No matter how it is said: Your services are no longer needed, You are taken off the schedule, Your performance remains unsatisfactory, We have given you so many chances to improve, You are laid off. It means you are being fired … so how do you respond?

 

If you respond emotionally with crying, pleading, begging, for example: What do I do now? Or please please don’t fire me! Or you react by getting angry, threatening, insulting, for example: Take this job and… Or I will get you for this! It makes no difference you are still terminated. Why?

 

Any organization large enough for a HR department has to pre-arrange and set up the paperwork beforehand, so there is no way to change the boss’s mind on letting you go. Sole proprieties have sought legal advice to make sure there are no mistakes that will allow you to sue. Bottom line is you no longer work there.

 

How should you respond? Try to remain calm, and try to not get emotional … say: “I accept your decision.” And if the opportunity presents itself with an understanding boss say, “I would like to depart on good terms with you.” Why should you do this?

 

First, you will immediately see the boss relax like a burden lifted from their shoulders, and open up to helping you through this experience. When the boss meets with you they are under a lot of stress and uncertainty of how you will react. Once they know you will not emotionally react they will be more willing to understand what your situation is with a sudden loss of income.

 

Second, why is it in your benefit to have your now former supervisor be understanding and want to help you? When you are looking for a new job, whom do you think the hiring manager is going to call about your work experience?

 

Would you rather the boss give a good reference: You just didn’t fit in with their job, but may be a better fit in the hiring manager’s organization. Or a bad reference because you burned bridges when you were let go. Such as this person is terrible, and go on to tell how you emotionally reacted?

 

How do I react? Before I answer, let me say that I understand that this is devastating news to hear. Suddenly you are facing financial ruin, you may start to get calls for bills you can’t pay, you may loose your place of residence, your car, etc., I understand, I am there. However, you can shorten your time of unemployment with these helpful tips.

 

First, I keep a public face on during the process, to try to get through it yet leave on good terms with my former supervisor and/or co-workers. So they will help me when hiring managers call. Afterward, when I am alone in my car and have left the business property I let myself become emotional. In my case depression (it runs in my family), I have learned though to let myself be depressed for a while. Then I put it behind me and get a fresh start with an optimistic attitude in looking for a job.

 

Second, I strive to determine lessons learned from the previous job (the former boss will tell you when firing you) in looking for a new job. For example, I once had a job in a Point of Sale position, where I learned that I can count money slowly and accurately, I can count money fast but inaccurately, but I just can’t count fast and accurately, which the job required. My lesson learned is to not apply for other cashier jobs.

 

FYI, some hiring managers prefer experience and previously fired employees versus the inexperienced candidates. Be advised they want to see you have learned from being fired. When you interview with them be prepared to admit you were fired, that you are contrite about it, and explain how you have learned and matured from the experience. In summary, take heart!

 

Even though you were fired there is a future! If you can remain calm while being fired, and think of the future, and looking for a new job, your previous boss may help you in this endeavor. Thereby shortening the time of unemployment if you can leave on good terms. There is always hope, there is a future, and there is a new job out there for YOU!