6 Steps to Apply for a New Job After Being Fired or Laid-off

6 Steps to Apply for a New Job After Being Fired or Laid-off6 Steps to Apply for a New Job After Being Fired or Laid-offHow to apply for a new job after being fired or laid-offHeres a short list of people who were fired at least once in their lifetime Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Thomas Edison, Mozart, J.K. Rowlingyou get the point.All of these famous people used the experience of getting fired as a springboard to bigger and better things. So believe it or not, getting fired or laid off can be a good thing. It can lead to amazing new opportunities that you never imagined while working at your previous job.Of course, this post is not suggesting you try to get fired from your job. Trying to get fired by doing something rash is a sure way to taint your reputation and will hurt your chances of getting hired elsewhere. If youre unhappy with your current work situation, you should go about resigning in a professional and respectful way.Step 1 Take it like a proBeing fired or laid off can co me as a shock. You might take it personally since you placed a certain amount of trust in your former employer. But no matter how hurt or angry you feel, take the bad news in a professional manner.Once youve been let go, your old company can be useful to you as you look for a new job. Sometimes being fired or laid off isnt about your personal shortcomings or mistakes so much as it is about your employer needing to downsize. In that case, your former manager should be willing to provide you with a reference as you apply for positions elsewhere. You can also treat the situation as an opportunity to get feedback on your work and how you might improve in certain areas.Step 2 - ReflectAfter the dust has settled, take a step back and reflect on your previous job. Ask yourself questions like What did I enjoy about my job?, What would I have changed about my work? and How could I have improved?By asking yourself these questions, you are trying to get a clear picture of whether you should pu rsue a similar role with a different organization or whether youd like to have more of a career change.If you decide that your former job was the perfect fit for you and that you want something identical, then think about how you could improve your skills or expertise in that area. In other words, what would increase your chances of getting hired for a similar role?If you decide that youd like to pursue an opportunity thats a bit different, think about the skills or experiences that you need improve upon to make that shift possible.Step 3 Be productiveBecoming unemployed can be stressful for instance, financial commitments or needing to provide for loved-ones might mean you need to find a new job right away.For other people, they may treat getting fired or laid off as an opportunity to be free from working life for a little while. But its important to realize that even if you arent working, you should stay productive.When recruiters see long periods of unemployment on a job applica tion, they cant help but ask why the person has not been working. You want to be able to prove to these recruiters that even though you didnt have a formal job, you were committed to improving or learning new skills and gaining new experiences.As already mentioned, time off is a chance to upgrade your qualifications and knowledge. You may choose to go back to school, pursue certifications, volunteer or do some freelance work. In each case, you are doing something that increases your value to a future employer.Step 4 Update your resume or CVPart of being productive involves updating your resume or CV. Often people dont update their resume or CV until they consider or experience a job change. Therefore, you should have plenty of elements from your previous job that should be added to your resume or CV. Also, be sure to find room for new skills or experiences that you may have gained while unemployed.Finally, to make sure your resume and CV will be effective for your job search, you n eed to become familiar with how best practices for resumes, cover letters and CVs may have evolved since the last time you applied for a job. That way you increase your chances of giving recruiters exactly what they are looking for.Keep in mind as you prepare your job application materials that you should avoid highlighting the fact that you have been fired or laid off. This is something that the employer will bring up in an interview if they feel it is relevant.Step 5 Finding a new jobThere are countless ways for finding a job read about the best job search strategies here.