How to Explain Job Loss to a Prospective Employer

Most people are already nervous when they attend a job interview but the anxiety scale soars through the roof when they are asked about prior job loss. Many hiring managers will ask about the reasons for previous termination during interviews, and you'll need to have an adequate answer prepared. If you go into the interview expecting the question, you'll be less likely to be thrown off your game.

To explain job loss to a prospective employer, you first need to know how to put a positive spin on a negative situation. For example, if you were fired because you were routinely late to work, you'll need to be honest with the hiring manager. However, you can simply say that you were having trouble balancing responsibilities at home and at work, but that you have since resolved those issues.

The worst thing that you can do in this situation, according to Kate Lorenz of CareerBuilder.com, is to volunteer to explain job loss to a prospective employer. If you aren't asked why you were terminated from your last position, you can only hurt your chances of employment by bringing it up. Instead, skirt the issue entirely until you are asked a direct question.

Another poor choice when it comes to explaining job loss is to lie. Remember that a prospective employer can call previous bosses to verify the information you give. If you tell them that you quit your last job, when in actuality you were fired for poor performance, you've flushed every opportunity of getting the job down the proverbial toilet. Hiring managers would prefer you to be honest about a negative situation than to try and lie.

If you've had several jobs since you were last fired from a position, you probably don't have anything to worry about. A prospective employer is not going to bother asking you to explain job loss when you have other relevant work experience in the intervening years. Furthermore, a positive record of employment shows that you have grown professionally since you were last fired, and this is a positive thing.