You Have Been Fired
“So…why did you leave your previous company?”
The anxiety produced by this question is exponentially compounded knowing that you were fired from your last job. It is the most challenging question you will answer during the job interview requiring extreme finesse and a large dose of confidence. An uncomfortable and embarrassing topic to discuss even after you have accepted it and moved on to find another position. Naked in your vulnerability, you are exposing your worst moments to a total stranger, hoping they will see the real you, and then, hire you.
Being terminated from a job is an emotional jolt to your self-esteem. Moving through the sense of failure and disappointment takes time. As you begin your preparation for interviewing again, consider these tips on how to handle the awkward “Why did you leave?” question.
1. First of all, tell the truth.
There is a huge difference between being laid-off or downsized and being fired. Any hesitation with this could be a clue to the hiring manager that you are indeed fibbing!
Most industries are small enough that word travels fast. Managers communicate with other company managers. Add social media platforms to the mix and the industry gossip runs faster than the Road Runner. The truth will come to light.
The prospective employer will check your with your previous company. Depending on the size of the company and the Human Resources policies (if there is an organized Human Resource department at the company), your previous employer may disclose the actual reason for your termination. Should any deception be exposed, your application can be withdrawn. If the lie comes to light after you are hired, you could be fired. After all, didn’t you sign your original application verifying the information you submitted to be accurate? Now, you will have to explain TWO terminations! Your explanation and the company’s explanation must align.
It is a common misconception that job candidates believe previous employers can only legally release dates of employment, salary, and job title. Most states have laws regarding what can be disclosed to employers, so be sure to check your state labor department website.
The good news is that most companies opt to tread very carefully when providing information about employees for fear of legal repercussions. Many times, it really depends on the size of the company and its specific policies.
You can find out your company’s employee disclosure policy by asking when you are hired or during an exit interview. This sounds like it may be a delicate question to inquire about, but at least you would have the answer.
2. Frame your answers.
Keep your answer to this challenging question short, positive, and to the point. Lengthy explanations filled with self flagellation and extensive detail just complicates an already awkward situation. Getting mired down in specifics could cause questions in the hiring manager’s mind. “Mmmm, why was he having issues with employees?” “I wonder what his boss meant by that comment?”
Be sure to never speak negatively about your previous boss, colleagues, or the company. It’s very possible your previous boss may know the hiring manager. This is not the time to have the hiring manager think anything negative about you!
Most people have been fired at some point during their career. It doesn’t make you a bad person or a bad employee. There have been some very successful people who were fired. Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and Walt Disney all have felt the slap of being sacked! It’s how you overcome it that counts.
After you’ve given your brief, positive, and truthful statement (statement — not a recitation, confession, or justification), move on to explain to the hiring manager the excellent qualities and qualifications you will bring to the new position. Show the hiring manager that you are enthusiastic, forward thinking, and ready to begin anew with this company.
There are many “canned” or prepared statements found on the internet that can be used to answer the “Why did you leave your last position?” question, but they are impersonal and generalized. This is about you and a very difficult time in your career. Your answer has to reflect you and your specific situation.
3. Provide the hiring manager with positive references.
If your immediate supervisor won’t be giving you a glowing reference, remember that he/she is only one opinion. Some personalities don’t mesh together well in the workplace and hopefully your new boss will recognize this fact and be open-minded about it. It’s best to have multiple positive references that will balance out the not-so-stellar one. Encourage your personal references to be truthful, commenting on your talents, character, integrity, and work ethic. Your personal references know you and your unique situation of being fired. They want to help you, so caution them to build you up but definitely not to “superhero status”!
4. Plan your strategy.
Really think about your situation and consider how you want to tackle it during the job interview. Construct various scenarios of how the conversation will play out so you won’t be stumped or caught off-guard. Present yourself in the best possible light, always being truthful. Remember that the “Why did you leave your position?” question will be the most challenging, but there is a whole host of other questions you will answer regarding your talents, skills, and abilities that make you the most qualified candidate for this position.
If you’ve taken a course or addressed any specific deficits uncovered from your previous employer, be sure to explain this to the hiring manager and demonstrate how this learning has enhanced your competence and capability. Discovering a positive drawn from a negative experience is always worthy of discussing and shows maturity and personal growth!
Practice, practice, practice your answers with a friend who can quiz you on potential different responses you may have to wrestle with during the job interview. Consider hiring a job interview coach. This is a very sensitive situation and an interview coach can work with you on the ins-and-outs of appropriate answers with mock interview sessions to have you fully prepared.
During the job interview, monitor the hiring manager’s body language, assessing how your information and statements are being received. If you note that the hiring manager appears perplexed or confused by what you’ve said, perhaps ask them if they have additional questions or need extra clarification.
The trauma of being fired is real. It involves everyone around you and can feel all-encompassing as you scratch and scrape to find your dignity again. Being fired can also be a period of expansive growth as you step off the edge into the darkness to find a new beginning. Answering the question, “Why did you leave your previous position?” with your head held high and an unwavering boldness could be the threshold to your new, professional tomorrow.
I offer a free ½ hour introductory job interview coaching session. Contact me today to prepare for your tomorrow!