What Are the First Three Things You Should Do After Being Fired?

Hiding in shame is not one of them

When your world goes up in smoke

I was always the over-achiever. The organized, reliable, personable, focused employee that won awards. For the last fifty-two years, I have held jobs, always getting the work accomplished, on time, and showing up with a can-do attitude.

Imagine my humiliation when one of my clients “fired me.”

It happens. While being “terminated” wasn’t on my bucket list of things to accomplish before I die, being “let go” is something that I’ve now experienced that helps me empathize with the thousands of others who’ve had it happen to them.

While I’d rather it never happen again, I’m also not ready to hang my head in shame. I worked hard. I did what they asked. It just didn’t work out.

If this happens to you, know that you are NOT alone.

More than one million people lose their job through firing or lay-off every month.

First: Take a few days to put things in perspective

My dismissal happened on a Thursday morning. I gave myself permission to not work, worry, job search, network, or talk about what had happened until the following Monday. I needed time to process what had happened, come to terms with the termination, and strategize about what to do.

They say, “time heals all wounds.” Four days wasn’t a long time, and I definitely wasn’t fully recovered, but it was enough for me to put things in perspective.

Getting fired is not a tragedy. It doesn’t have to be a life-shattering experience. In fact, before the labor shortage caused by the pandemic and the mass exodus of people from corporate jobs, thousands of people got fired from their jobs every day. From Thomas Edison to Steve Jobs, some of the great minds of the world have been fired. (The good news is that they all rebounded!)

Know that even good workers can be fired. Sometimes it’s because of one simple but obvious mistake. Other times it’s because the company decides to cut costs. Often, it’s just a mismatch of personalities or goals.

Taking a few days before rushing into a job search helped me see things in a different light. Hopefully, you won’t ever have to walk through these steps like I did, but if you do, you may see that a “firing” is a chance to pivot your career in the direction you really want to go. You may find a client whose needs better match your talents. You might lower your stress level and the amount of time you were spending on an unfulfilling job.

Second: Review your business expenses

I’ve heard about people who have lots of money stashed away.

My husband and I live on a small amount, and my freelancing is our main source of income. It would be fantastic if we had retirement savings or a hefty bank account to get us through the next few months while I recruit new clients or find a new job.

But we don’t.

For my own peace of mind, I went through my current business accounts, cutting subscriptions that I could live without, and thinking about how to cut costs. I didn’t even glance at the household account, but I know that if we have to, I can cut costs there, too.

Seeing that I had even a little control over spending made me feel better.

Not much, but some. You, too, might feel more in control over financial uncertainty by verifying and reviewing your business expenses and knowing how you could save some of your much-needed money.

You may have been fired because a company wanted to cut costs, or you may have to cut your costs because of your termination. Either way, lots of articles exist about how to manage on a reduced income, so use those resources and develop a strategy.

Remember that the situation is temporary. You WILL find another job or an ideal client if you don’t give up and keep looking, but it won’t be immediate. You may have to apply for 21–80 jobs before you get one offer. Most job sources suggest that it on average, it takes five months to land a new position. It may be faster depending on the industry, but for most of us, it will take a minimum of eight weeks to send out enough resumes and cover letters, get interviews, and proceed to the paycheck stage.

Third: Update your resume

It’s surprising how many skills you might have picked up from that job you just lost. Now is the time to update your resume, adding the knowledge and experience you’ve gained from your last gig.

Even if you were fired, you still learned something. In the course of your work, you picked up new certifications, learned different techniques, became adept at various software programs, or observed a unique style of leadership. All of those things can make you better at finding a job and doing a job.

We all learn — even from our failed attempts at achievement. Take note of the lessons learned and use them to land a new job.

Beginning a new job search is a great opportunity to refresh and modernize your resume. Take the chance to add graphic elements or a hint of color and get ready to go forth and conquer!

The good news about being fired

You can laugh all you want, but I still find encouragement from a simple quote I heard when I was a little girl. My parents took me to see The Sound of Music in 1965. (They always told me I looked like Julie Andrews!)

In that movie, Julie Andrews’ character, Maria says,

“When the Lord closes a door, somewhere, he opens a window.”

My nose is still stinging a bit from one door being slammed in my face, but my, oh my. The breeze from all the open windows is about to lift me up and help me fly.

I am doing a Shout-Out for you. It will be published very soon. Thank you for writing for Be Open. We would love your shout-outs about anyone who interests you. Thank you from Robbi K. Mark, SR ED-PUB.