How to Get a Job After You've Been Fired

Addressing Your Firing in an Interview

Don’t talk about your previous boss or company. Even if you think the way you were let go was unfair or terrible, don’t badmouth your former employer or boss in an interview. This makes you look negative and often changes the way the interviewer sees you. If the interviewer asks you to elaborate about your boss or former company, you can say something like, "The company just wasn't a good fit for me, because it didn't present the types of challenges I most enjoy." Or you can say, "My boss is great at his job, but our personalities just didn't fit well."

Avoid saying “fired.” Don’t lie, but you don’t have to be obvious about it either. Instead, you can say things like “my company downsized” or “my position was eliminated.”

Be concise, then move on. If it’s apparent to the interviewer that you were fired for a more specific reason that downsizing, explain what happened in as few words as possible. For example, you can say something like “I learned that I should really research the companies I apply to, to make sure that their goals and mine match. For example, I noticed that your company’s commitment to social justice matches my own passion for it, which is exemplified by my work with the ACLU.”

Take responsibility. Interviewers will tend to have more respect for you if you take responsibility for being fired. This doesn’t necessarily mean accepting blame if you weren’t at fault, but it can mean acknowledging the position wasn’t a good fit or you didn’t get along with your bosses or coworkers. For example, you can say something like “You can see on my resume that being involuntarily let go from a position is not commonplace for me. The truth is that my boss and I did not get along well and the position wasn’t a good fit. I’ve learned a lot from the position, and my references will attest to my excellence as an employee and coworker.”

Searching for a New Job

Update your resume. Even if you were fired, you probably picked up new skills and experiences at your old job. Updating your resume with those things can help you feel like the last job was a positive step in your career. Seeing it this way can help you move past the negative feelings associated with being fired..

Use your social networks. You’ve probably built up a good network of people – either personally or on social media sites like LinkedIn. Ask for recommendations or references. After you’ve spent some time reflecting on what you want your next opportunity to look like, ask your network for help finding it. For example, you can send a short email that says “Hi Steve, I’m looking for my next career opportunity, and I’m interested in moving more into sales than marketing. I was hoping you could point me in the right direction since you have so much sales experience!”

Keep reference requests short and sweet. You can say something like “Dear Kim, I’m applying for a new position with XYZ Management, and given our work history together, I was hoping you’d be willing to write a reference for me.” Make sure you include where the reference letter should go, who it should be addressed to, and when it’s due.

Start searching again as soon as you can. You should definitely take a little bit of time to deal with being fired, but get back on the job market as soon as possible. This not only prevents large gaps in your resume, but it can also help you feel like you’ve got control over your life again.

Research new companies. It can be tempting to send your resume everywhere in the panic after you’ve been fired. Time might be of the essence, but spend at least some time researching companies in your field before you apply. This helps you use your time wisely and is especially important if you’ve been fired after a long time with one company.

Coming to Terms with Being Fired

Work through your feelings. Getting fired feels awful, and venting to friends or family can help make you feel better. It’s okay to feel sad, angry, and embarrassed – sometimes all at the same time. Recognize that those are legitimate feelings and then let them go.

Volunteer. If you volunteer at organizations related to what you do, you can fill a gap in your resume and stay involved in your field. It will also show potential employers that you are passionate about your work, since you volunteered to do it even when you weren’t being paid. Volunteering is also a great way to build up skills that are maybe a little lacking. It beefs up your resume and increases your chances of getting hired again.

Reflect on what happened. Think about the reasons your previous employer gave for firing you. Are they things you can work on? Was it something you had no control over? Then decide if it has changed your career goals or interests. Getting fired from a job is a good time to reevaluate where you’re at in your career and where you want to go.

Remember you’re not alone. You’re not the first or last person to ever get fired. It happens to a lot of people, even if they’re great at what they do. Getting fired doesn’t mean you’re a failure – it just means that particular opportunity wasn’t working out.