What To Do If You’re Fired From Your Job

Being fired from a job is never easy. With your livelihood gone, it can be super stressful to think about how you will support yourself or your family and find a new position. It can be even more frustrating if you believe you have been fired without proper cause.

Fear not, rather than get caught up in an anxiety-inducing spiral of stress, we have put together a list of things to do if you have been fired so you can get your life back on track and move on in your career. Check out our advice below. 

1. Speak To A Lawyer 

If you feel as though you have been unfairly fired and want to understand your rights then it is best to contact a lawyer. They will be able to look into your situation and help determine if your firing was unlawful.

If so, you will be able to pursue legal action against your formal employers and potentially claim compensation or a better severance package. If you believe you should not have been fired it is best to move quickly and speak with legal professionals right away. Click here to discover employment lawyers in your area. 

2. File For Unemployment Benefits

If you were terminated through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to unemployment benefits. If you’re eligible it is a good idea to sign up fast as it can take a few weeks for you to be processed through the system in some states. By ensuring you move fast, you should receive your compensation in a timely manner. This can help alleviate stress, and money worries and allow you to pay your bills. 

3. Work On Your Resume 

It’s unlikely that you would have been updating your resume during the course of your past employment so really take the time to work on getting it up to date so it can dazzle future employers. Many jobs are found online these days, leaving most qualified people scratching their heads if their application is not seen by a future employer. There are some great tactics to ensure your resume catches the eye of recruitment and HR teams.

Websites like Indeed use auto-filtering systems to sort the wheat from the chaff, so make sure your resume includes important keywords that pertain to the role in question.

For example, you want to include specific words so that it passes through the system, and you get to an interview stage. Take a look on online for the keywords that best suit your area of industry.

4. Take Some ‘Me-Time’

As mentioned, losing a job can be stressful. Make sure that you take some time to rest and recuperate. Why not take some classes either in person or online? You can brush up on your current skills or learn some new ones during your time of unemployment. New employers will likely favor those who have done something useful in their time away from work. 

Have you been fired? Share your experience in the comments and help others get back on their feet.