Overview
People dread being fired from their job. Being fired means losing the means of supporting themselves and their families. There are problems like unemployment and how to deal with the emotional issues. While this is a difficult situation, it does not need to be a disaster.
Being fired means change. Unfortunately many people handle this change poorly. This can include such destructive habits like anger, unprofessionalism, and not taking advantage of the available opportunities. Instead this change should be used as a challenge and as a chance to try something new.
Often this chance is overlooked. Instead people become angry over trivial issues and simple misunderstandings. Others become bitter and cynical and see the worst in everything around them and thus sneer at the chances that are offered. Worst of all is when people give up, sometimes in ways so subtle that they don't realize it until much later.
The purpose of this site is to help prevent the most common mistakes that people make. This site has been organized to make finding this information as easy as possible.
How it Happens
There are ways that you can save your job. The most important way is to know what the main issue is about losing your job and correcting that. While this may seem to be obvious this is often overlooked with attitudes like "My performance was good enough in the past, and must be good enough now." However that is not always true - job requirements can become tougher and more competitive according to what the company needs. Because of this many people do not realize that their job may be in danger.
We can show some of the steps that have been successful in helping people save their jobs. This is useful if your company is starting to send out memos about upcoming company changes (leadership, increased production and quotas, increased attention to personal performance) or trouble notices (poor sales company-wide, industry changes, notices of work-hour cutbacks). There is no guarantee of success, but paying attention and taking action can improve your chances in keeping your job.
Sometimes nothing can be done to save the job and you are chosen to be laid-off, dismissed, or fired. It is extremely important that you know what steps need to be done to make this process as easy on yourself and your ex-employer. You need to know how it is done so that there are no unpleasant surprises, you need to know your rights, and you need to know how to manage the process of leaving the workplace. Knowing the process will help lessen the shock and uncertainty that comes with losing your job.
Lastly it help knowing what you can expect for the future in your relationship with the company you just left. There can be ongoing projects, people that you used to know, and the possible need to be able to use that company as a reference for your next job.
The future
For a lot of people the future can be very bleak after losing a job. There is the possibility of long term unemployment, financial difficulties, and working with legal and corporate rules and regulations. These problems can be overcome.
First is knowing how to handle unemployment. It is strongly recommended that you maintain a professional work habit. We detail what you should be considering and doing to help you financially and professionally. There are ways you can use this time to improve your chances and opportunities for your next job.
You need to use this time well. This can include getting more education or training to make yourself more useful to a future employer (and frankly employers like seeing job candidates that can show initiative and independent improvement). Time can be used to explore the possibility of using your training and work experience to create your own business. Most of all the time can be used in looking for available jobs.
Most of all you need to be careful. Your employer did have you sign a contract when you were originally hired. That contract almost certainly has a non-compete agreement to protect the employer. This is rarely a problem but needs to be considered. Other legal areas are the Non-Disclosure Clauses (you can't divulge company information) and non-litigation through arbitration (you can't sue your employer without trying arbitration first). Ex-employees need to be careful to avoid these legal difficulties.
News
It can be difficult to keep up with what is happening in the job market as a whole. We provide the latest information on what is happening worldwide and how that will affect the future job market as well as what is happening in the United States. We keep up with the political bills that are being passed or considered in Washington D.C. Most of all we help you in know who is doing what and help you plan for what is coming.
Mistakes
We have collected from both our files and from other employers the collection of the biggest mistakes that are made. These are presented so that you don't make the same mistake yourself and cause your job hunt to be delayed. This information is presented so that you can anticipate problems beforehand and be prepared in case they do occur.
Interact with others
It is extremely easy to feel isolated and alone when you are without a job. Sometimes it helps to know that someone else is listening. We have set up a message board and interactive resources to allow you to share your own ideas, to let people know how your interview went, and to ask and receive advise. We encourage you to connect with other people both to share your knowledge, and by that sharing help each other.
Together we can succeed.
