How to Do a Job Interview After Being Fired from Your Last Job
Other times, it's a personality thing with your immediate supervisor coupled with the fact that you're unlucky enough to have been hired by a firing addict. There are actually people who seem to thrive on showing how powerful they are by firing those below them for no apparent reason. If you're fortunate enough that the person hiring you knows something about your previous supervisor, getting fired will be no big deal. Most people have worked for such a person at one time or another. The lucky ones found a way out the door before the axe fell on them.
Regardless of the reason of the firing, you need to have a plausible answer for the inevitable question of why did you get fired. Try not to make it a personal attack on your previous employer or supervisor. Just stick to the facts and try to spin them in your favor. Even people who have never been fired have had a few near misses. Try to play on this for a sympathetic ear. Talk about what a hard worker you are. Bring in your dedication to doing a good job for your employer and the assets that you bring to the table.
Always find a way to emphasize your positive qualities that will be an asset to your potential employer. Don't dwell on the details of the firing. If the interviewer keeps coming back to it, ask if there is something specific that they need to know.
At times, the interviewer can get caught up in the gossip side of the interview. This is especially true if you worked for a competitor. The questions may have little to do with you and more to do with conversations at the water cooler. Asking the interviewer to get specific can jolt the conversation back to territory that is more germane and safer for you.
One thing you want to be careful about. Don't lie about why you were fired. Most employers have connections to people you have worked for or with previously. They will probably uncover the truth. If you did something illegal, make sure that you voice your regrets and determination to move in a positive direction from here. Honesty may cost you a job offer or two, but at least nothing hidden will be haunting you on your new job when you are hired.
Published by Allen Teal
Experienced writer in online and journal type publications. I have also done home remodelling and construction. I have a pretty good grasp of car repair, personal relationships, parenting, outdoor life, r... View profile
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- Try to put a positive spin on why you were fired.
- Don't lie about the firing. It will come back to haunt you.
- Have your answer ready before you are asked about being fired.
21 Comments
Post a CommentI've been on my current job 20 years. I moved into our old family home 8 months ago, which is 60 miles from work. I'm a heart patient and my doctor wrote a letter to my employer, stating that its getting harder and harder for me to make that 120 mile round trip much longer. I know I've got to find something much closer to where I now live. But at age 60, and with heart disease, most companies probably don't want to take a chance on someone who really doesn't have alot of years to give them. My question is simple... do I have any chance of getting short term unemployment benefits? I'm certainly not too good to bag groceries or flip burgers and will eventually find something. I'm not looking for a hand out, just a short term helping hand.What are my chances?
I was almost fired. But the manager changed his mind and decided on disciplinary action because he didn't like my angry tone of voice when I responded to his command. I decided to quit. Your advice is very good. I never place the blame on someone else for my mistakes during an interview. I always sound contrite and sincere. I've found that honesty is a treasured virtue in the employment market. Even if the applicant does not get the job the applicant is being interviewed for, the applicant leaves a positive impression on the interviewer. And that might lead to a different job offer. Excellent article!
I set the bar to high and they could not clear it.
tips on how to apply for a nursing job after being fired for absenteeism twice
I was fired after 17yrs in medical ofc. 2wks prior to termination, head md called a meeting w/ me to "assure" me of my job and sang my praises. Then, called into ofc along w/ co-worker and told, we have decided to let you go! Wonder if longevity, 45 and female had anything to do w/ it? Unemployed now for 6mos, try explaining "reason" for leaving to any potential employers during interview. Now, no income, no potiential income, lost all trust in people, life sucks
Damn - you were fired by the guy you got a Xmas gift for%2C because you went out to get the gift%21 That one really takes the cake%21
Sorry, I hit a few wrong buttons. Anyway, I do not blame Lowe's. It was a good job but I was well talked about there but the problem is, the head managers never hear about it and only the negative,often,flasified gossip is heard, damaging a good character and work history. How sad that they hire these losers who do not run things right for the head managers.
I too was fired, by Lowes, because the manager, who was making sexual comments about people's wives in fron of me and others was given a suggestion by me tha I dod not want to hear that,the bosses believed this guy when he retaliated.
Hello and help me someone. A friend learned today that when a possible new boss called the old boss for references that the old boss had trashed them on purpose to the maybe new boss. Find out through a fellow worker, at old job, that the old boss came into room doing a happy dance boasting about how when the new maybe employer called to talk to him, he got back at her and her husband by trashing her on the phone. She did not get the new job. The interview went well, but no job. Is it legal to do that? Need advice on what to do.
So what about the "Is X eligible for rehire?" Isn't that a way potential employers find out the truth?