How to Land a New Job After Being Fired (part 1 of 2)

Being fired from a job is simply a fact of life. Millions of people have been fired over the years, and it absolutely doesn’t mean that he or she is a bad worker or someone who can’t be trusted. There are often extenuating circumstances that lead to the firing. In many cases, it simply boils down to personalities that don’t match and/or butting heads with someone in a position of power who has the ability to let you go.

This, of course, can become a big problem when you start searching for a new job. Despite the realities of being fired, a potential hiring manager or interviewer will have a tendency to view this type of situation in a negative light. So, what can you do? In this two-part blog series, we will provide you with several tips to help you land a new job after being fired from an old one.

Understand Why You Were Fired

When someone is fired, they usually know exactly why they were let go. But, in many circumstances, the exact reason may not be entirely clear. Even though being fired is an emotional and stressful event, it’s important that you get as many details as possible so that you will be able to articulate them to the hiring manager. This is of special importance if you were fired for something that your former employer missed on the background check, or something that occurred on the job which will now appear on any new screening that your potential employer decides to run.

Prepare Your Story

Before you start looking around for a new job, and especially before you go to an interview, it is essential that you prepare your story with the appropriate details. When we say to “prepare your story,” we don’t mean to make something up. We mean that you need to have pertinent details available that the hiring manager may want to know. Plus, it’s important that you predict what your interviewer may ask about you being fired. If you hesitate or say “I don’t know” to his or her questions, that could reflect badly on you.

Check Your Networks of Friends and Colleagues

As you’re probably aware, when people you know discover that you’re in need of employment, they can help you find a job more quickly. The great thing about utilizing your network of friends and colleagues after being fired is that a hiring manager will often trust your colleagues’ advice and recommendation and, therefore, will give you the benefit of the doubt. This doesn’t let you off the hook entirely, but it does soften the blow a little bit when you’re being asked why you were let go.

Give Yourself a Break, If Possible

When you get fired from a job, your first instinct might be to jump immediately back into the workforce. In fact, you might feel a form of desperation to get a new job as quickly as possible. While we can completely understand that, it’s important that you’re ready to look for a new job on your own time. If you need to take a break to deal with the stress and emotional toll that getting fired has taken on you, then by all means do so. Heading back to the workforce too soon can spell disaster.

When hiring a new employee, it is imperative that you know exactly who you’re hiring. Running a background check for employment history, drug use, criminal activity, and other details can give you such insight. Reach out to the experts at NationSearch today and we will help protect your company.

NationSearch