It can be hard to move on when you get fired. Not only can it hurt your feelings, but it can also put your finances in jeopardy. Then, looking for a job after you get fired isn’t always easy. You are going to have to explain what happened when you get interviews. You also don’t want to have to worry about getting a bad reference, which may hurt your chance of getting an interview!
Here are some things that you should do when you are fired.
Before you walk out the door, make sure that you ask some important questions. If you feel like you aren’t able, set up a time to call your employer or meet with them to go over the details.
You should try to figure out if you are going to get severance pay or if you are going to be eligible for unemployment. Find out what is going to happen with your benefits.
Don’t forget to ask about possible references. If you left on good terms, you might be able to get a good reference (or at least a neutral one). If not, you should ask if they would just confirm that you worked there during a certain period, without talking about the firing.
If you are offered a severance package, don’t sign it right away. Instead, take it home so that you have time to look over it. You might also want to talk to a lawyer to make sure that you are treated fairly.
Find a way to let it go. The truth is that you were fired and there isn’t anything that you can do about it now. Dwelling on it and worrying about it isn’t going to make it better.
Instead, give yourself time to grieve and let go. Then, focus on the future.
Be careful what you say afterward. Even though you may be hurt and angry, you can quickly make a bad situation even worse if you talk to the wrong person. If you need to, talk to your spouse and family. Don’t contact a former co-worker to complain. It will just get back to your former employer who may give you a bad reference.
Take a hard look at your finances. Many people struggle to find jobs right away. For this reason, you might have to take a hard look at your finances and figure out what you can cut out to help with your expenses. You may need to look into temporary work until you are able to find something that is a good fit for you!
You can’t lie when asked if you were fired. On any job applications or interviews, you can’t lie about your firing. You may be able to find a nicer way to put it such as the job wasn’t a good fit or the company downsized. However, if asked if you were fired, you must say yes.
If you lie, you will get caught. Whether they call your previous employer for references or just to find out what happened, a lie will come back to haunt you.
Getting fired can really hurt. Even though you may want to run from the building so that you can hide, it is important to find out what is going to happen. Are you going to get a severance package or be eligible for unemployment? Will you be able to get a reference from the company?
Then, keep your mouth shut. Many people get themselves in trouble by bad-mouthing a company to the wrong people. This can make it even harder to find another job. It is also important to be honest when you are looking for something else. You have to let them know that you were fired, though you might be able to find a nicer way to say it!
If you need legal help, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our law firm, Aiman-Smith & Marcy, focuses on employment law, consumer fraud, and class actions in California.
