Being told today is your last day can be the most difficult words to hear. But you can—and will—bounce back from the disappointment of being let go. Here some ways to get back on your feet and land a new position.
1. BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF
Getting fired is not fun. Being told you no longer have a job where you’ve spent the bulk of your time and created relationships with colleagues can really knock a person’s self-confidence. First step after being fired, take the time to grieve the loss. It’s only normal to have mixed feelings about being fired. If you’re angry one minute, sad the next, then question your abilities the next, know it’s perfectly normal. Give yourself some time to work through these feelings.
2. FIND THE POSITIVES
There is always a positive side to losing a job. Maybe you’ve been unhappy at your office for some time but were hesitant to leave, or your boss was not always the easiest to work with. Now is the time to go for the position you’ve always wanted. Although it may be difficult to find the upside in this situation, being fired can open doors to new opportunities that you did not even know were there.
3. NEXT STEPS
Think about your career and where you want to go. Do you want to go back to school? Is now the time to jump into public health? Do you prefer temp work? Now is the time to reflect on what you want to achieve in your career and how to do it. Once you’ve given it some thought, spend time updating your resume and searching for job opportunities that align with your career goals.
4. BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF
Your boss may have communicated why you were being terminated. Perhaps the reason was something that you were made aware of during your time with the practice such as punctuality. Or the reason behind your termination may have been something that was never brought to your attention until that moment. Either way, now is the time to ask yourself what went wrong, how you can fix those problems in your new job, and how to refine your skills.
5. LAND A NEW JOB
If the hiring manager asks why you were terminated from your last job, it’s important to be honest—but stay positive. You never want to bad mouth an employer. Instead, explain it was a bad fit, or briefly explain the reason for your termination before moving the conversation forward.
