With layoffs and job cuts occurring globally, there is always the additional distress of wondering if termination affects future employment or your career entirely. According to Layoffs.fyi, tech layoffs in 2023 have stacked up to 224,503, with January starting the year and setting the trend with the biggest numbers of 2023, Whether a company-wide change or an individual firing, trying to process the job loss involves a lot of emotions while you look into the rearrangement of your finances, conduct job hunts for a new position, and sort through a variety of other responsibilities. Despite the desire to stay in bed and sleep away the rest of your days, a lob loss also marks a time of great uncertainty where you need to plan out what to do after the termination.
Establishing what happens after the termination of employment largely relies on your own preparedness for it and what you want to do next, now that the termination has occurred and left you with no alternative but to move ahead.
Image credit – Freepik
Does Termination Affect Future Employment?
Simply put, no, termination does not necessarily affect your career in all situations as the circ*mstances surrounding your job loss remain between you and your employer only. Termination can occur for a multitude of reasons and most often, the reasons remain undisclosed to your next employer.
Especially when the termination occurs due to job cuts, budget cuts, mergers, layoffs, or changes in internal structure and policy, there is little possibility of it affecting your future work. You can likely still get a good recommendation letter from your previous employer and plan out how to respond in an interview if you were fired from your previous role under these circ*mstances.
Unfortunately though, there are circ*mstances under which it becomes a little more complicated to conceptualize what happens after termination of employment. In cases where an individual was let go due to poor performance, they likely have to reevaluate whether there were actually flaws in the performance, make improvements, and provide a clear answer in interviews when asked about it. It can be very tempting to lie and mention different reasons for the termination when asked, however, it can be a very poor look when companies contact your former employers and hear a different reason. All hope is not lost though, regardless of how it might feel in the moment, as there are still ways to ensure your termination does not affect your future employment prospects.
What Happens after Termination of Employment?
Companies often consider carefully before terminating an employee and there is likely to be a performance review that allows for a conversation about the scope for improvements. If that does not take place and the company has a notice period for you to fulfill, you will be expected to finish your time at the company and collect your last paycheck once it is complete. This period does provide you with time to look for a new job before the income is terminated but you can often choose not to complete the notice period and forgo the amount owed to you during that period.
You might be required to complete offboarding processes and ensure all data and resources are handed back to the company. You can choose to provide feedback to the company if an exit interview is conducted and your conduct during that period may affect your future employment if your next company chooses to reach out to your ex-employer. Always proceed with caution right till the end if possible, and frame your criticisms as professionally as possible.
What to Do after Termination?
After termination, you might need a break to gather yourself and process what to do next, which is completely justified. It can be ideal to take a break and consider your next step rather than jumping into something else when you are completely burnt out from your last role. The burden of responsibility might not allow for this break but even a few days to rest is better than starting something new unprepared. Take time to do some of the things you haven’t been able to attend to because of work before you rejoin the corporate world.
Process Your Thoughts and Emotions Carefully
Review your experiences and assess your thoughts and emotions about the same. You may be distressed about losing the job but there might be relief that it’s over while you process how you see yourself after the termination. Try to relax and find some sense of stability, even if that means reaching out to your support system and having a conversation about it. If there was anything you loved about your job, that can become the key to finding your next one.If there are aspects that you dislike about your workplace, try and assess exactly what that is and how you want to handle it the next time around.
It can be a difficult task to confront but consider the reasons behind the termination and determine whether you need to personally make any changes before you take on a new role. Skill gaps and weaknesses in any areas do not have to be permanent so consider whether there are any improvements you could personally make. Certification courses and other training avenues can help with upskilling while seeking help for more severe concerns like anger management can also be a way to move forward.
Plan Your Next Move
Look at the situation objectively to understand what your next move should be. According to your preferences, you might consider a new career entirely for yourself and this might be a good time to get working on making the career switch. Even otherwise, assessing the job market for potential roles, salary ranges, career progression milestones, alternate recruitment pages, etc. You might even need to consider a temporary role if you urgently need to continue earning and you can factor that into your plan as well. might be a helpful start to landing your next role. Does termination affect your career? Not if you plan your career moves out with a little care.
Consider Unemployment Benefits If Necessary
The U.S. Government provides unemployment benefits for those who lose their job through no fault of their own. This can provide temporary assistance for those caught in between jobs and need assistance until they find a new employer. Each state has different criteria for eligibility and different benefits that are handed out but some form of support is likely to be available for those who have earned at least a certain amount within the last 12-24 months and worked consistently for that period. It also requires that the applicant look for another job as the assistance cannot be provided long-term. Consider these resources while you plan your next move.
Update your Portfolio, Resume, LinkedIn, and Other Professional Profiles
We can often become too lax with keeping our professional pages updated while we have a job as the chore can feel quite unnecessary when your work provides you with more pressing tasks. However, this is what you need to do after the termination of a particular role. Add all the details of your previous employment to your resume and profile and highlight your experiences and skills clearly. Make sure you spruce up the older details on your resume to ensure they are up to date.
If you have a portfolio or personal website where samples of your work can be found, make sure to update it and include it in your applications as well. This will ensure your past experience before termination affects future employment in a positive way. Gather reviews and recommendation letters from wherever it is possible.
Apply For Open Positions Regularly
What happens after the termination of employment? A whole lot of waiting. Some individuals might be able to find a new job immediately, but that is not the case for everyone. You might have to wait before you find a new job or even before a company replies to your application or considers the interview, that is the job market we have today. There are often multiple applications for the same position so you might have to apply to multiple postings before you hear back from any of them. Try to customize your cover letter for each role to fully commit to the values and goals of the company you are applying to.
Be prompt with your replies when companies do reach out, and provide the necessary information in a calm, professional manner.
Attend Interviews with an Open Mind—Why Were You Fired?
How to respond in an interview if you were fired? Do it with confidence and an optimistic outlook for the future. If you were terminated due to problems with performance or behavior, you have to acknowledge that you are at a disadvantage when getting started. However, do not walk in fearing that the termination will affect your career permanently. Your performance during the interview plays a major role in getting hired again. Focus on convincing your interviewer about why you are right for the role and what improvements you’ve made since your last role.
- Be honest about the reason behind the termination
- Be careful about how you express the reason—do not spend too much time trying to lay blame somewhere but make a clear summary of your differences
- Do not badmouth your previous organization—prospective employers will be unlikely to look kindly on too much negative feedback
- Acknowledge the issues if you made a mistake at work and accept that you have tried to make a change
- Express the ways in which you have tackled the problem you faced at your previous company and what you’ve learned since the termination
- Be optimistic about your future role and share your personal goals for your career
Establishing what happens after termination of employment is never easy and it’s quite alright if you waver and take a few missteps. Take some time to gather your thoughts, assess your options, and determine what you want to do next. Plan your next step objectively and practice how you want to respond in an interview if you ever get fired.
