8 things you should do after getting fired

So you just woke up to an email of dismissal. You just got fired from your job. Beyond the overwhelming anxiety, confused thoughts, and questions racing through your mind, there is a question that pops in! “What should I do next?”

Sometimes being fired is the best thing to happen for your career trajectory. In the early moments, that optimism may be lacking. If, by chance, you happen to get laid off or you are currently experiencing this, do not fret. Here is a step-by-step guide to navigating this obscure moment and some uplifting notes to serve as a light in this dark tunnel while you get your head back in the corporate field.

Take a minute to breathe.

It is okay to admit there is some hurt that comes with being fired from a job. Especially when it is a job and company you gave your sweat and blood for. Do what you must to remain in control of your emotions. Ensure not to burn any bridges on your way out. Keep on reading this article to find out why.

Abandon the guilt.

While admitting your errors, feelings of guilt may subconsciously slip in. It is a completely human feeling; however, you must not let it lead you to wallow in depression. It would be best if you do not shrink yourself so little that you lose the sense of who you are. Do not succumb to the guilt that may arise. More importantly, begin taking the following steps to use this to your advantage.

Hold yourself accountable

While corporations may act on unethical, immoral, and cruel reasons for your dismissal, sometimes you are the employee who messed up. It is important to undergo a self query in which you get to hold yourself accountable. What you must not do is play the blame game. Because believe it or not, your replacement is already at your seat, receiving your salary.

Carry out a self-examination in which you ask yourself the following questions. 

• What exactly did you do wrong at [the position, the company] 

Perhaps you were always late at submitting assignments and completing tasks, you were rude to your superiors, you were a bad team player, or your skill set fell below the demanded standards. 

• How could I have done better? 

Should I have taken more certification courses?, should I have been more polite, should I have been better at time management. Ask yourself how you could do better and improve in the realized areas.

Ask for references 

This is why you must not give room for ‘vawulence’. In a situation in which you are still on good terms with your employees, politely demand a letter of reference. A letter of reference highlights your skills and traits that make you an excellent candidate for the next job you will be applying for moving forward.

Work on your resume  

Because you were fired from your work does not invalidate all your efforts, experience, and achievements there. Return to your resume and add the necessary details about the new skill sets you acquired, highlight the measurable, significant growth you recorded during your time there, and sell it to the next hiring manager you will be presenting your CV to.

Update your LinkedIn profile 

Considering that you are currently unemployed, you must update your Linkedin profile and other social media accounts that you are currently open for new roles. After being employed for a long period, the new and sudden realities of being unemployed can be quite intimidating. Regardless, do not be ashamed of admitting you are open to a new job. After optimizing your social media profiles and indicating you are open, hiring managers will be drawn to your profile, especially when it is presentable. Read this piece to master LinkedIn networking. 

Start looking for new opportunities. 

If you were fired from a traditional 9-5 job, it wouldn’t hurt to begin exploring the prospects of remote work. Begin to familiarise yourself with the environments such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Fiverr, and other online job recruitment platforms where you can discover similar or different career opportunities. You put yourself on companies’ radars by setting up your profiles and turning on the job alerts. Another best place to get opportunities is by subscribing to the Career Buddy Newsletter community [We share high-impact tech jobs every week]

Keep yourself busy

An idle hand, they say, is the devil’s workshop. While it is good to take a minute to process recent events and decide the next path to take, do not stall that stage for too long that your hands and minds become dull. Whether it is learning a new course on Skillshare, or dabbling in side hustles, use this opportunity to extend your network and improve your skill set. Doing these makes you a hot cake talent for the next management that will employ you following your next interview.

Become your own boss

Perhaps you have never just been one to work for someone or an organization for the rest of your life; being fired from your former job might be the ultimate sign to launch that business idea you always wanted to execute. After garnering experience in the corporate world, which is to say you do not have what it takes to become your boss.

Though abrupt termination can be daunting, especially when in the middle of a financial crisis, many have confronted and conquered this scenario just as you shall.