‘I Was Recently Fired. How Do I Get Back On My Feet?” HR Shares 6 Tips

‘I Was Recently Fired. How Do I Get Back On My Feet?” HR Shares 6 Tips

By Elizabeth Benu,

“I was fired three months ago form an IT Company. The reason was because the company was downsizing. I feel that it was unfair and I did not deserve it having worked there for 4 years.Three months down the line, I have not been able to bring myself to get back into the corporate world. What should I do? How do I get back on my feet because I am afraid no employer will want someone who has been fired? Please advice,” writes Susan Kamose in an email

Like Susan many of us would be confused especially if you considered yourself to be a high performing employee.

So what do you do? Here are tips as given by a HR professional.

Benson Ng’ang’a, a Human Resource Officer at Bata Foot Plus says that, “Depending on the reasons for your termination, the first thing is to accept the fact that you were fired. Stay positive about the issue.”

“Secondly, before you jump into looking for another job, look at your contract. Were you terminated unfairly? If yes visit your employee union and speak to your representative. If you are not in a union go to the industrial court,” advices Mr. Ng’ang’a

Is it advisable to start applying for jobs immediately? I ask

“No it isn’t. Most employers ask for work experience and questions such as ‘why did you leave your previous job’ will come up. Your previous employer will be in your references, so how sure are you that they will say everything good about you?” explains Mr. Ng’ang’a

“On the other hand apply immediately if you are not at fault. If the employer is at fault, first file a case and ensure you follow the procedures expected. Again this depends on your reason for being fired. If it was a criminal offence then it would be wrong to apply first. If it was unfair, first deal with the legal issues that come up,” he advices.

He gives a fifth tip as, “Apply when you are sure that it will not harm you in any way i.e. in reference to your next employer. This will ensure you are not at logger heads with your next employer. You can then explain the circumstances whether it was fair or unfair.”

Like Paul, you may be scared because your CV will indicate your previous job. Mr. Ng’ang’a says that when you leave a company you are handed a certificate of service.

“A certificate of service shows the position you held, your job description and specifications. That certificate will not praise or demean you. It will just state exactly what you did. When you apply attach this certificate and it will speak for you,” he explains.

What advice does he give to employees who are in a similar situation?

“Ensure you get out with a certificate of service if you were terminated fairly. If the reasons for termination were misconduct e.g. being abusive or coming to work drunk, change yourself and seek relevant counseling and guidance,” he concludes.

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