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The Global Insight

Can I find another job after being fired?

Author

Michael Gray

Updated on April 06, 2026

If you want to get a new job right away after being fired, reach out to existing personal and professional contacts to see if they know of any opportunities. As you network, you will probably be asked why you are looking for a new job. It’s important not to hide the fact that you were fired or laid off.

Is it difficult to find a job after being fired?

It’s not as hard as you might think to find work after being terminated as long as you approach the job hunt in the right way. Plenty of people have been in your exact situation and they have all gone on to be gainfully employed again. You will find work as long as you can prove that you’re still hire-worthy.

How long does it take to find a new job after being fired?

You can expect it to take three to six months to find a job after a layoff, on average. This figure will vary depending on the health of your industry and the economy overall, though. If you were laid off due to company-specific reasons, then it may only take two to three months to find a position.

What should I do to find a new job after getting fired?

However, although feeding the hungry at soup kitchens or folding clothes at the Salvation Army or Goodwill are worthy causes, Manciagli warns against doing volunteer work that doesn’t relate to your job search. Instead, she suggests finding volunteer opportunities relevant to your career, or job skills you’d like to develop for your next position.

Can You Lie on a job application if you have been fired?

You can use language like “the job ended” or “terminated” if you need to state why you are no longer working at the job. If you are specifically asked if you were fired, you need to answer yes. Lying on a job application is grounds for dismissal at any time in the future and could cost you future unemployment benefits.

What happens to a person when they get fired from a job?

Whatever the reason for being fired, the effects can be devastating financially and emotionally — often leaving people drained of their savings and their self-esteem. But the effects don’t end there, says Dana Manciagli, veteran hiring manager and author of “Cut the Crap, Get a Job!”

Do you use the word fired in a job interview?

When you’re in a job interview, you don’t have to use the word “fired” when describing what happened at your last job. Although you shouldn’t lie about it — don’t say you left a job voluntarily when you didn’t — you can frame the situation in a more positive light, so it doesn’t come off as negative.