Being dismissed, regardless of the reason, puts you in a difficult position. In the first instance, you’ll be worried about money as it’s estimated 46% of Australians are living paycheck to paycheck. Even if you have savings these will only last a limited amount of time.
Alongside this, you’ll be experiencing the mental trauma of losing a job. This is especially difficult if you have been employed for a long time or if you have been unfairly dismissed. In these cases, you’ll want to speak to reputable employment lawyers regarding your options.
Talk To The Professionals
In fact, the first step should always be to talk to employment lawyers and verify what has happened and whether you have a case against your old employers. It can be stressful to follow up on this but it can also help your finances, especially if you have been treated unfairly.
Organize Your References
By law, an employer is not allowed to say derogative things about you when asked for a reference. If the parting hasn’t been amicable then they are likely to simply confirm your start and end date, along with the role and duties you were employed to do.
It’s not the best reference and will tell new employers there was an issue.
You can help to smooth things over by looking for alternative references. This means speaking to a manager at the company who would be prepared to give you a good reference. Depending on how long you have worked there you may be able to seek references from a previous employer.
Alongside this, you should also speak to colleagues and friends with good standing in the community. They can provide you with personal character references which will help with new employment.
Get all your references sorted and include copies with your applications, it makes the process easier to control.
Be Honest
A new employer cannot ask your old employer for a reference without your permission. However, it is normal for them to do so and you denying permission will raise a red flag.
To avoid this you need to be honest with a prospective employer from the start. You don’t need to provide them with all the detail. The best approach is to tell them that you had a difference of opinion with your old employer and this led to them terminating your employment.
Don’t tell them if you are taking the employer to a tribunal but instead focus on what you have learned from the experience and how this can help if you work for your new employer.
It will show emotional maturity and ensure your new employer that you are likely to be a good employee.
Of course, you’ll need to apply for as many jobs as possible to find the right break and there will be plenty of rejections. You simply need to know that they are rejecting you because there is a better client, not that it is connected with your dismissal.
Taking control of the process makes this possible.