How to Explain That You Were Terminated From an Employer
In struggling economies and competitive job markets, employers are looking to hire the best available candidates. Any blemish on your record can be detrimental. One of the most sensitive and difficult matters is explaining why you were fired from a previous job. While the circumstances vary, the best strategy is to be honest and open but to get to the matter as briefly as possible and move on to more positive aspects of yourself.
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Examine the Reasons
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Before you can explain the reason behind your termination to a prospective employer, you must come to grips with it yourself, if you have not already. After losing a job, it is natural to feel bitter or angry toward your former employer, but try to look at the termination from the employer’s perspective. Be honest with yourself and think about the positives that happened because of your firing.
Be Candid and Honest
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A prospective employer does not need to know every minute detail about what went on at your old job. Further, you do not want to appear to be making excuses when you speak to the interviewer. Being candid and honest does not mean you have to say “I was fired” and leave it at that. If you lost your job because you and the management simply did not see eye to eye on critical issues, you can frame your answer by speaking about how you tried to work amicably, but because of a few specifically identified issues (such as conflicting business philosophies), you were let go.
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Follow-Ups
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A firing is difficult for an employer to ignore. Rather than simply leaving the elephant in the room, immediately begin discussing what you did to improve your job skills and what you learned from the termination. Do your best to relate your job and personal growth to skills transferable to the new employer. Most employers understand that people make mistakes; no one is perfect. The way you handle a termination and what you do to improve yourself can minimize the negative impacts of the firing.
Other Issues
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Explaining a termination is easy for some and extremely difficult for others. If you were fired for a serious matter -- such as stealing -- employers will be wary of hiring you, despite your explanation and the steps you have taken to better yourself. Acknowledging the severity of the mistake, sounding genuine and being honest are still the best courses of action.
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