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There is no denying that being fired or made redundant is one of the worst feelings. However, rather than letting this get you down, you should view this situation as an opportunity. It is time for you to start a new chapter in your life and look for a better job, whether this is one that pays well or is more fulfilling. With that being said, read on to discover the steps that you should take if you have lost your job.

Assess your finances – The first thing you need to do is assess your financial position. The bills are not going to pay for themselves. For some of you reading this, you may have put together a emergency fund for situations like this. However, if you are short on cash, you need to look for different ways you can keep the money coming in while you are without work. Have you considered looking for freelancing opportunities online? Other options include selling some of your belongings and renting out your driveway.

Assess your personal brand – You now need to think about what you really want from your career before you start looking for your next job opportunity. There are a number of key questions you should ask yourself in this regard. What do you want to achieve? What three adjectives best describe you as an employee? What are your key career accomplishments? What abilities, skills, knowledge and other attributes do you have? These questions will help you to establish what you want and what you can offer.

Update your social media accounts – The next step in the process is to update your social media accounts. Determine which accounts you need for your career and which you don’t. You should then make sure your accounts do not contain anything you don’t want a potential employer to see. Of course, you could make your profiles private, but it is better to have a public, professional and impressive social media profile.

Seek expert assistance – it is definitely advisable to use the services of a professional outplacement company. You should take a look at GetFive to get a good understanding of these sorts of businesses and what they can do for you. After all, it is not merely important for you to get back into work, but it is pivotal that you end up in a job that you enjoy and that is suitable for your skill set.

Hopefully, you now feel more prepared for the chapter that is ahead of you. Here is no denying that losing your job can be disheartening and upsetting. However, the best entrepreneurs in the world have all experienced setbacks, so you are in good company. Don’t dwell on what has passed and what you cannot change. Instead, focus on your future and what lies ahead of you.