Job interviews can be stressful, especially when you’ve been fired from your previous job. So, it’s important to prepare an answer for the inevitable question: “Why were you fired?”.
Just like you would prepare an answer for any other question, preparing and rehearsing some go-to phrases will help you create a professional answer for your interview.
Here are some tips to help you explain being fired to a potential employer:
Don’t lie
When referring to your termination with your interviewer, avoid positioning it as a layoff or any other non-significant situation. Sincerely assess your role in the conflict and answer your potential employer. Don’t think if you’ve relocated to a new city your employer won’t find out about the truth. They eventually will, therefore, it is critical you openly discuss the reason why you were terminated.
Don’t criticize your old employer
Avoid bad-mouthing your previous employer, colleagues or the company. That raises an instant red flag. Speaking negatively about your previous boss and workplace, shows a lack of maturity and depicts you as a troublesome employee. When you’re trying to portray yourself as a valuable addition to your new team being rude is not the kind of last impression you want to make.
Don’t play the blame game
Bad-mouthing as well as blaming your previous employer for your termination is a bad way to start. Accept your role in the termination, no matter how badly you were treated. Taking ownership for your past actions and performance on the job is what your potential new employer wants to see.
Don’t be harsh
By being bitter in your mannerism and words, you will come across as a person who is nasty and defeated. Even if your previous employer did you wrong, let go. Displaying bitterness makes you look bad, resulting in you losing another job opportunity. Avoid using a language that stresses on previous failures.
Practice
Termination can have a bad effect on you emotionally. It can get tough to talk calmly for days, weeks or months after the event has taken place. As the famous proverb goes ‘Practice makes a man perfect’. So, practice your interview answers several times, this will help you to keep your emotions out of the way, stick to the topic and speak easily about your termination with your interviewer.
