How to Tell an Interviewer You Were Fired from A Job
Believe it, or not, getting fired won’t end your career before it even starts. It doesn’t look good, but it’s nothing you can’t overcome.
“You’re fired!”
That phrase may seem like just a silly quip. But when it’s you on the receiving end, it sure as hell isn’t funny. In fact, hearing those words can feel like a kick in the gut.
I’ve heard those nasty words before so believe me, I get it. But I learned that it’s best to process the ordeal quickly, and immediately start looking for a new position. If this doesn’t seem possible, trust me, it is. In fact, some of the most successful people in the world have had those words thrown at them at least once.
I’m not trying to claim it’s all smooth sailing. There are a couple of hurdles to overcome. One, how to present the termination on your resume and/or application. The other is to talk about it during a job interview.
The key is preparation.
“There could be multiple reasons a ‘good’ employee may be fired. From poor management, office politics, and lack of leadership to simple downsizing, many job seekers who are looking for jobs are actually high caliber talent and should present themselves in just such a way.” ResumeGenius.com
Mentioning a termination in your resume
How much information should you put on your resume about getting fired? Most experts say, “None. Nada.” There’s no need to mention it on your resume.
“Your resume showcases the best things about your work history,” says David Livermore at ToughNickel.com. “Stating that you were fired from a job will likely result in the prospective employer throwing your resume away without giving you a chance.”
On a resume, include information about that company the same as you would for other companies. Specify extra positives about your role during that time.
Putting a termination on an application
Many companies still require you to go through their Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software application process before you can submit a resume. In these cases, there’s just no way to avoid addressing a termination. But under no circumstances should you lie.
However, like a resume, you want to use the application to showcase your positives and get you to an interview so you can discuss the termination face to face, in a more positive light. So, when asked to fill in a reason you were fired, you can be vague using words like “job ended”, “terminated”, “laid off”. Don’t go into any details.
Before an interview
There’s a lot you can do while you wait for responses to your resume. Before the interview is the time to do some preparation and damage control.
Self-check
Do everything you can to emotionally process the termination. If your heart still races from thinking about it, or you feel angry, then talk to a professional or objective person. (If your parents and friends rile you up in their efforts to be “supportive”, they are NOT the right people to talk to about this right now.) If you believe you were wronged, forgive them. If you wronged, forgive yourself.
You have to move past the whole situation. It’s over, anyway. Otherwise, during an interview your emotions will involuntarily surface. You will appear bitter and angry which can kill your chance of landing the job.
Be a fly on the wall
Surveys show that most prospective employers do check references of shortlisted candidates. Before you reach that point, prepare your recommendations.
If you and your previous employer ended on particularly bad terms, it would be wise to find out what that organization will say about you. Some career experts suggest having a friend pose as a hiring company to call and learn what he/she says about your termination.
Another option is to enlist the help of a reference checking service. Though not free, this has other benefits that an friend can’t offer, such as filing a Cease & Desist letter if it turns out your past employer totally bashes you.
Don’t presume that your previous employer won’t explain your termination. Click To Tweet
Whatever route you choose, don’t just hope that your previous employer won’t explain your termination. They have a legal right to discuss your performance, your professional conduct, and your termination.
Discussing a termination during an interview
If you’ve made it to an interview, give yourself a big thumbs up. There’s obviously something about you the potential employer liked, and still wanted to meet you. This is your opportunity to sell yourself.
During your interview, focus on the positive aspects of your earlier job performance, such as how you helped the company achieve its goals to run operations more smoothly or reach younger customers.
Don’t attempt to contradict what your previous employer might say. Instead, try to describe your termination as a mutual separation. Ellie Williams at CareerTrends.com gives these examples:
“Unless you lost your job for wrongdoing *... frame your departure as a mutual parting of ways. For example, ‘My supervisor and I felt that the position was not a good match for my skills and goals, so I decided to seek an opportunity where I can fully utilize my knowledge and talents.’ Or, you can say ‘My working style was not a good fit for the corporate culture, and we decided it was best if I search for a position that was a better fit.’”
During your interview be honest but brief. Use facts, not opinions like, “I feel they fired me because the new supervisor didn’t like me…” Never blame your previous employer, and do not bad-mouth them in any way! Show respect for the company’s decision to part ways with you.
Reveal to the interviewer how your past error taught you an invaluable lesson and made you a better person. Help them see you as someone willing to own up to a mistake and use it to grow.
Describe, if possible, the corrective actions you’ve taken to learn from your mistake and not repeat it. This is especially important if you were fired for a wrongdoing *. The prospective employer needs to feel confident you won’t replay the mistake or wrongdoing under their roof.
Reveal to the interviewer how your past mistake taught you an invaluable lesson and made you a better person. Click To Tweet
Going forward
Getting let go from a company isn’t the end of the world. It happens. Yes, it creates additional challenges for your job search, but it’s nothing you can’t overcome.
In fact, an in-depth study by Harvard Business Review found that being fired can actually make a stronger candidate to prospective employers! Again, it depended on how those who were fired handled the setback, and what they did to learn and grow from it.
“Those who deflect ownership and instead point to external factors or blame others for failures on their watch don’t do as well. Our data shows that candidates who blamed others cut their chances of being recommended for hire by one-third. Strong performers own their mistakes, and describe what they learned and how they adjusted their behavior and decision making to minimize the chances of making the same mistakes in the future. Having several different types of career blow ups does not derail you. Repeating the same blowup over and over does.” [Emphasis mine] (https://hbr.org/2018/10/research-when-getting-fired-is-good-for-your-career )
- “Wrongdoing” usually refers to something criminal, such as stealing or assaulting a colleague. Or it could refer to gross misconduct such as sexual harassment or making a racist remark. It does not imply poor performance.
About the Author: Pamela La Gioia is creator of “The Ultimate Guide Series”. She is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Making Money in College (Without Donating Blood), which provides students over 200 flexible companies offering jobs they can do around their schedules. Follow her on Twitter or Join her on Reddit
