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Being fired from a job you were passionate about or needed to survive can come as quite a shock. Many thoughts can be running through your mind, like the reasons for being fired, what you’ll do next, and how you’ll afford to live. There can be a lot to process, and focusing on one thing at a time can sometimes be challenging. If you’re currently in this very situation, here are a few actions you might like to take to feel more in control of the situation:
Review Your Legal Rights
While some people are fired for valid reasons like breaking the law, having multiple warnings, or disestablishing their position, that’s not true in all situations. There are plenty of examples of wrongful termination that see you having legal rights for filing a claim against your former employer.
For example, your firing might have violated public policy, or you were fired for your political activities. Some employees are even fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim or opposing harassment of themselves or others. In these situations and others, you may have more legal rights than you think. As a result, you may wish to seek legal help to see what may be possible.
Feel the Feelings
You’re bound to feel many emotions after being let go from a job. It’s not uncommon to be angry, sad, fearful, stressed, and worried. Because of these feelings, you may make rash decisions in the moment that aren’t well thought out and can have repercussions. Take time to feel your feelings before you decide what comes next. Not rushing the next step may help you make well-thought-out decisions with good outcomes.
Update Your Resume
If it has been some time since you updated your resume, getting fired presents a great opportunity to work on polishing it. Make sure you include your new skills, qualifications, and experience. If you can’t use your former employee as a reference, you can use other people like coworkers, academic advisors, coaches, and even people you volunteered at charities with.
Alongside updating the information, consider a fresh new design to help your resume stand out from the crowd. There are plenty of online resume-creation services and professional resume writers to choose from.
Contact Your Professional Network
While you can spend a small amount of time reflecting on your experience and feeling your emotions, you’re also likely eager to return to the workforce. Consider contacting your professional network to learn about open positions in your industry. Your professional network can often be your first port of call before you begin applying for jobs on job seeker platforms.
Apply for Jobs
Whether you learn about vacancies through your network or job seeker platforms, you can now be ready to start applying. Whether you’re applying for a temporary position or your dream role, make sure you present a professional resume and cover letter. It also doesn’t hurt to research how to dress appropriately for an interview and the questions you’ll likely be asked.
Being fired can be a traumatic experience, and you may not know what to do next. Take stock of your situation, see if legal action may be required, and start thinking about future employment opportunities. Your job loss can be far behind you before long.
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