How to Handle Being Fired on My Job Application
Being fired can leave people feeling stranded with a slew of negative emotions: anger, regret, fear and depression. But after taking time to devise a budget to see you through a (hopefully brief) period of unemployment, it's time to begin seeking another job. Recently fired applicants, though, may wonder how to handle being fired on their job applications and reduce their chances of being eliminated in the first round of screening.
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Instructions
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Write down your version of why you were fired on a piece of paper -- not the actual job application. Tell the whole story honestly from your perspective, including pertinent details. Then read through what you've written. If the story sounds whiny or defensive, rewrite it in a way that emphasizes the larger picture. How you handle being fired on a job application must be consistent with the story you'll later share in an interview, so it's important to have a grounded, impeccably presented narrative prepared before filling out the application.
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Read the job application carefully, observing its format in the job history section. If the job application requests that you list jobs worked in the past three years, and the job from which you were fired ended four years ago, it's not necessary to list it. If you worked the job for just a brief period of time that won't create a troubling gap in your employment history, consider leaving the job unlisted. Applications requesting that potential employees check "yes" or "no" as to whether they were fired should be answered honestly. If the job application doesn't ask why you left the job, don't volunteer that you were fired.
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Write something simple and upbeat to accompany statements on the job application indicating that you were fired. Some applications may have room for a one- or two-sentence explanation such as, "I was released from my position due to corporate restructuring," if this is true, or "Mutually-agreed employment termination." Another option for handling being fired is to write, "Prefer to explain during interview process." However, this hints at a long-winded excuse -- and you may not make it to the next step to share your side of the story.
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Write a more formalized version of the updated story of being fired prepared earlier in this process. If desired, this can be attached to applications where you've indicated being fired as additional information for potential employers. Your explanation should focus on experiences learned, insight gained and positive plans for the future.
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Tips & Warnings
Even if you don't indicate that you've been fired on the job application, potential employers may still contact your former employer during the background check process to discover this information. You can call human resources or the point person at the old job, explain that you're job hunting, and ask what they intend to say about your performance should prospective employers get in touch.
Don't ever lie on a job application. Lying on a job application can result in potential employers discarding your application should the lie surface during the hiring process. If employers find out that you lied about getting fired on the job application after you've been hired, this could result in getting fired a second time.
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