4 Things Every Fired Person Needs to Know About Job Searching

By Michelle Wanjiku
You thought everything was fine and then one day your manager calls you into their office, and you get the “we are letting you go” speech. No one wants to be in this position and you will first be angry and then scared, of what will happen next and where to find your next job.
How do you go about job hunting after getting fired and how do you ensure this doesn’t hurt your chances of getting a new job?
You need to remember that just because you were fired does not mean you can never have a successful career; in fact sometimes being fired is the best thing that can happen to you. So take a deep breath and focus on the following things to make your job search less painful.
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1. Be assured that you’re not alone
Believe or not, you are not the only person to ever get fired, even the person interviewing you could have been fired once, so you should not feel like no one would be willing to hire someone who was laid off.
So don’t let your fear of being unwanted get in the way of your job search. You should not be afraid to apply for positions you want just because you feel being fired will affect your chances, more often than not, unless it was because of something terrible on your part, many employers won’t use this against you.
2. Take the time you need to process it and calm down
Getting fired will surely throw your plans and goals into a chaotic state and that’s understandable. It will also leave you a bit shaken because you no longer have a steady source of income and don’t know how long you will be jobless.
However, before you begin job hunting, you need to come to terms with the fact that you lost your job. This is because; you will not be able to make sound decisions such as; what jobs to apply for and where to apply for them? If you are still panicking about your future.
In turn, this will greatly hurt your chances of landing a good job and keeping your career goals on track.
So instead of jumping right into looking for a job, take a few days to really think through your options and plans for your future.
3. Work to get a reference from that employer
Any new employer will want a reference from your former employer and most of the time the most recent one.
This means that even if you were fired, you still need to get a reference letter from the company.
If you were fired for something that wasn’t your fault like the company was downsizing, then you can confidently ask your boss for a reference letter.
SEE MORE >>> Why Getting Fired Once In Your Life Is A Blessing Rather Than A Failure
However, if it was because of something you did and know your supervisor will not give you a good reference, then you can talk to someone you worked with closely, just ensure it is someone you are sure will give you a good reference.
4. Decide how to position it
The question ‘why did you leave your previous job?’ is bound to come up during an interview, so you need to prepare on how to answer it.
You need to be honest in your answer but also try and move the conversation to what you bring to the table.
Check Out >>> How Best To Tell The Interviewer About Being Fired
In Conclusion,
Getting fired is horrible and can set your career back if you allow it to. How you react after being sacked is what will determine where your career goes from there. You need to ensure that you make smart choices in order to ensure that you still achieve success in your profession.