Fired from job

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Why Companies Fire People To Save Money

Why Companies Fire People To Save Money

There are a lot of companies that will choose to fire employees instead of laying them off. Let's walk through the instances when this happens so you can better prepare yourself.

Placing The Blame On You


Lots of companies right now are deciding to make significant cuts. They aren't making their numbers. They're not feeling financially secure. Whatever the reason may be, the biggest expense is people, so the fastest way to save money is to cut staff.

Now, most companies will be transparent about this and admit that it's a layoff. They didn't perform well. They need to make changes. They're laying you off through no fault of your own. It stinks, but nobody's blaming you. However, there are companies out there that will say that it's a firing instead.

When companies fire employees instead of laying them off, they're saying it's not their fault. It's not their fault you're suddenly underperforming and, therefore, they're going to fire you. How ironic is it that you were getting great performance reviews, everything was going fine, and then all of a sudden you're having a performance issue?

What normally happens is the company has figured out that they can get somebody to do your job for a lot cheaper. There are a whole bunch of people in the job market who will do your job at a lower pay. But if the company lays you off in order to save money, there are laws around discrimination that you could cite and then file a charge of discrimination against them.

Some companies want to avoid any risk of this, so instead they suddenly decide you're not performing and they document that and gather the paperwork to be able to prove that you're not performing (you're the problem) so they can fire you. This is how they avoid lawsuits. And when they fire you, they can replace you and hire somebody for less money.

You can never take your eye off the ball as long as you are working. If you're making a wage that you want to keep making, you need to watch your market conditions because if you're not growing, you're dying in your career.

Way too many people get into kind of an autopilot situation where they're not really growing and evolving with the market. And it's not just about amassing more skills. It's about strategically understanding the direction your career needs to go in so you stay relevant and in demand. You can have all the skills and experience in the world, but if you don't know how to package that up and market it correctly to employers, you're not going to differentiate yourself in the market and stay competitive.

Please be on the lookout for this situation in your career. The moment your company realizes they can have someone do your job for less money, you're going to become a performance issue. It's easier to fire you than it is to lay you off. Remember that, and make sure you know your unique value add (UVA).

Good luck, and go get 'em!

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Why Companies Fire People To Save Money

4 Healing Tips For The Broken-Hearted Job Seeker



Someone once told me a corporation was a nasty thing to fall in love with—because it will NEVER love you back. This is something every job seeker should realize.

The rules of loyalty in the workforce are changing. No one can deny that. However, knowing this doesn’t change the pain of getting laid off or let go. It hurts. It can wound. Each of us reacts in one of two ways: either by getting mad and hating the company we used to love, or by blaming ourselves in what can be called a state of numbness.

These wounds deserve every bit of healing we have. However, because our financial situation may depend on sweeping the pain aside and getting another job as quickly as possible, we might need a strategy for getting past this stage.

For those of you who can’t afford to wait three months to regroup, lick the wounds, and find your emotional footing again, I offer these simple speed coping tips for the unemployed job seeker...

1. Stop The Story


Stop replaying the day you got the pink slip. Stop repeating the story that is upsetting you. Instead, replace it with what you need to do right now.

2. Stop And Breathe


Calm down. You can never get anywhere if your mind is still in fighting mode or if you are numb. Wake up in the morning and count 10 breaths. Allow your mind to come back down.

3. Allow The Parts


Allow the part of you that is angry to be angry—on the weekend when you can afford it. Allow that part of you that is sad or afraid to feel that way, after 5:00 pm when you’ve completed your job search tasks for the day.

4. Let It Out


Find new ways to channel the emotion. If you punch, then punch a punching bag. If you shout, then shout in the car on the highway. If you cry, then give yourself space to do that. And when you are done, leave the emotion there.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


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Interview Tips: Why You Shouldn’t Say You Were “Terminated” From A Job



If your position gets terminated, should you mention that in your next interview? Many job seekers face this dilemma in their job search when they're newly unemployed. First, you need to determine what type of termination occurred.

There are two types of termination: voluntary and involuntary. If you quit, that's called voluntary termination. If it's involuntary termination, there are two types of that: you got fired or you got laid off. And those are also very different. Fired means you did something wrong and they couldn't keep you. Laid off means you did nothing wrong. They were in financial trouble and they couldn't keep you. So as you go down that decision tree, you'll have to clarify what type of termination happened—what "terminated" means in your case.

Don't Say You Were "Terminated." Say This Instead...


My personal advice as a 20-year career coaching veteran is if you quit a job, make sure you tell the employer that information and explain why you quit. If you got fired from a job, you want to try to explain that as objectively as you can without making any excuses—owning your mistakes. And if you got laid off, tell them you got laid off. It was beyond your control.

I wouldn't use the word "terminated" at all. Instead, I'd get very clear on what happened and I would use the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model to answer the "Why did you leave your job?" question in a way that's very factual and succinct, that has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and is structured.

That kind of structured response is the most important thing to do in this situation because it shows that you've really thought about what happened and want to make sure they properly understand.

This is how you score points in a job interview. I see people every single day who have been fired or laid off from jobs using the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model to answer difficult interview questions. And then the recruiter and hiring manager say, "Great answer," and move on because these things happen. They're out of our control sometimes, or they're in our control and we learn from them.

You need a better response. So don't use the word "terminated." Get really clear and remember the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model. You can do this.

Good luck, and go get 'em!

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Interview Tips: Why You Shouldn’t Say You …

When Companies Start Firing People To Avoid Layoffs



Unfortunately, it's true: many companies will start firing people to avoid additional layoffs. If you're currently employed and worry that your company might fire people instead of announcing layoffs, what can you do to prepare for the worst?

Here's what J.T. O'Donnell, Work It DAILY's founder and CEO, advises professionals to do if they're in this situation...

Prepare To Explain The Situation To Future Employers


Companies facing financial troubles after massive layoffs are placing more employees on performance reviews to avoid additional layoff costs and boost productivity. Survivors of these layoffs should prepare to explain their situation in future job interviews, as many employers conduct reference checks.

To address this issue effectively, consider using the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model when asked about the situation (your reason for leaving/getting fired) in job interviews. The "Experience + Learn = Grow" model is the best way to answer behavioral interview questions—those hard interview questions that require a lot more than a "yes" or "no" answer.

When you use the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model to explain this situation to employers in job interviews, you provide a factual response about the layoffs, your commitment to improving, and your proactive approach to personal growth, demonstrating accountability.

It's unfortunate that when companies are in financial trouble, they feel like they need to blame people who they think are no longer performing. They put them on performance reviews and then fire them instead of announcing layoffs. There are some warning signs, and there are things that you can do to combat this. But most importantly, you should be prepared to explain why you got fired from a job if you know it had to do with their financial situation and their desire to avoid layoffs.

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When Companies Start Firing People To Avoid …

6 Ways To Deal With Getting Laid Off



For almost all adults, work is one of the primary features of life. Many people devote more than 40 hours every week to their jobs, so it's not unusual for them to be stressed when they're laid off.

For most people, it's like being fired from their second home.

However, being stressed when you're fired is a double-edged sword because you need to remain relaxed when searching for your next job. Therefore, we have prepared the following tips to help you relax and de-stress when you've been laid off:

Talk To Family And Friends


Being laid off from a job that you've had for years may cause you to become angry. If you're angry about the way you were laid off, or any other aspect of your previous job, you should not keep these thoughts to yourself. Talk about this with your friends and family, and ex-colleagues, so that you can vent and let go of these emotions.

Also, take this as an opportunity to talk with old friends and rekindle old relationships. Now that you're not busy with work, you have time to catch up with old friends to help ease the stress and fill the downtime. This reconnection may also lead to networking and help you find a new job.

Pursue Your Hobbies


Young professional woman pursuing her hobby of writing after getting laid off at work

Doing what you love is one of the surest ways to relax, and there is nothing better in that respect than to pursue your hobbies.

When you were busy with work, you may not have had time to do these things, but now that you're free, you should use this time to work on your hobbies. Whether you like sailing or making miniature boats, you should do these things as a way to relax.

Exercise Daily


A group of men and women exercising in a gym

Physical exercise affects us directly by releasing endorphins in our neural system, which improve our mood and help reduce stress. Using exercise, you can also release emotions such as anger and disappointment. However, it's better to control these emotions with the following tip: meditation.

Meditate Regularly


Young professional women meditating while doing a yoga exercise

There are many different techniques of meditation, and you should choose one that best suits you. Meditation is hard to define in a few words, but we can say that meditation is reconnecting with your true self by letting go of emotions that trouble you.

It can help you subdue any anger or disappointment you may feel due to being laid off from your previous job. Even if you never saw yourself as a person who would meditate, this will give you the opportunity to reflect on yourself, relax, and try new things.

Sleep And Eat Properly


Young professional man preparing healthy meals after being laid off from his job

Food and sleep are some of the very basic requirements of a healthy body and mind.

Make sure that you're getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Take all your meals regularly, and eat nutrient-rich food rather than junk food. With proper sleep and nutrients, you are bound to feel better during the day and will be ready to take on the task of job searching with a clear mind.

Keep Yourself Entertained And Learn More


Young professional woman taking an online course after getting laid off from her job

If you take pleasure in watching movies, then you should watch your favorite movies once again. If you like to read books, then maybe you should pick a big book and immerse yourself in it.

You can also read about your hobbies and interests, and improve your body of knowledge about a subject. There are many online tutorial sites where you can learn about new topics.

Once you're laid off, stress can come in many forms. It can arise due to anger, disappointment, aggression, powerlessness, or a mixture of any of these feelings. The trick to managing these emotions is by keeping yourself busy with other activities and by seeking social support from friends and family. Meditation can also help you root out these emotions, or at least reduce them to the extent that they do not trouble you excessively.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Create An Effective Resume Even If You Were Fired



How can you make an effective resume after getting fired? People get fired from their job for various reasons. However, to a potential new employer, it may leave an unfavorable connotation on the candidate.

If you find yourself in such a situation, you may have a number of questions concerning how to address the adverse reactions you may receive from a potential employer. You may have questions such as:

  • How do I impress an employer given I was fired from my last job?
  • Do I include the job on my resume?
  • How should I answer when asked the reason for departing my previous job?

Understandably, there are many questions on your mind. And yet, there are ways to be truthful in answering the questions your potential new employer may have for you, along with tips to make such a situation feel a little less threatening. Essentially, before updating your resume for the next job opportunity, think about:

Is The Experience From Your Last Position Relevant?

If there is little to no relevance between the positions, you do not have to showcase it on your resume. The hiring company is primarily interested in relevant experience and skills you can bring to their company. You might be able to break your resume into "Relevant Experience" and "Additional Experience" sections.

How Long Were You In The Position?

If you were in the position for only a few months, it may not be necessary to mention it on your resume. Determine if the employment gap, should you choose not to include it, would be cause for concern by an employer. In today's market, it's not a surprise to see some candidates unemployed for a year before finding a new job.

How Severe Was The Cause For Firing?

Were you laid off or fired due to lack of performance or conditions outside of your control? If the latter, then you should put on the resume the reason such as “Major Downsizing," “Company Relocated," or “Management Reorganization," all of which indicate that the termination was not due to your performance. If the reason you were terminated was due to a minor issue that can be easily explained and seen from your point of view by a potential employer, than including the position on your resume should not be a concern. Be honest with yourself and think through your response to a potential interviewer.

Your answers to the questions above will tell you whether it is appropriate to include the job on your resume. If it is included, consider the following to help you through the application and interview process.

1. Showcase Your Achievements And Accomplishments


Woman on laptop writes a resume after being fired

Your mission is to get your foot in the door for an interview and to make an outstanding impression. You do not need to bring up that you were fired or laid off from your last job on paper, especially if you were only there for a year or two. Instead of focusing on how your previous job ended, quantify what you accomplished while you were employed there.

If necessary, you will have the opportunity during an interview to explain further details.

2. Don't Insult Your Past Employer


Man on laptop edits his resume after getting fired

Even if you were fired and have bitter feelings toward your former boss or co-workers, your resume is not the time nor the place to reveal it. It is seen as unprofessional and leads to questions that focus on negative aspects.

So, even if the interviewer wasn't planning on asking you the reason for leaving, you may have just brought it upon yourself by insulting your past employer or hinting at a conflict there on your resume.

3. Don't Lie About Your Employment


Woman on laptop struggles to write her resume after being fired

You should never lie on your resume. Don't fabricate anything on your resume or your reason for looking for a new job. If asked about this during an interview, you need to address the question truthfully, but keep it brief regarding the reason for your departure and move on to more positive points. At least you now have your foot in the door and have a greater advantage of explaining the reason for departure in a more positive light.

You can also use it to your advantage to reinforce points of achievements and accomplishments that may apply to the job. Remember that companies do check references and background information. Any candidate caught lying is grounds for dismissal.

4. Pull Together Your References


Man on laptop pulls together his references after getting fired

Gather people you worked with on the job as references, whether it's co-workers, clients, or vendors. Individuals who worked with you on the job and who can speak positively about your work can help effectively rid any negative connotations associated with being fired.

In this instance, it makes sense to include references with your resume, especially written recommendations.

5. Focus On Functionality Rather Than Chronology


This is a last resort option. Functional resumes typically are not used since it lacks detail on dates of employment—information most employers want to know.

A functional resume focuses on grouping specific skills and experiences together as the highlight of the resume. This type of format might also work for the career changer and those with gaps in employment history that are due to other pursuits, such as education or family.

This is the last resort, though. We recommend using a chronological resume format, even if you got fired. But it might be worth it to try a functional resume format if the chronological format isn't working for you.

Being fired means you have an additional hurdle to overcome to find a new job, but it is not insurmountable. It's all in the way you frame it on your resume and handle yourself in addressing the matter if the subject comes up. Remain positive, address any concerns succinctly and honestly, and then move on to the more positive highlights.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


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How To Create An Effective Resume Even …