Today we have a brilliant guest post from Leslie Williams, a writer for JobFox Resumes. Given the current state of the economy many people are being laid of left and right. If you’re one of the fortunate ones who hasn’t been given the pink slip, you may be biting your nails wondering if you’ll be next. So what if you are? Leslie outlines some great tactics for surviving after a lay off.
So you got fired. Now what?
Water cooler gossip—everyone joins in (admit it), but no one wants to be the topic of it. Although people don’t get fired from your organization every day, when it does happen, it makes for the juiciest fodder. Most of us would rather leave our current positions on good terms, with a few hugs and handshakes as we make our way out the door. Unfortunately, at some point in our lives, a select few of us might be the story, and instead of walking out with our dignity intact, we may get ten minutes to pack our belongings and be escorted out of the building. The least of your worries will be what everyone in the building is saying about you. Your main concern will be: Now what?
Maybe you missed one too many deadlines, you were excessively and consistently late, or you finally told your boss what you really think of him. No matter why you got fired, the good news is yes, you will find another job. The bad news is, it’s going to take a little extra effort on your part. Go ahead, cry it out, and drink that bottle of Merlot. Then sober up and take the next step.
Find something to fill the gap
In the current job market, your chances of finding a job after being fired may be as high as someone who was simply laid off due to downsizing. While that’s not really a reason to celebrate, you should treat this time off the same way you would if you had left on good terms. Before you call a resume writing service to revamp your CV, think about adding positive experiences that may be useful on your resume, or that could lead to future employment opportunities.
Look for volunteer programs in your local community, and network with as many people in your target industry as possible. Who knows? You may find yourself leaning towards entrepreneurship, removing the worry about job interviews altogether. Be sure to update your resume, and bring up your new experiences during interviews.
Cherry-pick your references
This goes without saying, but the person who fired you is probably not the best choice for a reference. Now is a great time to tap into your network. Reach out to old professors, previous employers, and colleagues. People who have given you recommendations on LinkedIn should be first in line to contact. Some employers may accept LinkedIn recommendations in lieu of separate oral or written ones.
If you’re strapped for recommendations, reach out to the Human Resources department of your previous employer. They may have a policy in place that will not allow them to disclose any information about you except to confirm that you were employed there. In that case, your previous employer may serve as a reference if only to verify your employment record.
Be (cautiously) honest
When it comes to your resume and cover letter, there is no need to disclose why you left your previous position. Including phrases like “even though I was fired due to misconduct” in your resume is the fastest way to get it taken out of the pile. Keep your resume optimistic, focusing on your contributions and skills. You might be tempted to add every job you’ve ever had to mask the gap in your resume. Not only will that not fool your prospective employer, but having a long resume looks unprofessional, and can actually hurt your chances of getting an interview.
The prospective employer will notice the date of your most recent employment. If they are interested in your skills and bring you in for an interview, they will certainly ask what happened. This is the hard part—time to tell the truth. Yes, you were fired. No need to go into the he-said-she-said of the story. Speak about your previous employer positively and with brevity. Mention that although it didn’t work out, you learned a lot from the experience and have taken away a full arsenal of useful skills that you look forward to drawing from in the future. Use the opportunity to transition into what you can bring to the table.
You are not the first person to get fired, and you’re certainly not the last. Getting fired is not a death sentence; it’s an opportunity to learn and grow. The more you can demonstrate that you’ve grown since the incident, the more likely new employers will be to overlook your transgressions and offer you a job.
Leslie Williams is a writer for Jobfox Resumes, the largest resume writing service online. She specializes in using social media to connect to the right job.
