Got fired from a job recently? It happens to the best of us. Knowing what to do after getting fired is very difficult until you’re put in such a sensitive position. This makes it hard to respond in a manner that’s calm and professional at a moment when you’re likely to be extremely emotional. There are many key steps to take after termination to ensure your future prospects aren’t affected, but it can be hard to remember them when you’re trying to fight down your concerns for the future.
A calm response after being fired can mean the difference between ending things on amicable terms and destroying the professional relationships you spent years developing. That is why we’re making a guide to getting fired, because although you might be lucky enough to never need one, it’s always best to be prepared for all outcomes.
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A Guide on What to Do After Getting Fired—Here’s to Finding Your Next Job with Ease
Getting fired is never an easy experience, no matter how close you were to quitting on your own. Sometimes people lose their jobs due to company-wide layoffs, sometimes it’s because of departmental changes and over-staffing that makes their position redundant, and sometimes it happens because the employee was unable to meet the expectations of the organization. Regardless of whether you were at fault, knowing how to react when getting fired could help you secure a recommendation letter or even a second chance in some scenarios.
There are two parts to the acceptance process once you learn that you’re being fired: how you respond to the notification and how you operate in the days following the firing. The initial reaction to the layoffs can help you ensure you maintain a professional facade throughout, whereas the actions you take in the following days will ensure you’re able to gather the resources and support available to you to help with your next job.
How to React When Getting Fired
As much as you might want to cry and yell upon receiving a termination notice, the emotional responses will have to wait till later. In the face of the announcement, here’s what you can do.
1. Present a Calm Response after Getting Fired
If you’re being fired face-to-face, pause and take a few seconds to compose yourself. Breathing exercises and a few seconds of reflection should help you rein in an emotional response so you can ask the relevant questions and figure out your next step. If the conversation happens via email or other means, you’ll have a few more minutes to prepare your response. Don’t give into the urge to storm off from the conversation and lose the opportunity to collect what you need before you go.
2. Ask About the Nature and Reason for the Termination
To understand the steps to take after the termination, you’ll have to understand the situation. It is important for employers to be able to provide a satisfactory explanation even with “at will” employment. If there are inexcusable reasons for the termination, it could open doors to legal action, which is why you’ll have to understand your situation. Don’t raise your voice and continue to have a calm tone as you ask your questions.
3. Understand the Terms of the Termination
If you’re being laid off as part of a larger organizational shift, employers will be willing to offer severance benefits that you can sometimes negotiate to secure a better offer. In such cases, it may also be possible to get assistance in the form of job search support or an opportunity to work at another department that is currently hiring.
If you’re being fired permanently with no scope for relocation, ask about other relevant details such as your last paycheck, your last working day, the offboarding procedures, whether you’ll be expected to train another employee in your stead, etc. Ask if you can discuss terms the next day if you feel too scattered at the moment.
4. Ask for Written Documentation Confirming the Terms of the Separation
If you’re able to renegotiate a better deal with your employer, it’s good to have the terms and conditions written down. Ask to see if your HR rep or manager can send you an email or a printed document confirming the circumstances of the firing and the terms surrounding the separation.
5. Check If You Can Receive a Reference Letter Before You Leave
What to do after getting fired? Secure some recommendations for your next role. If you’re being fired for flaunting company rules or very poor performance, it is unlikely that you will receive a recommendation letter, but there are many circumstances where it might be possible.
A reference or recommendation letter can act as a strong character assessment for your next job. In some cases, your colleagues or other members of the senior team might also be able to provide you with a letter, so it doesn’t hurt to ask in a professional manner.
6. Talk to Your Colleagues and Ensure Your Contacts Know How To Reach You
You never know where a new opportunity might turn up, so don’t ignore the network of contacts you have established at your workplace. You don’t have to announce your termination to everyone the second you are fired, but make some time over the next few days to reach out. Be sure to reach out to them and ensure they have your contact details as well, in case they come across an opportunity that might suit you.
7. Don’t Give Into the Urge to Do Something Petty and Leave with a Bang
It might sound more satisfying to do something messy and make a dramatic exit, but employers are rarely affected by these gestures. They only serve to complicate your own future. Work to leave on a positive note so you can still use your employer as a reference contract at your next job.
8. Seek Legal Assistance In Cases of Wrongful Termination
If you think you’ve been wrongfully terminated on the basis of some protected characteristics like gender and race or other extraneous factors like exercising your right to form a union, you can seek legal action with the help of an employment attorney. This should give you some insight into how strong your case is and what you can do next. You can also discuss how the terms of your contract are affected by the firing and whether you’re obligated to uphold them. They can give you more in-depth insights into what to do after getting fired unfairly.
9. Complete Your Offboarding Process and Send a Polite Email
There will likely be a lot of steps to work through after getting fired. Don’t take them lightly just because they can’t fire you again. Complete the processes necessary and send an email to your employer acknowledging your time at the organization. If you’re feeling bold, you can also ask for feedback to understand what you need to improve at your next job.
10. Be Calm but Honest In Case of a Termination Interview
Knowing how to react when getting fired is one thing, but having to put up with a termination interview can be frustrating if used at such a time. If you are provided the opportunity to provide the organization, you can be honest about some of the more pressing concerns you had, but don’t take on a confrontational approach to have that conversation. Again, it is best to separate on good terms.
Job Search Tips After Being Fired
The most important steps to take after termination involve looking at ways to ensure you will be able to manage financially and emotionally after the incident. You may not be able to start job hunting immediately, which is completely understandable, but once you begin to plan your next steps, there will be some things to keep in mind.
- Look into unemployment benefits and file for support from your state services to get you through the initial days of unemployment
- Keep track of when your last paycheck comes in and ensure you will be able to cover your major expenses in the immediate future
- Create a portfolio of your work or a record of your experiences to ensure that you have some material to share along with your job applications
- Update your resume and ensure it meets the current professional standards and expectations
- Reach out to contacts personally or through professional sites like LinkedIn to show that you are looking for work in your areas of interest
- Start looking for jobs across professional platforms and be mentally prepared for an extended search, as the times are tough
- Work on taking care of your personal needs and well-being without being too hard on yourself—improvements can be made no matter what the problem
- Look for jobs through novel ways such as social media platforms and word-of-mouth references
Losing your job is never easy, and how you react when getting fired says a lot about you and your overall attitude. It is important to make space for the emotions and negative thoughts that dominate this period while also acknowledging that better opportunities might be right around the corner. Go over these job search tips after being fired and prepare your own strategy and routine for finding work again. As you work on making the changes in your approach and skillset that your previous employer found lacking, you’ll soon be ready for your next role in no time.
Do you have more advice on what to do after getting fired? Let us know how you handle such experiences. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights into the evolving landscape of work and employment in 2025.