What It Means To Get Fired

Source: The Headhunter

Did you know that there are two sides to getting fired? It could be that you are the problem or your boss is. It could also raise your chances of getting hired or totally ruin them. Find out exactly what it means to get fired.

Getting fired doesn’t make you a failure.

Getting fired implies a subjective judgment of you, not an absolute, objective one. One boss’s fire is another boss’s hire. If that sounds clichéd, it is nonetheless true. People tend to forget it when they’re suddenly left hanging in the breeze.

People get fired for lots of reasons. The worst is that you weren’t doing a good job. But, even that is a subjective judgment. An executive I know was about to be dumped by his boss because in the boss’s judgment, the executive wasn’t performing well. Before the boss could actually fire him, two other departments in the company started requesting for the executive. He is now comfortably employed in a better job with a better boss.

What this means to you: Lead with your credentials and reputation before you apologize for what one employer thought of you. Use your references and mutual professional contacts to establish your credibility with a new employer.

Getting fired may mean your employer is a failure.

Once upon a time, if you got fired you had a lot of explaining to do. Then, it was more likely you were at fault than that your employer was in trouble. Today, the downsizing phenomenon has put so many people “on the street” that old assumptions aren’t valid.

The manager who interviews you may have been downsized himself, and he may view you through the filter of his own experience. He may also recognize that, in a tough hiring market, a competitor may “release” some of its best talent, you. Employers know that a lot of good people are unemployed, and it isn’t necessarily a stigma.

In fact, the downsizing climate brings talented workers to the attention of companies that might otherwise never have the chance to interview them.

What this means to you: In the interview, don’t blame your last employer for your failure, but don’t assume the responsibility or blame yourself, either. Emphasize your objective of joining a healthy company that has good prospects, and be ready to show how you are going to contribute to its success. If you want to wow the employer, present a brief business plan for doing the new job.

Getting fired can be a badge of honor.

There are lots of lousy managers out there; managers who can’t handle tough projects or talented employees. The business community knows that good people sometimes get fired because their employer can’t manage them to good effect. If you really believe you were fired because you were far out on the abilities curve and your employer didn’t know what to do with you, getting fired is actually a badge of honor.

What this means to you: You need to make a judgment about why you were fired before you talk to another company. It can make all the difference in your attitude and presentation. I’m not suggesting you hide behind an arrogant posture, but that you realistically assess what happened and act accordingly.

Getting fired is a state of mind. Being in the wrong state of mind in a job interview can be fatal to your career. Understand why you got fired, and move on to the state of getting hired. If you don’t, prospective employers won’t, either.

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