"Is It Better To Quit or Be Fired?" Discussing Dismissal From a Former Job


The above picture is of a sticky note that says "You are Fired"

Is It Better To Quit or Be Fired? Discuss Dismissal From a Former Job

The pressure at work is rising. You sense that your days are numbered and all signs point to being let go. If this situation sounds familiar you may be asking yourself is it better to quit or be fired? 

Consider the Pros the Cons 

In this scenario, one of the best pieces of advice is don't let your emotions control you. An easy, yet sensible approach to find answers to this question is by creating a pros and cons list.

Grab a sheet of paper and at the top write down, "Is it better to quit or be fired?" Then label one side of the paper pros and the other side cons.

Next, you want to draw a line down the center of the paper and then another line straight across. After that, you want to label the top half of the paper "Quit" and the bottom half "Fired."

You want to think about all the positive and negative outcomes of quitting. You are going to do the same thing for being fired.

Ask Yourself Questions

A great way to complete this activity is by asking yourself questions. For instance, is your job causing your mental health to suffer? Would your mental health improve if you quit your job?

Other questions you could ask yourself are, how will you pay the bills if you quit? Will there be any network relationships comprised because you quit?

You want to repeat this step until you have a solid amount of outcomes in both columns. The main goal of a pros and cons list is to provide yourself with facts to make an informed decision. Now, you may be thinking there aren't many pros to being fired, but that depends on the reason for being fired.

For example, are you being fired for speaking out about unfair practices? How you handled that situation can be a great way to tell your story to your next employer. It can show how you took a stand for something.

Being fired could also offer a lot of time for self-reflection. Think about your time with your previous employer. Did you have the skills needed for specific tasks but never had the opportunities to show what you were capable of?

You want to reflect on the ways you added value. This will make it easier as you prepare for your next opportunity.

How to Handle the Cons of Being Fired

While there are a few pros to being fired, there are two big cons. The first con is explaining the reason you were fired to potential employers. The second con is the lack of references from your previous employer.

During an interview, you want to explain why you were fired from your previous employer. You want to do it sincerely and concisely.

You want to reassure the hiring manager that the situation was unique. Keep in mind that you don't want to talk about your previous employer negatively. You also don't want to talk down about your previous manager.

Rather, you want to highlight what you've learned from the situation. Show how it has made you a better person and employee. When using references think about co-workers that can speak about your true character.

Where You Are in Your Career Matters

Another point to consider when you are deciding if it is better to quit or be fired is what stage of your career are you in. If you are just starting chances are being fired wouldn't be the worst possible outcome. But, if you are further along in your career being fired could be a significant hurdle going forward.

You want to determine whether you have more to lose by being fired. The difference in quitting is you take control of the situation. It can also give you a source of power when answering interview questions with your next employer.

Where you are in your career can also affect the number of job prospects you have. If you quit before you have gained the right experience, it could make it harder to land another job. You want to consider the amount of leverage you will have once you begin your job search.

Understanding Your Options

When deciding to quit or be fired you want to understand all your options. What that means is you need to know what resources are available to you when making this decision. If you decide to quit you may or may not be eligible for unemployment depending on your state.

You would have to prove there was a good cause for quitting. Were there unsafe work conditions, lack of payment, or changes in your job duties? Did you experience discrimination or harassment? The answers to these questions can determine your eligibility for unemployment.

But, if you are fired you are rarely entitled to receive unemployment. The resources you have are also limited. Especially if you were fired for negligence or misconduct.

When you quit you are most likely going to put in a two-week notice. This will give you time to search for new opportunities. You can plan your next move in a calculated way, which can help with the transition.

Being fired won't give you that opportunity. The reason being, it happens without advance notice. You also won't be able to salvage any relationships or gather proof of your work experience.

Do What's Best for You

While these steps can help you decide if it is better to quit or be fired, it is important to weigh out all your options.

Whatever you choose, you have to make sure it is right for you. If you are searching for your next best opportunity, get started with our premier job board today!