Some companies do not want terminated employees coming into the office, and the terminated employee also may feel uncomfortable about the situation.
So don't hesitate to ask for such help. Also arrange to have your boss corroborate your version of the reason you left the company. If you do have to tell a would-be employer that you were fired, do it honestly and without rancor. Don't criticize your company or individuals with whom you formerly worked. If you bad-mouth your former company or boss, an interviewer will think you'll do the same to his or her company.
It's even possible that your former company may want to hire you at a later date because of your expertise. Executives don't enjoy firing people; they realize that finding a job in today's market can be difficult, and they don't want to create a bad reputation for themselves or their companies. Don't burn your bridges behind you-build them. "Firing or termination is never a personal failure, but a circumstance," says career counselor Alexander J. Sussman.
Forced or Early Retirement
Being forced into early retirement can be traumatic for a successful, hard-working professional. But it happens. Again, request as much help from the company as you can in the way of severance, an office, outplacement, secretarial help, and references before you begin your job quest. When you settle on your priorities, jump back into the job market as fast as you can.
Things can be more difficult for the man or woman who decided to call it a career and retire early only to realize it was a mistake. The reason: A year or two may have slipped by without your having practiced your skills.
The moral: If you are recently retired, keep your options open by doing volunteer work or taking on part-time or temporary jobs. Even though you feel you may never want to work again, you may change your mind and decide to return to work sometime in the future. By keeping active, it will make the job hunt easier if and when you decide to return to the work force on a full- or part-time basis.
You Need Help in Getting Started
Job seekers who get good professional career counseling are more successful at finding jobs than those who don't. It's wise to check out a counselor before your first visit. Get recommendations from colleges and universities in your area. One reliable way to get good advice is to visit major universities in your area that are involved in continuing education - the University of California - Los Angeles and New York University are good examples. Many major universities and two-year colleges will provide counseling and assistance, often at no charge. And many schools have special programs or offer discounts to 50-plus students. Investigate the schools in your area. Counselors in such institutions can help you clarify your goals, recommend courses that will be helpful, and start you on the right career path at no cost, or at least at a reasonable cost.
Ohio University's Dr. Turnage made a careful assessment of her skills and abilities when she made a job change. She says she paid $1,000 to a career counselor and claims it is "one of the best investments I've ever made."
Dr. Turnage says she engaged in a series of sessions with her counselor and kept saying, "But I don't do this well." Finally, her counselor said, "Has anyone ever given you a raise for what you don't do well?"
She finally realized that she had to sell herself, that she couldn't be defensive. Turnage says that you can't be looking for someone to praise you or pat you on the back.
"We're in competition with people in the job market," she says. "We've got to show that we have the assets, the life experiences we can bring to the job."
New York University's Center for Career and Life Planning in Manhattan is run by the school of continuing education.
Its over-50 population, according to director Letitia Chamberlain, has recently increased 12 percent and is still growing, especially for retirees and women.
"Many of those who come in don't know what they need to know," says Chamberlain. "Many people sell themselves short. They don't know how to go about getting a job, they've never written a resume, and they don't know how to use contacts. They need help."
One of the first things Chamberlain does is work with her clients to help them overcome any negative feelings, focus on specifics, articulate what is important, and encourage them to think about "What can I do to shape my future?"
