You just got fired. You might be feeling sad, upset, frustrated, or even relieved. The stress of how you will pay your bills is probably setting in. You might need to put yourself on a tight budget until you find work again, but rest assured that the sun always shines after the rain.
You have come to the right place if you are like many others and are unsure what to do after getting fired. Here we will go over the best next steps to get things back on the right track.
What you do after getting fired or laid off determines the outcome of the unfortunate event and how you bounce back; there are a few things to do and not to do. Let’s go over them all.
As frustrated as you might be after getting fired, it’s important to maintain your composure and not scream or shout at your former employer. You might be getting fired to make yourself available for your dream job. As hard as it might be during this unforeseen circumstance, it’s best to maintain a positive attitude.
Keeping a professional attitude will help ensure that you have a chance of using them as a reference for your next job despite the circumstances. Also, you never know when you might cross plans again in the business world.
After getting fired, you’ll want to pack up your personal belongings to bring with you. Pay close attention to what you are packing, not take anything that belongs to the company. You don’t want to be accused of stealing by accidentally taking company property.
It’s best to get all of your belongings right there and avoid needing to go back another day. After all, you probably don’t want to face the manager that fired you again anytime soon. Don’t forget any personal documents or pictures you might have stored on your work computer.
When presented with a severance agreement after getting fired, don’t sign it just yet. Protect yourself by having a lawyer review the documents to ensure you know what it consists of and is free from any clauses that would become an issue for you. Let the employer know you will review the documents and get back to them.
After getting fired, you will probably have a lot of questions. Now is the time to get the answers you’re looking for. The first question will probably be, why are you being fired. You may or may not have seen it coming, but you’ll likely have questions.
You’ll want to ask about any insurance or other benefits you receive through the company to understand what will happen with them. You may have questions about unemployment benefits or severance packages.
Understandably, when you get fired, you’re likely feeling mad, sad, or frustrated, but it’s best to leave on a positive note. You never know when you might come across the business or co-workers again in professional passing or if you will need to use the company as a reference for your next job. Wish them well and exit gracefully.
If you’re getting fired for no fault, you will likely qualify for unemployment. As soon as possible, apply for unemployment compensation to help you financially until you find another job.
The unemployment process sometimes takes a few weeks, so you must budget accordingly. Don’t completely rely on getting unemployment benefits, though, as there’s a chance of getting denied if the company has proof of any misconduct of yours.
The unemployment agency will get a thorough explanation from your employer and why you got fired. If you have any evidence to back up your case, have it ready to provide to the agency.
Before you can start looking for a new job, you’ll need to update your resume. Add the details and experience from the last job you just lost and any additional skills you acquired. If you have received any advanced training certificates, add them to your resume.
Your resume and LinkedIn should easily showcase who you are, your skills, and your experience so a hiring manager can see that you are a good fit for their position. Review your entire resume and profile to ensure it has all the essentials and it’s free of mistakes.
Once your resume is updated, it’s time to look for open positions to apply for. Although you might feel pressured to take any job since you are not bringing in income now, you don’t want to go through the job search again after taking a job you’re not happy with. Look for a position where you will be stable long-term to avoid needing to job hunt again soon after.
While looking for permanent employment, you might consider getting temporary work to bring in money now and keep food on the table. Be honest about your temporary intentions when taking a short-term position not to burn any bridges. You can even pick up some dog walking clients or rideshare to make quick money.
After getting fired, you will have extra free time. It’s a great time to improve your skills and advance your knowledge to become more in-demand when job hunting. You will want to think about your skills and the position you’re seeking to determine how you can increase your value to a business.
For example, if you seek a personal assistant position, you might consider taking courses such as Microsoft Office Specialist to add the certification to your resume. The more value you bring to a business, the higher your salary. Advance your skills to increase your pay.
Medical and dental insurance will cancel, so it’s wise to go to the doctor and refill any prescriptions if needed. You might also want to get in with the dentist for a cleaning and check-up before you lose your benefits.
Depending on your health and needs, you might consider continuing health coverage through COBRA. COBRA provides healthcare coverage for a limited time while you look for new employment. If the company that fired you had more than 20 employees, their group health insurance plan must offer a temporary extension of coverage when the plan would generally end.
When applying for another job, you might consider lying on the application about your recent termination. However, it’s not a good idea. If the company finds out you lied on the application, they will likely not hire you or its grounds for termination after being hired.
Lying on an application about being fired can disqualify you from receiving unemployment benefits. So, be as honest as possible about getting fired and why. Hiring managers will dig in to understand your employment history and appreciate your honesty.
Remember, hiring managers are people too and can empathize with you and learn what went wrong to determine if it might happen in the position you are applying for. They often want to know if you left on good terms or not, so it’s important always to exit a company on a positive note.
After getting fired, the scariest thing for most is how they will pay their bills with no income coming in. Until you find a new job, you will likely need to put yourself on a tight budget. You will probably need to stay home more and avoid eating out at restaurants or spending money on your usual activities or entertainment.
It’s best to sit down to look at all your bills and expenses. Determine which bills are the biggest priority. Some companies allow more extended grace periods, and others offer options to skip a month during hard times.
Figure out how much money you have saved and how much will come in from your last paycheck. Then you can plan how you will allocate the money to survive financially until you find another job.
What you do after getting fired determines the outcome of the terrible situation. There are many necessary steps to take, such as budgeting for bills, updating your resume, and applying for new jobs.
You might also consider advancing your knowledge and skills with your extra free time. Use the tips in this article to help yourself navigate the essentials and get yourself back to work as quickly as possible.
Sources:
How Do I File for Unemployment Insurance? | US Department of Labor
Continuation of Health Coverage (COBRA) | US Department of Labor