Losing your job can be devastating, whatever the circumstances. But being dismissed from a job can seem personal.
Whether the dismissal was fair or unfair is in some ways not the most important thing―in both cases you can be left with a sense that you weren’t wanted or liked.
Here are our top tips for how to deal with being dismissed from a job.
Remember, you’re in good company
Pretty much anyone who’s worked for a number of years will have experienced, if not actual dismissal, a near miss or two. Just because these things aren’t on their polished LinkedIn profile doesn’t mean they didn’t happen.
What’s more, these undisclosed ‘hiccups’ are likely to have been decisive events that have helped them make positive changes to their career path. They may have been far more helpful, in the end, than their visible successes.
Focus on the practical steps that’ll help you move on
It can be hard to extract yourself from the immediate feelings of injustice that surround being dismissed from a job and the high drama of the situation.
But if you’ve been dismissed from a job for misconduct or poor performance, you need to focus your attention on the steps that’ll help you move on, rather than spend time re-running arguments in your head.
Citizens Advice has clear, helpful advice on the practical things you need to know, like your final pay entitlements, references and the benefits you may be able to claim. You can also use their site to check if your dismissal is unfair.
Once you have a better idea of what to expect, you can start planning your next move. Here a few key tips to help you get started.
1. Sort out your references
Your past employer is legally bound to be honest about the reasons you left, but you’re also within your rights to ask for a basic reference—one that simply confirms the dates of your employment, job title and salary.
In fact, many large corporations only ever provide this type of reference so it won’t look unusual on your job application. Speak to the HR department or your old manager to ask that they provide only a basic reference if requested.
Also, is there another manager there who you got on well with―one who’d be happy to write a reference based on their experience of working with you, either upon request or as a recommendation on your LinkedIn profile?
2. Pay attention to how you’re feeling and don’t be ashamed to ask for help
It doesn’t matter if the dismissal was fair or unfair, or if you accept it may be for the best in the long run—losing your job and being out of work for even a short period of time is stressful and isolating.
Don’t be ashamed to talk with friends or family about how you’re feeling. And if you’re struggling to cope, consider making an appointment with a local counselling service who can offer support.
3. Consider temp work or freelancing
Can you get some temping, freelance or part-time work while you look for your next permanent role? This can, of course, help financially but it can also move your head into a different place, boosting your confidence and self-respect too.
4. Be honest with yourself—and take time out to plan your next steps
Before rushing headlong into new plans, it’s worth spending some time rationalising what went wrong. Be honest with yourself. No one handles work (or other people) perfectly all the time, so write a list of the things you did right and the things you may have done wrong.
Take the time to think about how suited you were you to the role and to the type of organisation. Write down all the things you liked about the job and the organisation, then the things you didn’t like.
Doing this can help you have a better understanding of where your strengths lie and what kind of organisation or department you do best in.
5. Examine whether you might need a career change
It may well be that your bad experience in this most recent job is a total one-off for you and you’re fundamentally on the right career path. Or, an objective analysis of what went wrong may lead you to think about a career change.
It can be hard to accept that a career you’ve wanted for a long time isn’t the one that’s best suited to your personality—but it’s better to realise this in time and act on it.
If you’re thinking about a change of career, then get all the free advice you can. Try your local JobCentre Plus, the National Careers Service and the resources available at your local library. Also, look into courses to increase your skills and keep your confidence up.
How to tell future employers why you left
If a future employer asks you directly why you left your last job, then it’s best to be honest. If you’re not honest and they find out later that you’d been dismissed from a job, it could put your new role at risk.
Decide exactly how much you want to say and how you’ll frame it. Keep it brief and explain what went wrong in clear terms. You want to leave the impression that you’ve learnt from the experience.
It can help to practice your answer with a friend or try rehearsing your answer out loud so that you’re confident and won’t get either too emotional or muddled. Stay positive and show the interviewer your determination to move on in your career.
And remember, you are so much more than your dismissal. Don’t let it hold you back from moving on and finding the next great stage in your career.
Ready to see what amazing roles are out there? Take a look at the charity sector jobs we have available today.
This post was originally published in 2020 and has been updated to ensure relevance and to reflect the current job seeker experience.
