What to Do After Youve Been Fired

What to Do After You've Been Fired What to Do After You've Been Fired Getting fired, unfortunately, can happen to the best of us. Regardless of the circumstances, what should you  do if youve been fired? First of all, dont beat yourself up. Dont dwell on it, since that wont help your situation. Instead, focus on what you are going to do next and how you are going to find another job. Keep  in mind that another hurdle â€" the stigma of being fired â€" has just been added to your job search. That said, there are ways you can address this issue and put it in at least a neutral, if not a positive, light. What Not to Do After Being Fired Even though its difficult, you can make a bad situation worse by doing or saying the wrong thing to the wrong people when you have been fired. Its natural to feel angry, sad, and frustrated; just make sure to restrict negative comment and complaints to your closest friends and family.   But dont just walk out the door. There are things you need to know before you can move on. Steps to Take in the Immediate Aftermath Here is  what  to ask your employer about getting fired, including  questions about severance pay, benefits, unemployment, and potential references. If you are feeling emotional, shocked, or otherwise unprepared for this conversation, you can ask if you can make an appointment to discuss these issues. In some cases, you may want to appeal your firing. However, its best to address your concerns  the day you are fired. Once you are home and assessing your next steps, itll be important to know when your last paycheck will arrive and if the employer will provide a neutral reference that doesnt mention you being fired.   Wrongful Termination and Unemployment Benefits   Before you begin a job search, consider where you stand from a legal perspective. Was your firing legitimate or could it be considered  wrongful termination? Can you, or should you, consider suing for wrongful termination? Are you eligible for  unemployment  benefits? If you were fired for misconduct you may not be eligible, but  dont assume that is the case. Check with your  state unemployment office, especially if you have a different opinion than your employer does about how you parted ways. In many cases, if it isnt clear-cut,  the unemployment office  will lean towards the unemployed job seeker, rather than the employer, when making a decision on  unemployment compensation benefits. Resumes and Cover Letters All your  job search correspondence  must be positive. There is no need to mention that you were fired in your resume or in your  cover letters. Make sure your  cover letters  address the position you are applying for and why, and how, you are qualified for it. Thats all you need to do. There is no point in bringing up the circumstances of your leaving until you have to. Job Applications After Being Fired When filling out  job applications, dont be negative, but  do be honest and dont lie, because it will come back to haunt you.   You can use language like the job ended or terminated if you need to state why you are no longer working at the job. If you are specifically asked if you were fired, you need to answer yes. Lying on a job application is grounds for dismissal at any time in the future and could cost you future  unemployment benefits. Interviewing for Jobs After Being Fired Heres where  getting fired  is going to matter most. You can be sure you are going to be asked the question Why did you leave your last job? The best bet is to keep it brief and to the point and avoid badmouthing your former employer. Sometimes its truthful to say the position wasnt a good fit, and we parted on good terms instead of saying I was fired. However you address it, dont lie, because it may come back to haunt you if a potential employer checks references or conducts a background check. Take some time to prepare answers to questions about being fired, so you know exactly what youll say, instead of trying to come up with an answer on the spot. The more prepared you are, the less the firing will create a negative impression for an interviewer. Getting Fired and Moving On As hard as it may be, you need to get over getting fired and move on. You need to be able to convince employers that, regardless of what happened in the past, you are a strong candidate for a new position and can do the job. Focusing on the skills and experience you have, rather than the firing, will help sell you to the employer and will help you get the job.