So you’ve just received the pink slip and you’ve got to vacate your office; take a moment to listen to some career advice because your career is far from over. There are many slackers or abusers who deserve the cut, but there are many arbitrary and strange reasons someone could be fired. Don’t be down if you find yourself a victim of the latter, it’s not a reflection of you but your circumstances; unless it was you and then all you can do is learn from your mistakes. Career advice and guidance rarely goes into the details of how to handle being fired, but your previous employer can still positively or negatively affect your future so it’s important to do things the right way.

What Not To Do

Let’s first go over what you should never do as a result of being fired. Now is not the time to take out your frustrations on the office loudmouth who has been irritating you for months, you never know when you might find yourself once again sharing work place space with them and trust me they won’t forget. A most dire piece of free career advice, your ex-boss can and will be contacted by potential employers and if you left on an explosive note all your hard work in the past will be quickly forgotten. If you’re prone to physical expressions of rage, stay away from all loose or heavy office equipment, this is the quickest way to get arrested which is a whole other realm of danger. At the same time, never accept whatever you are told; you have the right to reasonably be heard and negotiate your departure on your own terms. Never badmouth previous employers either because this only demonstrates a possible difficulty in your personality or demeanour.

What You Can Do

Moving onto the do’s of our professional online career advice primer; always without question act responsibly, respectfully and professionally. Someone once shared with me a golden piece of career advice; London may be a big city but its network is only three people apart. In that it takes three connections to know anyone in your career; ex-employees included. Remember even when you’re let go there are many things you could negotiate. Perhaps you could fill a lower position out if that’s what you want, especially if the terms of your departure are dubious in favour of yourself. Useful piece of career advice, UK or abroad, you’ll want to get the official story as it will be told to future employers as to the reasons for your departure. If you were in the wrong it’s more important than ever to negotiate perhaps softening the story especially if you’ve learnt from your mistake. The end of your job is not the end of your career, there will no doubt be new opportunities in your future so keep an eye out for career advice and never give up.

Eugene Calvini is a writer and office specialist; having been involved overseeing serviced offices Mayfair and serviced offices Glasgow among others, he understands the intricacies of work place situations.