How to Get a New Job After Getting Fired or Laid-Off

Overview

• The importance of learning new skills while in between jobs
• What to include on your resume
• How to explain being fired during your next job interview

Few comparable circumstances elicit as much distress in the modern-day workplace as getting fired or laid off. Economic downturns, reducing headcounts, cost-cutting measures — the list of reasons for being let go is unpleasantly endless. Whichever way you slice it, it's usually a nerve-wracking experience. The good news is that with the right mentality, some preparation, elbow grease, and a little luck, you'll be back on your feet in no time.

Have you been fired recently? Well, you’re in good company. Here’s a list of some people you may know who were also fired at one point in their careers:

• Steve Jobs
• Oprah Winfrey
• J.K. Rowling
• Walt Disney
• Thomas Edison
• Mark Cuban

These household names didn't let being laid-off limit their potential, and neither should you! Take this time to update your CV or resume, reflect on what went right and wrong, and then start putting yourself out there. In fact, for some, this might be a good opportunity to consider a career pivot to a different field or concentration.

The first step is owning it. Take some time for self-reflection, and map out what you want in life. Use this period of professional dormancy to evaluate what's most important, dust yourself off, and get back on your feet. Ask yourself, "Why didn't that job work out?" Whatever the answer, make sure it's good, as hiring managers will want to know. In interviews, be professional, and don't bash your previous employer, even if it's warranted. Showcase what you learned from the experience, take responsibility, and be gracious. In doing so, you will effectively have taken control of the situation and used it to your advantage.

As you begin to consider new job prospects, think first if you want to stay in the same industry or if your firing from your previous job will be a significant red flag for a potential employer. For example, if your firing occurred because you didn’t disclose a conflict of interest when providing financial advice, looking for another job in finance might not be a good solution.

While a future employer may conduct a background check, a change in industry may help to insulate you from obstacles. If you apply for a different type of job, you may find potential employers more willing to overlook the problems from your initial background check since they will not apply to them.

If you decide to transition to a new industry, you’ll want to sit down at the proverbial drawing board and consider where you want to work. If your training, experience, or education can help you easily transition to a new field, you can start pursuing interests in this area.

If you don’t have previous experience, consider opening yourself up to transitional opportunities, such as part-time work, until you have the experience needed to obtain a full-time job.

While you look for your next job and go on interviews, you can use this time to educate yourself on the latest advancements or information in the field. Even if you decide to pursue career options in the same sector, continuing education can make you an appealing candidate. If you transition to a new field, these educational opportunities can help you put your best foot forward as you start to apply.

Some possibilities for building important skills include:

• Internships and apprenticeships
• Massive open online courses (MOOCs)
• Industry-related organizations and meetups
• Community colleges

You should also take the time to reach out to mentors or associates from past jobs or other professional experiences. Your networks might have suggestions regarding job prospects. They might also provide a good reference from past positions. Since you likely won’t be able to rely on your immediate former employer for a good word, these references can help you create a stronger case for why you’d be excellent for the position you want to obtain.

You can also use LinkedIn and social media to connect with other people in industries where you’d like to learn about potential opportunities.

You also want to take the time to build a thorough, detailed resume that highlights your professional experiences and accomplishments. Help draw the eye of the hiring manager to everything you’ve accomplished to create a positive impression before they learn about your termination.

To help your resume stand out even further, consider attaching written recommendations or other accolades you’ve received. If you received glowing client reviews in a past position or won awards for skills in other areas, you can include that evidence with your resume.

Finally, cement your highly appealing resume with an excellent cover letter. Many employers use the cover letter to get a better feel for the person’s personality, professionalism, and how well they align with the skills needed for the job. Sometimes, they’ll make specific notations in the job description indicating what they want to see in a cover letter to see who has read the instructions thoroughly. Ensure that your cover letter answers any requests and aligns closely with the skills and experiences needed to thrive in this particular job.

As you search for a new job, make use of job boards like Joblist to uncover new opportunities and find the right positions. Joblist makes it easy for people to search and sort through relevant positions that fit them, save specific jobs they want to apply for later, and save searches so they know when new jobs appear that fit their criteria. This makes it easier to find the perfect new position. You can also find resources that will help you with your job hunt.

Once you’ve selected the jobs you want to apply for and submitted your applications, the next step involves going through the job interview process with potential new employers. You want to walk into the interview knowing how you’ll explain your termination from your previous employer. We offer some easy-to-follow steps below to take the guesswork out of how to broach this oftentimes uncomfortable or awkward situation.

Before the interview, take the time to prepare yourself as thoroughly as possible. This preparation should include:

• Being thorough in your research so you are well-versed in both the company and the role you would fill
• Reviewing common interview questions and how you’ll answer them
• Arriving early so you make a good first impression
• Following up the interview with a thank-you note

You want to use your professionalism and charm to build a positive relationship with the hiring manager. This will give you the best chance of moving past the dark cloud of your recent termination and have them walking away feeling good about you as a candidate.

Remember that termination differs from being laid off. During a layoff, the business needed to let people go because of internal issues, not because of something specific that the employee did. Trying to pass your termination off as a layoff can also be revealed as a lie or misleading information and jeopardize your chances at a new job.

As a rule of thumb, it’s best not to lie. In many cases, the human resources (HR) department will run a background check to verify past employment records and work history. If you leave a particular job off your resume, it might look suspicious. Similarly, if they speak with someone at your past job to verify your dates of employment and they mention your termination, it won’t reflect positively on you.

As you explain your termination, you want to be upfront and specific. Don’t use vague terms or try to cast all the blame elsewhere with phrases like “poor fit” or “employer was unreasonable." Instead, try to give a specific example of what happened that deteriorated the working relationship and, more importantly, why the new employer can be confident it won’t happen again.

For example, if the former employer expected immediate answers to work emails, even well after typical work hours or on vacation, explaining how your expectations didn’t align can help you calmly articulate the situation. Similarly, if you made a mistake that you learned from, let the hiring manager know about that, too. Remember, the prospective employer wants to know why the issue that caused your termination will not be a problem for them going forward if you get the job.

Once you’ve articulated what happened, try to move on from it as quickly as possible in your conversation. There’s no need to dwell on past mistakes, and you want to demonstrate why you would be a great fit now. If possible, provide an example of what they can expect from the person you are now that you've put the termination behind you.

Finding a job after being fired can feel intimidating and overwhelming, but it’s not impossible. Once the shock and frustration over being fired have worn off, begin creating a plan that will help you move forward in your career. Consider the above advice as you begin your job search to help you make the best first impression.

As you progress through your job search, consider the benefits you can access by using Joblist, where you can search for open positions, save searches, and otherwise track job openings in your desired sector, giving yourself the best opportunity for success.