3 Ways to Rebrand Yourself After Getting Fired From a Nonprofit Job

No matter how much you may hate your job, nobody ever wants to hear either of these two fateful phrases: "you're fired" or "we're going to have to let you go." Whether you've been terminated or laid off, the emotions are the same. Your pride is hurt, you're scared and wondering how your bills will get paid, and most importantly, you now have to go out and find another job. Sucks to be you if you get the pink slip, especially in this economy, but you do have to bounce back fairly quickly and go out there to market yourself for a new job. As I mentioned in my previous post, Maybe It's Not Your Resume, It's You, your reputation can hold you back from landing a new job if you've been fired. You have to do a good job of rebranding yourself to overcome any career flaws perceived by potential employers. This is tricky to do, so I wanted to provide you with a few tips.

Be Honest
There is no way you'll be able to avoid telling future employers that you were fired or laid off, unless you blatantly lie to their face. You will be asked, "why did you leave your last job?" Don't say you "left" the organization as if you quit. That is considered a misrepresentation of information, and could be grounds for termination at your new job if they find out the truth. It will be uncomfortable, but you have to face the music here. Besides, since the nonprofit world is so small, they may already know the deal. They just want you to give them the details from your perspective. Tell the truth now, and your new employer will know that they can trust you in the future.

Spin a Positive Story
Never, ever blame your former boss or bad mouth your previous employer. I've met many young nonprofit professionals who've been laid off due to financial troubles in their organizations who are bitter about their fate. They tend to share all the negative aspects of their former nonprofit - how they mismanaged the budget, the leadership made the wrong decisions, etc. Even if it wasn't your fault that you were fired or laid off, you don't have to air the dirty laundry. Your new employer wants to hire a positive person who can get the job done and not dwell on the past. Practice these positive responses when interviewing for a new job:

“I was laid off, but I’m excited to be back in the job market because it’s given me a chance to go after a job that I love."

"My skills were not the right fit for my previous employer's needs. I was doing volunteer management, but my passion really lies in helping organizations raise funding to support their programs. I know I can put my enthusiasm and fundraising skills to use for your organization."

"I was fired, but I learned a lot in the process. Everyone makes a few mistakes when they're just starting out in their career, and I can say that I've grown wiser as a nonprofit professional because of them. I'm ready to use what I've learned as a asset to your organization."

Alison Doyle shares more sample interview responses to questions about why you were fired.

Build a New Set of Skills
Let's say you were laid off from a job where you managed volunteers for the organization. It might be a good time to explore learning about other job functions, such as fundraising or communications which are hot job areas right now in the nonprofit sector. Take a class or webinar from the Foundation Center or join the Association of Fundraising Professionals to ramp up new skills in fundraising. Volunteer to create a communications or social media plan for a small nonprofit and learn as you go along. You can use the experience gained to branch out into a different job opportunities in your new search.

Unless you had to go to jail for embezzling money from your previous nonprofit, I would say that most career mistakes can be overcome if you're honest, keep a positive attitude, and continue to build your skill set. I'd love to hear how you're handled bouncing back in your nonprofit career after being fired. What worked for you in your new job search?