Being fire or terminated job is the most depressing end to a career that anyone can imagine. And while it may seem like all is lost at this point and that you will never recover, there is always a way to get back on track. It very much depends on how you decide to play the cards that your ex-employer and life has dealt you. Here are some of our recommendations of how to manage the stress of being fired and how to get back on the road to recovery.

  • Don’t lose control: We realize what a stressful event being fired is but you should try to maintain your composure when you hear the news. Be calm and reply gracefully to your superiors. First, you do not want to burn all bridges by leaving in an undignified manner. Second, if you decide to contest your firing what you say may come back to haunt you in any legal proceedings.
  • Ask questions about your termination: Whether you wish to contest your firing or not there are some practical things you must know. For example you may wish to ask your employer when your last paycheck will come and if the employer will provide a neutral reference that doesn’t mention you being fired.
  • Start over: Once you’ve given yourself some time to assess where you are emotionally, you should get right back into the swing of things. Go over your resume and decide how you may respond to the question “have you ever been terminated.”
  • Be honest during interviews: If you are asked by a prospective employer if have ever been fired then answer truthfully. Besides the fact that a lie is a poor way to start a relationship, you may be terminated in the future if you were untruthful during your interview.fired

In short, what you do and how you behave during one of life’s most stressful events is a true test of character and can even affect your job search. Nearly all applications ask whether you have been terminated from a job in the past and while answering yes will not necessarily mean that you won’t get the next job how you responded to your termination may. As one of the top staffing agencies in New York we understand this. Our executive assistant staffing firm in NYC places professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences with Fortune 500 companies.