You’re Fired! Oops, this came as a shock. Take a deep breath, you’re being fired from your job but not in life. Whether you have been recently fired from work or you are looking for ways to stay relevant in order not to get fired, then continue reading this article. In this article, you will find 10 things you must do if you got fired from your job in 2025.
Additionally, you will also learn about the reasons why people get fired from their jobs, steps to find a new job, and how to avoid getting fired in your new job role. Sound interesting right? Now, let’s get into it.
What Does it Mean to Get Fired From Your Job?
Getting fired is also synonymous with employment termination and they both mean that your employer(s) no longer want you to work then, hence the termination of your employment contract. Now, in most cases, termination of an employment contract is often spontaneous and something else would have triggered it—these triggers are what we will be discussing in the next section.
16 Reasons Why People Get Fired From Their Job
Several valid reasons can be accredited to why employees get fired from their jobs. No employer will fire any employee without having a tangible reason (except in very rare cases). Check out some of the reasons why people get fired from their jobs:
- Insubordination
- Poor workplace culture
- Excessive lateness/absence from work
- Personal use of private property
- Substance abuse/Drug or alcohol possession at work
- Falsifying records
- Stealing company equipment
- Lack of technical abilities
- Constantly missing deadlines
- Breach of confidentiality
- Lying to clients (or your boss)
- Poor performance
- Engaging in office politics
- Feigning sick leave
- Poor behaviour on Social Media
- Competing with the organization’s business
Here are just a few of the reasons for firing employees at work. As we go on in this article, you will find ways by which you can avoid failing the company’s rules and getting fired from your job.
10 Things You Must Do If You Got Fired From Your Job in 2025
One thing with being fired is that it is usually abrupt—it happens out of the blue. Nothing prepares you for it, particularly if you are unaware of the company’s policies. So to help you get through the tough stage of losing your job, here are 10 things you must do if you got fired from your job in 2025.
1. Feel the Loss
Losing a job is not something any employee prays for and as such, if it happens eventually allow yourself time to grieve. Don’t try to fight the emotions that come with it—it’s normal to feel anger, sadness, or confusion. Once you are done processing your emotions, check the next thing to do below.
2. Carefully Examine Your Termination Details
Read through the termination letter to understand your severance package (if any) and your rights regarding benefits. Also, the reason for your employment termination would be stated there, so clarifying the reason for your termination can provide valuable insights for future employment.
Pro Tip: Focus on growth: View your past experience as an opportunity for growth and development.
3. Secure Your Finances
If your company’s employee handbook explicitly outlines unemployment benefits, promptly file your claim to exercise your entitlement. However, before doing so, carefully assess the circumstances of your termination. If your dismissal resulted from a severe infraction, such as theft, it’s strongly advised to avoid any unnecessary presence at the company premises.
4. Get Ready to Job-Hunt
As mentioned in the introduction, you are fired from your job and not in life generally. Therefore, after carefully going through steps 1-3, it’s now time to revamp your resume and LinkedIn profile. Furthermore, highlight your skills and accomplishments and tailor your resume to reflect current industry trends and in-demand skills.
In addition, as you prepare for your interview, expect to answer questions such as ‘Why did you leave your last job?’ and be honest when answering this question.
5. Leverage Your Network
You don’t have to wait till you see a vacancy before you apply for jobs there. One good way to get a job is by leveraging your network. Instead of sitting and wishing for a job offer, inform your network that you’re seeking new opportunities; Reach out to former colleagues, mentors, and friends for potential leads.
6. Evaluate Your Career Goals:
Another key thing you must do if you got fired from your job in 2025 is to reflect on your career path and consider if it aligns with your long-term goals. Think about whether you need more training or education. If you were fired because of poor performance due to a missing skill, make sure you’ve mastered that skill before looking for another job.
7. Consider Hiring an Employment Attorney — Things You Must Do If You Got Fired From Your Job In 2025
If you suspect you were wrongfully terminated, you may want to pursue legal action. Reasons for wrongful termination include:
- discrimination based on race, gender, religion, age, or other protected criteria
- violations of written promises in your job contract or other statements
- breaches of good faith and fair dealing (e.g. firing employees to prevent them from collecting sales commissions)
- violations of public policy (e.g. firing employees for serving on a jury)
- retaliation for serving as a whistle-blower when the company broke a law
- retaliation for refusing to commit an illegal act
8. Rebrand and Realign Your Mindset
People who are fired from work often have to deal with low self-confidence, pessimism, and constant self-pity but here’s the thing—doing all these will not make you get a new job easily, it’s only going to attract unnecessary sympathy from neighbors, colleagues, and friends. To help you move on from the sad reality of getting fired from work, rebrand yourself by investing in high-value activities that will restore and realign your mindset from focusing on the negative. You deserve better!
9. Seek Temporary or Freelance Work
While waiting for a good-paying job to come, consider temporary or freelance work to maintain income and build new skills (very important). If you are thinking of which skills to build on, stay updated on the current industry trends and learn the most in-demand skills at the time. For example, if you desire to go into the Digital Marketing field, consider developing your skills in brand storytelling, Content creation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and data analysis as they are the most in-demand digital marketing skills in 2025.
10. Leave on Good Terms
Depending on the gravity of the offence you commited that led to your employment termination, you can seek for either reference from your employer as this can go a long way in making future job search easier and faster—discuss with your employer to put in a good word for your.
Prior to your getting fired, demonstrating accountability and a desire for growth can leave a positive final impression. Acknowledge the specific reasons for your termination, expressing sincere remorse for any actions or inactions that contributed to it. If appropriate, seek guidance on how to improve in those areas.
For example, if excessive tardiness was a factor, and it stemmed from a long commute, inquire about strategies for managing this challenge effectively. Similarly, if substance abuse played a role and you are committed to recovery, respectfully request resources or recommendations for rehabilitation support.
The essence of all these tips is to maintain a good relationship with your employer even though you have been fired from working with them.
5 Steps to Finding a New Job After Being Fired
Although we have mentioned some of them earlier, but here are 5 steps to finding a new job after being fired
Step 1: Be Completely Honest — Finding a new job after being fired might not be a walk in the park; future employers would wan to know why you were fired and if you won’t repeat the same attitude again in their company. Therefore, complete honesty is paramount, especially if you have learnt from your previous mistake and have turned a new leaf.
Next, Step 2: Update your Resume — Dust-off your resume with the acquired skills and work experiences and be ready to apply for jobs.
Step 3: Network Effectively — Go out more often and don’t hesitate to partiipate in industry events, while also seeking help from friends, colleagues, and mentors.
Step 4: Be Open to Freelancing/Volunteering — At times people wouldn’t want to associate with you for paid jobs because of the stigma, instead of waiting, you can use volunteering as an opportunity to get back on track. The more you demonstrate your skills, the more people will get to know you.
Step 5: Prepare for Your Interviews— Take your interview preparation seriously. From organising mock interviews, to choosing a perfect dress for the interview to learning how to express yourself confidently, it needs adequate preparation. Put in the extra work to make a good impression on your interviewer.
How to Avoid Getting Fired in Your New Job Role
Congratulations on landing a new job! This section is all about showing you what you can do to avoid getting fired in your new job role (after getting fired in your previous job).
1. Thorough Onboarding and Understanding Expectations
During onboarding, ask clarifying questions about your responsibilities, performance metrics, and company culture. Also, don’t hesitate to ask your manager for specific examples of what constitutes success in your role. Furthermore, carefully read through the employee handbook and any other relevant company policies.
2. Focus on Your Performance and Skill Development
Regularly request feedback from your manager and colleagues to identify areas for improvement. Always prioritize excellence by consistently striving to deliver high-quality work and meet deadlines.
3. Build/Nurture Positive Professional Relationships
Make an effort to connect with your colleagues and build positive working relationships. And demonstrate a willingness to collaborate and support your colleagues.
Furthermore, maintain punctuality and attendance—Arrive on time for work and meetings, and minimize absences. Follow all company rules and regulations, including those related to conduct, ethics, and dress code.
Tip: Learn from Past Experiences—Carefully analyze the reasons for your previous termination and identify any patterns or behaviors that contributed to it.
4. Proactive Communication:
If you anticipate any challenges or difficulties with your colleague or client, communicate them to your manager promptly. Also, if you need to schedule regular check-ins with your manager to discuss your progress and address any concerns don’t hesitate to do that.
Conclusion on Things You Must Do If You Got Fired From Your Job In 2025
In conclusion, things you must do if you got fired from your job in 2025 is to reflect on reason you were fired, seek assistance to grow and expand your horizon, consider hiring an employment attorney if you were wrongly laid off, and in all you do, always ensure to leave on good terms. Furthermore, to avoid getting fired a second time, be proactive and take the initiative to ask clarifying questions about the job role or about your performance.
Interview preparations are also paramount, so if you need effective interview preparation strategies, feel free to contact us now for a free consultation on how we can help you achieve your dream job.
Phone: +234 813 823 5629
Email: fasthireng@gmail.com
Website www.thefasthire.org
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