How to Do a Job Interview After Being Fired from Your Last Job

By Allen Teal, published May 09, 2007
Published Content: 398  Total Views: 201,557  Favorited By: 1 CPs
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Most people regard getting fired as a black mark on their resume. However, many people who hire and fire everyday, know that they have released good people who were a bad fit for their company. Getting fired from your job can very well mean that you just got off on the wrong foot and never could get on track. It happens all of the time. The fact that you were fired can be viewed as an opportunity to change direction or get a fresh perspective on your career.

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.

Takeaways
  • 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.
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
 
 
I was fired from back to back jobs. My first was after 8 years on the job. I asked another employee other than the H.R to verify my employment to refinance my mortgage and the second was a lack of expereince after 8 months on the job. The company new this but hired me anyhow. How can I explain in an interview that I was fired from back to back jobS?

Posted on 12/30/2007 at 7:12:35 AM

 
I have 27 excellent years with a hospital and was involved in a situation where I used marijuana, was drug tested, proved positive and was fired. What do I have to tell my future employers?

Posted on 10/09/2007 at 7:10:00 PM

 
I have 27 excellent years with a hospital and was involved in a situation where I used marijuana, was drug tested, proved positive and was fired. What do I have to tell my future employers?

Posted on 10/09/2007 at 7:10:00 PM

 
I know exactly how it feels to be terminated after 11 years service due too a faclitator whom just the week earlier had taken supervisor training for the company. Robert Rogers,whom took over the role of support facilitor on the weekend shift and was a grinder operator on the same work cell as I was but on another shift,before he took on this role.I was terminated because I went outside at shift start to receive mr.roders christmas gift ,which I purchase for our team and was to give him at our christmas dinner that evening.I had mistakingly left this gift in my wifes car and she meet me to get this gift.I went in and told a team member the situation and could not find mr rodgers.I went to the guard shack and waited a few minutes and got gift and did not let my team down.I was terminated by the person whom I got the christmas gift for on 12 20 06 right before christmas!! which he told personnel I was gone 13 minutes. Well that hit hard ! Like hes an angel employee,one who walks around

Posted on 09/05/2007 at 2:09:00 AM

 
if you act like you have insider knowledge of how the other company operates Yeah, break the law to get a job!!!LMAO!!

Posted on 07/25/2007 at 5:07:00 PM

 
If you were fired by the competitor of who you're interviewing with, you have a high possibility of getting hired by them if you act like you have insider knowledge of how the other company operates (especially if the other company is "high up" than them).

Posted on 06/04/2007 at 2:06:00 PM

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