Dealing with being fired to turn the situation into an opportunity!

Dealing with being fired to turn the situation into an opportunity!Being fired is a horrible situation to be in, and feelings of depression, sadness and anger are typical reactions. Whether you class your circumstances as constructive dismissal; unfair dismissal; expected or unexpected dismissal, there are always ways to pick yourself back up again!

Choose which stage of being fired you are at; this is a vital if you want to move on with your life;

Acceptance

This is the first step to getting a new job. It will be hard for you to move on to a new job, if you are still bitter about losing your last. If you have lost your job because of a mistake on your part, you need to accept that you messed up and move on. You need to try and understand the reasons why you were fired. This is to ensure that in your next interview, if they ask why you left your last job, you can answer them confidently with a response that can further your application. There is no point feeling ashamed, or moping, as that will not help you at all. Accept that it has happened, and then prepare yourself for the next stage in your life.

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Be brave-and contact your last employer

Depending on the circumstances of your dismissal, it is a very good idea to contact your last employer. When applying for jobs, you are likely to be asked to provide a reference, so you need to make sure your old employer is willing to do so. Send them a letter, or an email, stating that there are no hard feelings in regards to your termination. Tell them that you are starting to look for a new career, and ask if they would be willing to provide a reference for you in the future. If you get the impression that they may give you a bad reference, you should consider other referees. You may want to try and obtain a good character reference, or contact an older employer.  You may also consider trying to contact someone else in the company that you had a better relationship with.

Take into consideration the reasons behind your dismissal. For example, if you were fired because you stole from the company, or if you were accused of sexual harassment, it is probably best you do not contact your old employer for a reference. Although references are supposed to be positive, employers can provide negative information, or they may refuse to answer questions completely (this is also bad).

However, if you were dismissed for a less serious matter then you may want to consider approaching your old employer. For example, if you had personal or health issues, (which are now resolved), that affected your work at the time and led to your dismissal, you may still be able to get a good reference.

The worst they can say is no- then at least you know where you stand. Be brave!

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Re-evaluate your options

Now that you are without a job, you need to firstly look at your financial situation. You need to ensure that you can survive on the money that you have for a while. If you cannot, then you may have to consider seeking benefits. Do not be ashamed to do so, as it is a temporary measure whilst you are searching for a new job. You should also consider want industry you want to work in. You may want a new start doing something completely different, or you may want to go further in your current industry. Either way, you now have the choice to do what you want to do.

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Give your CV a make over!

Now is the perfect time to up date your CV, as you can really assess what you want from life. Research different industry’s, and find out more information about the jobs they offer. Once you have decided what industry you want to work in, tailor your CV to make sure it is perfect for that industry. Look at what jobs are available, and see if your qualifications match their requirements, customise your CV for each job you apply for!

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Network

Get back onto the job scene! Attend career fairs, join recruitment agencies, and apply for as many jobs as you can. Talk to people in that industry, contact family and friends. When you meet people, or attend interviews, do not volunteer then fact that you have been fired. You do not need to mention it. However, never lie about it if you are asked directly. You need to formulate the best answer for your situation.

CV Builder is here to help, and we don’t want a big thank you card or a hug; knowing that we have helped is good enough! However, we want to share this knowledge, and  a tweet for example, will allow us to do so. Help us to reach out to more people that need help stepping back out into the job scene after being fired!!

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