Getting Fired From Job | How To Accept It and Move On

If your employer fires you, it’s not the end of the world, but it’s not a great feeling either.

You’re probably wondering what you did wrong and how you can avoid losing your job in the future.

Not to worry—we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll give you tips on how to deal with losing your job and what to do next.

What Does It Mean to Get Fired from Your Job?

Your employer fires you when he decides to terminate your employment.

This can be for several reasons, such as poor performance, and violating the company’s policy.

Getting fired also means that your employer believes it’s your fault, that’s different from being laid off.

If your company laid you off, you lose your job because of circumstances outside your control such as the company’s downsizing or reorganization.

What Happens if You Get Fired from a Job?

During the dismissal process, your manager will probably ask to meet you privately.

He should be direct and tell you the reasons he doesn’t want you at this job anymore.

After that, you will have an exit interview with your manager or an HR representative.

In that meeting, you should discuss when you’re getting your final paycheck and paid time off.

They should also compensate you for unused hours.

What Do You Say When You Are Fired from a Job?

Let’s face it, losing your job is one of the most annoying things that could happen to you.

You experience a wide range of emotions: anger, resentment, unworthiness, and sadness.

While it may seem difficult to stay positive, it’s crucial to do so. You need to leave a good impression regardless of the circumstances.

When your manager explains the cause for your termination, be professional and not defensive.

We’ll give you some examples of positive things to say if your manager fires you.

1. Ask for specific details of why he decided to release you.
2. Explain yourself if you think you don’t deserve termination, and ask for the possibility of a second chance, if he refuses, deal with rejection properly.
3. Ask how your manager will explain your termination to other employees, it’s critical for your image and reputation.
4. Inquire if you could get help finding a new job.
5. Ask about severance pay, health benefits, insurance, and your final paycheck.
6. Try to get a reference from your manager about what you can do differently in the future to avoid similar situations.
7. Thank your manager for the time spent in the company and maintain a positive attitude.

Note that even though getting someone fired is possible, it’s not a favorable option for managers.

That’s why good communication is crucial for both sides.

Getting Fired vs. Quitting

It’s hard to know what’s worse.

While the two terms carry the same meaning, there are some differences between them.

Similarities

In both cases, you leave your job and your contract ends.

You also take the same steps to find a new job no matter how you lost your job.

Differences

The main difference is who decides the termination.

When your manager fires you, he terminates your contract because of your low performance or violating rules.

Conversely, when you quit your job, you’re the one who decides to leave work.

The notice period is also different.

In case you’re fired, especially for poor performance, your manager may ask you to leave your job immediately.

If you decide to quit your job, you should leave a two-week notice.

When your company terminates your contract, they compensate you with a severance package, and you may also get outplacement support services.

When you resign, you only get a final paycheck on the last day of your job.

Quitting is generally better for your image and reputation.

For instance, if an interviewer asks you about your previous work, you can easily say you quit because of signs of workplace sabotage.

This is much better than saying that they fired you.

The only downside of resigning is not getting unemployment compensation.

How to Know if It was Wrongful Termination

Many experience wrongful termination throughout their careers.Termination for reasons based on your race, age, religion, or gender is wrongful.

There are a few ways to know if your company terminated your contract wrongfully.

• Check Your Contract: Check your contract and compare it with the reasons for your termination. If you were fired for something not stated in the contract, it could be a wrongful termination.
• Learn the Termination Reason: Know from your manager exactly why he’s terminating your contract. You can also contact an HR representative and request an official reason for termination.

Can You Collect Unemployment When Fired From Job?

The answer to this question varies depending on how you lost your job. Every state has its laws regarding this issue.

In most states, if your employer fires you because of bad misconduct, you’re ineligible for collecting unemployment.

Major misconduct includes alcohol use, committing crimes, and violating federal law or safety rules.

If your company laid off employees or fired you because of anything out of your hand, you may be eligible to collect unemployment.

For instance, not having the required skills to do the job or not performing as expected.

What to Do After You’ve Been Fired from Your Job

Losing a job can be a tough experience to go through.

You might feel embarrassed, ashamed, or like you’ve failed in some way.

But it’s important to remember that losing a job is not the end of the world.

It can be an excellent opportunity to learn and grow, but you should have a plan.

Ask for an Explanation

Ask: Why did you fire me? It’s a must-ask question when in the termination process.

While it may be unpleasant listening to your manager listing your weak points, it aids your development.

It lets you learn from your mistakes so you don’t repeat them in your future job. In another scenario, you might lose your position because of organizational changes in the company, in that case, it’s not your fault.

Learn if They Have Other Opportunities for You

This is a valid question to ask, especially if you lose your job because of structural changes at the company.

See if there are any positions available you can fill or maybe they can provide you with a recommendation to work for another company.

Leave on Good Terms

Don’t take it personally with your manager. Instead, be positive and ask if you can do anything to help the transition process flow smoothly.

Whether you’ll stop working immediately or after weeks, you should finish all the required tasks.

Ensure the handover is smooth and thank all your co-workers and managers for the time spent in the company.

Also, it would be best to exchange contact details with your colleagues.

File for Unemployment

After leaving your job, the first thing you need to do is file for unemployment.

Contact your state’s unemployment office to apply.

They’ll ask you to provide an unemployment claim and proof that you’re searching for a new job.

Update Your Resume

If you’ve been working for the same company for a while, you should update your resume.

Add all the skills you learned while working in your company.

Provide details about your work experience and start applying for new jobs.

Start Looking for New Work

Start looking for a job that pays the bills, even if it was a dead-end job.

You can also contact your previous mentors or colleagues from past jobs to see if they have any opportunities or suggestions for you.

Improve Your Skills

It’s never too late to learn something new.

Check your target job’s description and see if you lack any of the required skills.

Start building these skills using online courses and internships.

What Not to Do When You Get Fired

With all the anger and sadness you feel when you lose your job, the last thing you want is to say or do things you might regret later.

Here are the things you shouldn’t do if your manager fired you.

Say or Do Anything Without Taking a Beat

If you didn’t know about the intent of termination before, you might be in shock when your manager explains that he’s firing you.

To avoid saying anything you might regret later, ask for some time to process everything before taking action.

Refuse to Help With the Transition

Leaving a good impression involves helping with the transition.

That’s why you need to be helpful and offer to train your successor to ensure a smooth transition process.

Be Afraid to Ask for a Recommendation

Don’t hesitate to ask for a recommendation.

Even if your manager doesn’t give it to you, you can ask your seniors or colleagues if you have a good relationship with them.

Forget to Ask Why

Never forget to ask why your manager released you.

Make sure you get an official document about your termination reasons.

Leave Without Saving Important Documents

If you were using a company’s laptop or computer for work, you should save any documents that hold significant data related to your career.

Such as important contacts and your sales performance reviews.

Lose Your Confidence

Almost every successful person lost their job at least once in their career, so don’t panic or lose confidence.

To begin, imagine your future career and start making a plan to reach your dream job.

How to Apply to a New Job After You’ve Been Fired

We don’t recommend using your old resume when applying for a new job.

Update your resume and start looking for jobs on LinkedIn or social media.

Put Work Into Your Resume

It would be best to attach written recommendations with your resume.

If you had any positive reviews from clients or managers in your previous job attach them too.

Make sure you cement your CV with all the skills you have that match the job description.

Prepare an Explanation for Getting Fired

Walking into your new job interview, you need to prepare a clear explanation of your previous termination.

Be honest and direct.

Explain in detail why your previous company fired you and why your new employer shouldn’t worry that you repeat the same mistakes.

If you think you didn’t deserve the termination, state the signs that you were pushed out.

Practice Interview Skills

It’s essential to explore the possible interview questions for your job, as it helps reduce the stress during the interview and focus on communicating with your interviewer.

You should also prepare yourself for questions about your previous job.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to say instead of “I got fired”

Whether you’re updating your resume or talking to a friend. There are better ways to say you got fired.

Like my employer sacked, released, or dismissed me. You can also say your company is laying off employees or that your contract expired.

What are the 3 forms of dismissal?

The three forms of dismissal are unfair, constructive, and wrongful dismissal.

• Unfair dismissal is when an employer terminates someone’s contract with no fair cause.
• Constructive dismissal is when your employer makes working conditions intolerable that you have no other choice but to quit.
• Wrongful dismissal is when your employer violates the terms of a contract during the dismissal process.

Wrapping Up

Getting fired from a job might be a stressful dramatic experience for many.

Remember that it doesn’t mean you’re not capable of doing anything else, it means that a particular job wasn’t the right fit for you.

If you have any questions concerning your dismissal process, don’t forget to leave a comment.

To cope with the termination, accept the emotions of sadness, write down everything that happened and see what you could have done differently.

Then start making a plan for what you’re going to do next and focus on the positive aspects of the situation.