You’ve been fired (or laid off). What now?
Your employer let you go. Now what? Maybe you suspected it was coming. You’ve had a conflict with your boss, business has been slow, or your supervisor reduced your duties without explanation. Maybe your dismissal was sudden, like 900 people unexpectedly laid off in a Zoom call. You might feel like you’ve taken a gut punch, or your most prominent emotion might be relief.
No matter the circumstances, losing your job is tough, especially if you need to jump into your next job search immediately. You can land on your feet after a job loss, and Empower Work will be there to support you every step of the way.
Take a breath.
When your job ends involuntarily, you might feel a sense of panic. But before you respond, stop to make sure you tie up loose ends.
Clean your personal computer. If you’re given time to remove personal information, erase your login credentials and download files and contacts that belong to you. Don’t take client data or private information belonging to your employer.
Gather your belongings. Take time to get your personal items from your locker, desk, the workplace refrigerator, and other areas of your physical worksite.
Say your goodbyes. Exchange contact information with coworkers you want to keep in touch with.
Be kind to yourself and let yourself grieve. Take some time to reflect on what happened, even if it’s just a few days or a few moments over the following weeks. Try to keep up your sleep and exercise routines—or set aside some of your time for journaling or getting a little extra rest.
Take stock.
How will you weather the time you might spend unemployed?
Review your monthly expenses, income, and savings. You may be able to get unemployment insurance payments from the state, as long as you’ve worked a certain number of weeks during the previous few quarters and were not fired for misconduct. Review your savings and monthly expenses and make a plan.
Revisit your resume. While your last job is fresh in your mind, write down your achievements in your role, new skills you’ve learned, and anything you’ve learned about what you want—and don’t want—in your next position.
Explore your options. Do you need to get more work ASAP? Or do you have some room to take some time off and “funemployment”? Consider free or low-cost training classes or certifications you could pursue to make you a strong applicant for better jobs. Consider if it would make sense to get a part-time or gig job to help tide you over as you continue to search for a full-time job.
Reach out.
Apply for unemployment insurance. If you’ve been earning money over the past year and you were not let go for misconduct, it’s likely you can collect unemployment benefits. Make sure to read the rules for your state: There may be a waiting period between the time you file and the time you start collecting checks. You may lose benefits if you don’t file right away. However, depending on your work history over the past year, you might also want to delay your application to qualify for the highest payout. In some states, the employment department may provide job search resources too.
Activate your network. You can start small. Create or update your LinkedIn profile. Call one or two select professional contacts and let them know you’re looking for a job.
Seek emotional support. Find friends, family, and community with whom you can open up to about your feelings of loss, anxiety, or self-doubt. If necessary, you might consult a mental health professional.
If you’ve just lost your job, you can get free, confidential support from a trained peer counselor by texting Empower Work at 510-674-1414. An Empower Work peer counselor can help you get your bearings by listening as you debrief, lending support as you prepare for your job search, and pointing you to resources like financial or legal assistance.
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*Note: Empower Work provides non-legal support for workplace challenges. This information, while authoritative, is not legal advice or guaranteed for legality. Employment laws and regulations vary by state. We recommend consulting with state resources for specific interpretation and decisions. If you believe you were discriminated against in violation of the law, we recommend you seek legal advice.
