Job
This is by no means an enjoyable task, but unless you are independently wealthy, you’re going to have to get a new job so there’s no time like the present to start looking for one. Now that you’ve spent a couple days figuring out your next move, you can use that momentum to start looking for jobs that fit your new goals and polish up your resume (You can use services with high rating and good customer reviews like resumeble.com for example) so you can start applying to them.
Have a Plan for Discussing the Firing at an Interview
Chances are that as you go on interviews, the subject of why you left your last position is going to come up. Don’t be tempted to stretch the truth – if it comes out later, it will only make you look bad. Instead, be up front and honest about what happened. You don’t have to go into a lot of detail; a short answer will suffice. Avoid talking negatively about your previous company and boss and talk about what you learned from your past experience.
Do Something “Temporary”
You might find that you can fill your bank account and stay relevant by doing some temp work while you look for something permanent. This is a great way to keep the gap on your resume from growing larger and allows you to learn some new skills that you can take with you to your new position. If you can’t find temp work and can afford it, consider volunteering. This looks great on a resume and also lets you learn new things that you can use when you get hired again.
Stay Positive
Last, but not least, stay positive. Job hunting can be difficult and it’s important to not let it get you down. Stick with it, even when it seems hopeless and before long, you’ll be walking into your next dream job. If you need help, see an employment counselor or stay in touch with friends in the industry. That way you’ll hear about new openings and have someone to talk to during this hard time.
