Getting Terminated from a Job

Being fired from your job can be both a humiliating and terrifying experience.

Regardless of the reason why your employer terminated you, you might feel like you failed yourself and the company.

The terrifying part comes from the fear that you’ll never get another job. Plenty of people are fired, and it doesn’t affect their ability to get another job. With few exceptions — such as an employee with a poor work history that contains one termination after another — just because you’ve been fired doesn’t mean you’re not employable.

Reason

Your confidence might be shaken, depending on the reason why you were terminated. If it was for poor job performance and you thought your skills were far above mediocre, you could begin to question whether you’re as good as you believe you are. However, not meeting the performance expectations for one company shouldn’t suggest that you won’t exceed the performance expectations at another company. If you were fired for something that was totally within your control, evaluate what you could have done to avoid termination, such as being on time or maintaining good attendance.

Reassessment

Perhaps an overly subjective performance evaluation led to your termination. In any case, review areas where you might need improvement before you tweak your resume. Reassess your job skills before you start your job search so you can find the job that’s best suited for your capabilities. Talk to a career counsellor about an assessment of your skills and qualifications. You’ll receive a professional opinion about your skills and qualifications that will reassure you about the prospects of future employment.