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Alex, 34, writes: »Three months ago I was approached about an interesting-sounding job at another company. I signed an employment contract there and then terminated my permanent employment relationship with my current company. Now, four weeks before the start, the new company fired me for economic reasons. What can I do?"
Dear Alex,
It must have been a shock when you received this unexpected resignation.
First the bad news: you will have no legal chance to take action against it – unless the contract excludes termination before starting work.
Companies often include such a clause because they are increasingly struggling with candidates being dismissed before they start work or failing to show up when they start work, so-called job ghosting.
And now it's hit you the other way around.
With increasing economic difficulties and tighter budgets, it is to be feared that companies will use this emergency brake more often in the future.
So what can you do now?
First of all, you should report to the employment agency immediately to ensure that you will receive unemployment benefit in any case if an alternative does not arise at short notice.
Explore options with your previous employer
You write that you have planned to change from an employment relationship that has not been terminated.
The question therefore arises as to whether it would be an option for you to talk to your current employer about the extent to which continued employment would be possible.
That would certainly not be an easy walk for you.
However, continued employment would solve an acute problem for you in the short term or at least reduce the stress.
Since you were asked about the new job and did not actively apply yourself, you seem to have felt reasonably comfortable in your previous employment.
In the past, it was frowned upon to be rehired in the company after one's own resignation - employers also have an offended vanity - today this is viewed more relaxed.
An open conversation can be interesting.
It offers the opportunity to talk about what particularly appealed to you about the new position and whether aspects of this can also be implemented with your current employer.
Ultimately, it is also in an employer's interest if employees develop further and take on new tasks.
In this way, an opportunity in the previous working environment can arise directly from the supposedly difficult situation.
Keep calm, do a financial check
Don't panic if the door at your previous employer won't open, at least not for the moment.
Now it's time to keep calm.
Check whether you can make ends meet for a while and meet your financial obligations with the unemployment benefit (60 percent of the previous net salary, 67 percent with at least one child).
If you live in a partnership, you should also develop a common strategy with your partner.
Secrecy along the lines of "I'll manage this on my own" doesn't pay off here.
In an emergency, it is important to bridge the gap in financing, i.e. to conclude a loan agreement, or to critically examine current expenses (insurance, contracts...).
Approach the job search systematically
Approach the job search in a structured and systematic manner.
The best opportunities are usually in a job that closely matches your previous experience.
It therefore makes perfect sense to stay within the current industry.
So ask yourself the question: Who are my previous employer's competitors?
An unsolicited application can also be worthwhile here if you cannot find any corresponding job offers.
If you can bridge a period of time, it can also make sense to think about how you want to set your professional course again.
These reflections require energy, calm and sometimes accompaniment.
Feel free to ask the employment agency whether they can offer you coaching in this regard.
Activate your own network
In a situation like yours, a solid professional network is of particular importance.
Communicate openly how things are going for you.
Everyone will be able to empathize with you.
Ask for support and ask your network partners to ask around for possible options or to put you in contact.
This is how you get to the hidden job market, i.e. jobs that are not publicly advertised.
Approach personnel consultants and integrate social networks
In addition to applying for job advertisements, you should also approach personnel consultants and personnel service providers.
And update your profiles on professional social networks like LinkedIn and Xing.
As recruitment is increasingly being carried out using so-called active sourcing, i.e. the direct search and addressing of candidates, it should also be possible to find you.
For this it is expedient that you list as many of your qualification characteristics as possible under which a search algorithm can find you as a hit.
Don't fall into the victim role
The most important thing will be that you don't fall victim and let yourself down.
Of course, you'll have to digest this unexpected twist first.
But this has nothing to do with your qualification.
The company hasn't done its homework and hasn't got its finances under control if it decides to take such a step.
So be proactive about it.
I wish you much success.