Oh dear! Every employee dreads the words “layoff” and “fired”. When it happens, it feels like the end of the world because of you are out of work. You have bills to pay off, mouths to feed and pockets to fill.
If you got fired or laid off, it is not the end. You are not the only one who experienced this.
Nowadays, companies are cutting back their employee numbers to make the company more efficient. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell if a company will lay off workers and when it happens, you must be prepared for the worst.
So, what do you do if you got fired or laid off? Here is a short guide on what you can do next.
Ask questions
When you receive your layoff notice, ask why you got laid off.
It can be hard to accept sometimes if they tell you about your weaknesses. But, it will help you improve on them once you apply for another job. If they tell you that the company is restructuring, it will remove the tensions on you with regards to your performance.
You can also ask questions about other job openings in the company you can try out. You can also ask if they would be willing to give you a recommendation, know when you need to leave the company and find out what you need to do before it happens.
Know your benefits and negotiate
Whenever you sign up for a company, the contract details everything you will get as an employee. It will also indicate what benefits you will get if you get fired or laid off.
But, some companies are not very clear with separation pays and other things the company has to give you when you separate from them. Depending on the policy of the country you are in, there are rules about the responsibilities of companies to employees even if they were laid off.
Check online and with the company about it to ensure that your benefits will be met. If not, negotiate with the company.
If you were terminated without due cause, you can speak to a government workforce agency or hire an employment attorney to help you out.
Sort out your job search
Since you are going to be unemployed, you need to plan out your job search.
You should revise your resume, look at new job offerings and improve your chances in acing the interviews.
While waiting, you can consider doing part-time jobs, freelancing and temporary jobs to support you.
Get some Help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you got laid off or fired from work. Some governments do offer unemployment benefits to help out unemployed citizens while they wait for a new job.
Aside from government aid, there are also church and community resources that can help out.
Of course, you can also reach out to your family to help you get by while you wait for a new job.
Look Beyond the Situation
While I know it is hard to be positive at the times like this, you need to look beyond where you are standing right now.
It may be a good opportunity for you to try out different jobs or different industries, after all what do you have to lose?
Or it is the signal you needed to take a long break to recuperate yourself. Take a dream vacation, backpacking to Bhutan or Tibet or help out at the nearest elderly homes and animal shelters.
Finding out Who You Are
When we are putting our 100% effort in our jobs, we tend to forget ourselves. Besides taking time to pamper yourself, you need to reevaluate if your dreams and passions has changed over time.
This will be a great reflection time before you jump into another hectic job, and before you know it, another 5 years has passed before your eyes.
Wake Up Call
Getting fired can be a wake up call that you need in your life. Especially if you have been living from pay check to pay check.
If you do not have any savings to tide you over (for at least 6 months) until you land a job that you want, this is the time to evaluate your expenditure.
Do a Marie Kondo (and yourself a favour) and sell off items that you hadn’t touch for the past one year. That will bring in some extra cash.
Make sure that the next pay check you received, a certain percentage is set aside for rainy days like this. Getting panicky and stressed out over money is just not worth it.
Final Thoughts
It may take time before you can get another job. Don’t lose hope because a job will come to you. You just have to work hard and be patient. It will come around soon enough and while you wait, take the time to analyze what you can do for your career’s future.
To better your chances in landing a dream job, this is how you do it:
Best Ways to Prep for your Dream Job Interview
Top Job Site to Hunt Down Your Dream Job in 2019
Can’t Find Your Dream Job? My 5 Solutions For You
Why Staying Curious at Work Can Lead to the Career of Your Dreams?
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The possibility of being fired or let go has always frightened me, so it’s very reassuring to read the steps you give here. I hope I don’t have to follow them anytime soon, but it’s much better to have strategies on hand for that kind of event to avoid panicking. Thank you!
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Better to know than to left in the dark. Sometimes when a door closes on us, a golden one opens to greater opportunities. Being fired shouldn’t be viewed as negative because you never know what lay ahead for you.
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Wise words!
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Encouraging people and help them with advise is a nice thing to do. I m sure that is appreciated. TY for the post.
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Thank you so much for your encouragement!
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Fired 😟😟
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I was lucky and never got fired. It must be awfull but life goes on.
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Very true, Raymond. It might open new opportunities as well. Always good to think positive.
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I’m coming to the end of a six month contract which has been a challenge but also a positive experience. I ended up doing a lot of things I hadn’t anticipated in the role. But I buckled down and got on top of it all – as best as anyone could.
I was given some advance warning – about a month – that the contract wouldn’t be renewed. First thing I said to my manager was ‘Would you look over my resume? I’d welcome any suggestions you could make about improving it’. Did the same with the HR lady. Between the two of them my resume is now down to two pages, leading off with my achievements, and not a wasted word in there.
You don’t always get that sort of advantage, but even if management says ‘Today is your last day’, I suggest you try to make some time with your manager to talk about the work you’ve done. I found it really helpful to get my manager’s viewpoint – and a suggestion for my list of achievements: completing the project I was hired for, which will save the company about $80K a year.
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Wow. Thank you for sharing your experiences and given us some very useful tips.
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Thanks Kally,
Being fired isn’t necessarily “the end.”
It’s a time for brief (and brutally-honest self reflection). Was it or was NOT YOUR fault?
Once you quickly get past test;its time to move on. (And YES I was fired twice; once my fault and a different time I got caught up in company politics; not my fault). Either way the end result is the same.
The 1st question to ask is “Do I want to stay in the same line of work?” This may be a the ideal time to switch professions. Don’t sit around mop en their fees are paid by the new employer, and they DO have contacts.
If your in a line of employment that has a TRADE paper; THAT’S where to start. If not Mail our resumes to everyone you can think of. GET professional assistance writing this,if your not very good at it.
Drop off as many of them personally as you can.
STAY active doing something useful like volunteering at your church , or some other good work. Like your local hospital maybe? Don’t gripe and complain, and when you get ready for an interview contact Kally for recommendations.
May God Be with you,
Patrick
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Very wise advice indeed, Patrick. I always like to think that when one door closes on you, there will be another open door waiting.
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Such words of wisdom. Thank you.
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Thank you!
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I had always backed out the door so that it would not hit me in the ars.
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So smart!
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Reblogged this on worldtraveller70.
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Great post. You and your readers may enjoy this post on the topic Trauma of Job Loss |
https://reallifeofanmsw.com/2019/05/24/trauma-of-job-loss/
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Thank you for sharing your link.
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