What to Put on a Job Application if You Were Terminated

It is a tricky proposition if you were fired from your last job and you are now looking for a new job. If you put that you were fired on a job application, you risk not being able to explain your side of the story and your application being thrown in the trash. However, you do have options when you have to explain on a job application why you left a certain employer.

Prefer to Explain in Interview

Write on the application that you prefer to explain in an interview the reasons for leaving a previous job. Then, if you are called in to the interview and asked about why you left an employer, you can tell your side of the story. However, refrain from criticizing your former employer on paper or in the interview. Accept any responsibility for mistakes you made, and indicate what you learned from the experience.

Mutual Agreement

You can also write that you and your employer agreed to end your relationship, and that the working relationship was not a good fit for either of you. In shortened parlance, you can write, "Mutually agreeable employment termination,'" according to the Technical Job Search website.

Tone and Body Language

If you are asked to explain why you were fired from a job in an interview, watch how you present your side of the story. Facial expressions, word choice, tone and body language can all indicate animosity and anger about the situation to a future employer. Keep your answers short and to the point. If you were not competent in your job, explain the differences in your skills and what the job required. However, avoid making yourself sound like you cannot do the job for which you are applying.

Avoid Lying

Tell the truth on your application. A background check can uncover the real reason you left a job. Future employers are more likely to respect the fact that you are telling the truth and that you are willing to take responsibility for your actions and move on than that you lied, according to the website Technical Job Search.

References

• Technical Job Search: Fired from a Job
• Job Interview and Career Guide: Interview Question: Why Were You Fired? How to Explain, Answer and Handle