Getting Fired

[Flynnster]

Well, Friday I was let go at work, nothing I didn't see coming, but it happened sooner than I expected.

Perhaps it's because I'm young and don't have a family to worry about, but it's a bit freeing. I got a couple weeks pay, and I can drive uber for cash for now, so I'm going to do some good thinking on what I really want to do for my next move. This might end up being a pretty good thing for me overall, pushing me to take a risk I wouldn't have otherwise.

That said, at 23, this is the first time I've been fired, any words of wisdom from the Asylum?

[The Poet]

The first cut is the deepest, but getting canned is never fun. Been there a number of times, so know this well. Best thing to remember is that it's only a freakin' job, not your life. Deal with it, and move on.

All best wishes for future success.

[G G]

I can't add much. I am 50 yo and have been blessed to only have been fired once in my life and that was when I was 18. I would say you have a great attitude about it and believe you will hit the ground running.

[The Poet]

Oh, and make sure you get off this board now and go to the Illinois state unemployment insurance site and file a claim for your benefits. You paid for it each paycheck, so you earned it. A few hundred bucks a week won't change your life, but it will ease the pain a bit.

[Porch Dweller]

Thomas is wise.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by Porch Dweller

Thomas is wise.

Thomas is experienced at being out of work.

[bobarian]

There's a big difference between getting fired for cause and being released on good terms. Not only in Unemployment terms, but if you left on good terms you should get a letter of recommendation from your employer. This will help answer and questions your next employer man have. Good luck.

[icehog3]

I got fired once, when I was 21 and trying to work full time and go to college full time.

I busted my boss' windshield, seduced his girlfriend and got him fired too.

Then I woke up from my lovely dream.

Good luck going forward.

[Flynnster]

Thanks for the advice fellas! Especially on the unemployment, that hand't even crossed my mind.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by Flynnster

Thanks for the advice fellas! Especially on the unemployment, that hand't even crossed my mind.

If you were "laid off" or "downsized" the claim should be approved automatically. And even if you were "fired for cause" . . . calling the boss a d!ckhead, even though he is, or screwing his daughter on papa's desk . . . you might be denied at first, but you can always appeal the decision and often get it overturned.

Hey, tell them it's not YOUR fault the boss was a d!ckhead.

[hotreds]

Best wishes for the future! You're young and should be able to "shake it off!" and go forward with little difficulty! Onward and upwards!

[longknocker]

Good Luck In Finding Your Next Job, Brother. Now May Be The Time When You Think About What You Want Your Career To Be In The Future. While You're Young Is The Best Time To Pursue Additional Education.

[mosesbotbol]

Been a contractor for 20 years, so jobs coming and going has been a constant. Make sure your resume is up to date and posted on relevant job boards. Update the resume every other day and spend a few hours daily applying to new jobs.

Do you hope to stay in the same field or do something different? Do as much exercise as you can since you have time and get up early every day. The longer you are unemployed, the less you'll be able to accomplish during the day. You'll be amazed how lazy you can become in a matter of a few weeks.

See the firing as an opportunity for new job and more money. Good luck

[shark]

And the reason for your most recent separation will be brought up in every interview. Be prepared to put it in as positive terms as possible.

[Blueface]

Good luck.
Things happen for a reason.
I was fired at 23, just a few months before my planned wedding.
Turned out to be the best favor anyone ever did for me.
I hated that career path but was too blind to see I should have abandoned it.
Landed a career job after that and have been employed by the same company for 33 years now.
Again, things happen for a reason, just need to make the best out of it.

[RJrocker]

Sorry brother, good luck with your next endeavor!

[CRIMPS]

For someone who interviews a lot of people, may I offer the following quick points that the majority of prospective applicants mess up:

* Verify your contact info in on your resume. Seriously
* Have someone else look at your resume as well. You can't spot the mistakes. Preferably a woman.
* Once you update your resume, save it as a PDF. Don't send out your resume in MSWord.
* Add a cover letter if you send out your resume.
* In an interview, turn off your phone.
* In an interview, smile, and find some common ground with the interviewer. Many times, interviewers simply want to hire someone they see themselves becoming friends with.
* Show some passion for whatever it is your are applying for.
* Send a followup email after the interview, thanking them for their time.

Good luck.

[jjirons69]

Originally Posted by CRIMPS

For someone who interviews a lot of people, may I offer the following quick points that the majority of prospective applicants mess up:

* Verify your contact info in on your resume. Seriously
* Have someone else look at your resume as well. You can't spot the mistakes. Preferably a woman.
* Once you update your resume, save it as a PDF. Don't send out your resume in MSWord.
* Add a cover letter if you send out your resume.
* In an interview, turn off your phone.
* In an interview, smile, and find some common ground with the interviewer. Many times, interviewers simply want to hire someone they see themselves becoming friends with.
* Show some passion for whatever it is your are applying for.
* Send a followup email after the interview, thanking them for their time.

Good luck.

Great advise, Zach. I, too, do a lot of interviewing, or have over the years. Most have the same education backgrounds so what separates them from each other is being personable. Most of the time you only have upwards of an hour to talk with an interviewee. The ones I end up hiring have positive attitudes and are easy to talk with and connect with. If they don't blend in well with my current staff, I would never chance it.

Best of luck!

[Col. Kurtz]

Originally Posted by CRIMPS

For someone who interviews a lot of people, may I offer the following quick points that the majority of prospective applicants mess up:

* Verify your contact info in on your resume. Seriously
* Have someone else look at your resume as well. You can't spot the mistakes. Preferably a woman.
* Once you update your resume, save it as a PDF. Don't send out your resume in MSWord.
* Add a cover letter if you send out your resume.
* In an interview, turn off your phone.
* In an interview, smile, and find some common ground with the interviewer. Many times, interviewers simply want to hire someone they see themselves becoming friends with.
* Show some passion for whatever it is your are applying for.
* Send a followup email after the interview, thanking them for their time.

Good luck.

Solid advice!

[AdamJoshua]

Originally Posted by CRIMPS

For someone who interviews a lot of people, may I offer the following quick points that the majority of prospective applicants mess up:

* Verify your contact info in on your resume. Seriously
* Have someone else look at your resume as well. You can't spot the mistakes. Preferably a woman.
* Once you update your resume, save it as a PDF. Don't send out your resume in MSWord.
* Add a cover letter if you send out your resume.
* In an interview, turn off your phone.
* In an interview, smile, and find some common ground with the interviewer. Many times, interviewers simply want to hire someone they see themselves becoming friends with.
* Show some passion for whatever it is your are applying for.
* Send a followup email after the interview, thanking them for their time.

Good luck.

As someone that is stuck interviewing a lot of people lately, don't over sell yourself. We're looking for designers and if I see one more person that says there were a "Senior" this or "Lead" that, that has no idea what they are talking about I will scream. Today we had a girl that graduated a year ago and the only exp she has is some non profit intern work, oh but she was the "Senior Designer". Overwhelmingly under qualified people wasting my time just ticks me off, granted it's the people doing the pre-screening that suck at their jobs, we've already had to speak to them 2 times about the quality of candidates they are sending us.

Oh sorry that turned into a rant, but yes, don't oversell yourself or along the lines of Mark's suggestion maybe you could become a competitive eater!