You Were Let Go. Now What? 5 Tips for Moving on and Finding a New Job

Being let go from your job is one of the most stressful life experiences you can face, whether you are fired due to individual performance or let go as a general round of layoffs swept through your company.  But you don’t have to let it ruin you. Here are five steps you can take today to dust yourself off, get back on your feet, and land a great new job.

1. Keep your venting very Never bad-mouth an employer, boss, or co-worker anyplace you might be overheard – whether that’s in a coffee shop or on your Facebook page. Instead, work out your negative feelings in a journal, with a therapist, or with a trusted friend or family member in private. Being negative where you can be overheard may come back to haunt you – don’t take that chance.
2. Make space to process your feelings. Losing a job can bring up all sorts of unpleasant emotions like fear, frustration, anger, anxiety, or hopelessness. The best way to deal with these feelings is to take the time you need to work through them in healthy ways. Exercise, journaling, meditation, and talking to a therapist or friend can all help. When you take time to process, your feelings are less likely to get in the way of your future.
3. Focus on your accomplishments. As you dust off your resume and start writing new cover letters, focus on what you accomplished in your last position. Write down each accomplishment in one or two sentences, and be as concrete as possible. Use numbers when you can: “I expanded our Twitter following by 30 percent.” Focusing on your achievements will give you a confidence boost and show new employers you can deliver results.
4. Don’t mention why you’re looking for a new job. Eventually, a prospective employer will ask why you left your last job. Until they do, however, don’t distract them from your abilities with the news. Prepare a short fact-based explanation about why you left, and include what you learned from the experience.
5. Talk to a recruiter. Staffing firms specialize in matching professionals with employers who offer the supportive workplace culture they need to do their best work. Your recruiter can help you connect with the best local employers and polish your resume and interview skills.

Being let go isn’t easy, but by leveraging these techniques you will put yourself on the right track to bounce back and find a great job. At Marquee Staffing, our experienced recruiters can help you move forward into the Southern California job of your dreams. Contact us today to learn more.