I’ve been fired: what now?

When the company where you have been working for some time terminates your services and lays you off, it is normal that you spend the following days bewildered. You may ask yourself: what do I do now, what direction should I go in, should I look for a similar job, or should I take advantage of the possible months of unemployment to train in another function?

Of course, there are no universal answers. It depends on you, what you want to achieve, and you may have to make some important decisions. What is clear is that planning your future requires a great deal of self-awareness and determination, so we advise you to take your time in deciding which path to take.

Assume that your situation has changed

Often layoffs are immediate which translates into a radical change in your life. Some people easily get used to their new routine, but others, after the first few days, feel empty inside. If you belong to this second group, you should know that psychologists consider your attitude normal.

However, they recommend that you try to maintain certain routines and take advantage of your free time to reflect. It is not a question of beating yourself up, but of thinking about what things have happened that depend only on you and your work. Perhaps at the end of this stage of your professional career you were feeling particularly demotivated? Maybe you could have done more to get along with your boss or the last colleague who came in?

Setbacks are also an opportunity

Once you’ve come to terms with your situation and are aware of a mistake you don’t want to make again, don’t let it get you down! Maybe the high unemployment rate in our country or the stares of your closest relatives make you fear the worst: that no one will hire you again. You should think that it doesn’t have to be that way and that there are many things you can do to become a much more attractive candidate for companies.

Take steps to improve your employability

Now that you have more free time, stop and think about what you can do to make yourself more employable: maybe get a driver’s license or learn a second language? Don’t be put off by money: this blog has a wide range of tips for learning English and French for free, with YouTube channels, TV series, movies… and even children’s books that you can find in most public libraries in your city!

Boost your personal brand on the Internet

Maybe you’ve been thinking about opening a LinkedIn account or reactivating your Twitter profile, but haven’t had much time to do it – now is the time to start networking! Many job opportunities arise online, so it’s a great idea to let everyone know at the click of a button who you are and what you do. But pay close attention to everything you post: just as it can earn you points with a recruiter, it can also lose you points with no right to make amends.

Expand your network

Attending in-person events in your industry or actively participating in conversation groups on social networks such as LinkedIn can help you meet new people who can open interesting doors for you in the professional world.

Don’t dismiss the idea of entrepreneurship

If no one is giving you a job, why not consider creating one yourself? More and more people are taking advantage of a layoff to rethink their working life. They follow their dreams by turning their ideas into a real business. Of course, it is a path full of obstacles, with many difficulties in which you usually have to invest a lot of time and some money. But it can also be a solution if you are really clear about your idea and committed to it, so don’t rule it out!