The Pongo Blog
Never Tell the Interviewer You Were Fired
October 19, 2010 (1:54PM) by Julie O'Malley, CPRW
I've been working on a project that involves asking real-world hiring managers for their thoughts on a variety of interview topics. One of the most enlightening comments (so far) came from a hiring manager with 25 years of interviewing and hiring experience. I asked whether a job seeker who's been fired should admit that during an interview. His reply?
"Of course not! You're not trying to get into heaven,
you're trying to get a job!"
"I'm not saying you should tell an outright lie," he clarified, "because if they hire you and find out later that you lied, you'll be fired again. But it's foolish to tell a prospective employer that your old employer fired you."
I thought that was a great way of looking at it. Some job seekers feel guilty if they don't confess every detail. But omitting certain details is not the same as making a false statement.
So how should you address a past firing in an interview? Follow these three simple principles:
If they don't ask, don't tell.
Never volunteer negative information in an interview. Prepare an answer, but cross your fingers that you won't have to use it.
If they do ask, put a positive spin on the truth.
Avoid harsh words like "fired" or "terminated." Talk about things like "differing expectations," or "a mutual realization that it wasn't a good fit."
Be factual and brief, then change the subject.
Finish your answer with a statement or question that redirects the topic back to your qualifications and enthusiasm for the new job.
Here's a sample of how this might work:
"I really liked the company, and I'd been very successful in the role for two years. When a corporate reorganization brought a new set of expectations from the management team, I think my supervisor and I both realized the job was no longer a good fit. What skills do you think are important to ensure a good fit in this role?"
Do you have any other ideas for positive ways to answer the question without hurting your chances? Please share them in a comment below!
RELATED LINKS
How to Get Hired after You've Been Fired (or Worse)
Interviewing Tips: What Hiring Managers Really Want From You
How To Recover Quickly from an Interview Mistake
I always coach myself into believing the specific answer I am planning to use. If I truly believe the answer then I have no problem answering the question with conviction rather than trepidation. 1) Like if someone is not in or does not want to be disturbed. I always say "I will see if they are available and get back to you." 2) That is a very good question!!! 3) I will have to check with my legal department. 4) We have been working on an action plan for that.
Not all of these have anything to do with an interview but they give the sense that there is more than one way to answer a question without actually saying anything or just saying less.
Posted by: Brendan | October 19, 2010 at 4:19 PM | Quote This Comment
How should one handle small breaks that can occur in your job timeline on your resume? For example, you left a position in June due to a layoff or job position elimination and did not get placed until September (3 months without a posiiton)?
Posted by: Gordon Marsh | October 29, 2010 at 4:59 PM | Quote This Comment
@Brendan
Those are great examples of ways to sidestep what might otherwise be an awkward situation. I especially like "I will have to check with my legal department." ;)
--Julie
Posted by: Julie O'Malley | November 01, 2010 at 10:26 AM | Quote This Comment
@Gordon
Small breaks in your job timeline are perfectly normal, and don't require any unusual explanation. The average job hunt these days takes six months or more, so a three-month gap after a layoff or job elimination is actually pretty short. Consider yourself lucky!
--Julie
Posted by: Julie O'Malley | November 01, 2010 at 10:32 AM | Quote This Comment
I was fired from a job-fought it to the Apellate Courts ,and still lost. Now Law Library posted the "finding of fact" on the internet,in my name ! Employer gave misleading testimony ,and now ANYONE can see the results of judgement with a Google search of my name. What can I do?
Posted by: steven | January 26, 2011 at 2:58 PM | Quote This Comment
@Steven Sorry to hear of your troubles.
The good news is that not all employers use the internet when vetting job candidates.
I did a quick Google search of your name, and there was nothing on the first page or so of Google listings regarding the court case.
I would just follow the advice in the post, and be ready to explain your reason for leaving in a brief, professional way, without bashing your former employer (even though you might like to).
(By the way, I removed your last name from the comment, just in case that might show up in a Google search. )
Posted by: Julie O'Malley | January 26, 2011 at 4:24 PM | Quote This Comment