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Devastating. Humiliating. Infuriating. Those are all words to describe the experience of being fired, but they don't tell the whole story. How about "liberating"? Chances are, if you were genuinely fired- not laid off- from your job, then your employment situation was not a happy one. Perhaps you were "in over your head" at a job that didn't match your skills. Maybe you were working with the wrong group of people, or perhaps you just chose a field that didn't catch your interest. Regardless of the reasons, the good news is that the job experience is finally over and you can move on with your life. Here are a few suggestions for making the most of this situation.

1. Don't burn all your bridges.

Even if you are not leaving under the best of terms, you may still have contacts worth keeping in your network. As you make your exit, stay civil to everyone regardless of how they have treated you. Keeping your cool in this difficult situation will reflect well on you. While the supervisor who fired you is probably not going to be a good reference, your coworkers might still be willing to put in a good word and help you find a new job.

2. Discuss your "reason for leaving".

Legally, your former employer is not allowed to make negative statements about you to prospective employers other than simply stating your "reason for leaving". In a calm, civil tone, politely inquire as to what that "reason for leaving" will be. Having this conversation will help prepare you to deal with the issue in an interview situation. It's also a good way to remind your soon-to-be former employer in an offhand way about the law.

3. Analyze the situation.

Try to identify that chain of events that lead to you being fired. If the mistake was yours, how can you keep it from happening again? If you had the same job, would you still be likely to make the same mistake? Being fired often means it's time to make a career change. Sticking to what you know and finding a similar job may be easy, but do that and you could miss out on your chance to find your true calling. If you cannot imagine yourself ever being successful and happy in a particular career, then find a different one.

4. Survey your finances.

Depending on your savings and on whether or not you were the "breadwinner" of the household, you may have to make some immediate changes to make ends meet. Finding a temporary job to fill the gap and cutting back on spending may be necessary. If you choose to make a career change by going back to school, you may want to take out a loan.

5. Polish up your resume.

If you weren't planning on a job search, you probably need to get your resume up to date. This may not be fun, but you will need to think through the accomplishments you had at your last job. Just because it ended badly doesn't mean it was all bad. If you received training, attended conferences, won awards, or headed committees, don't hesitate to highlight those things on your resume.

6. Take the next step.

Whether you choose to make a change by getting an education or by getting a new job is up to you. Either way, there will be lots of paperwork to fill out and decision to be made. Start searching for your new, happier career as soon as possible. By focusing on the future instead of dwelling on the past, you will forgo many of the negative feelings associated with being fired. Losing a job is never easy, but it always an adventure and an opportunity. Remember that in a few months, you'll be looking back and saying a prayer of thanks that you were able to leave your old job!

Learn more about this author, Raven Lebeau.
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