What to Put on a Job Application for the Reason for Leaving When You Were Fired?
If you've been fired from a job, it can create an awkward situation when applying for a new position. In general, a good practice to follow is to briefly indicate that your departure may not have been voluntarily without directly admitting you were fired. Your goal is to have the employer focus more on your qualifications so you'll be called in for an interview, where you'll have the opportunity to explain the situation.
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Avoid Lying
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Regardless of the reason for your termination, avoid the possible temptation to lie about it on the application. If you were fired due to poor job performance or excessive absenteeism, don't list the cause as a company downsizing or a mutual agreement. Even if the employer initially wants to hire you, the company may perform a background check by contacting previous employers. Your lie is sure to be discovered and you probably won't receive an offer.
Job Ended
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While you shouldn't lie about the fact you were fired, you don't need to list all the details of your termination on the application. Listing something as simple as "job ended" as the reason for your firing leaves room for interpretation by the employer. If your application indicates you have the necessary skills and experience for the position, the employer may be intrigued enough to call you in for an interview.
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Discuss at Interview
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You could also list "will discuss at interview" to avoid having to directly admit you were terminated. This indicates to the employer that there may have been some extenuating circumstances surrounding your departure that cannot be fully explained in the limited space on an application. Wording it in this manner can also put the thought of bringing you in for an interview into the employer's mind, especially if you have the necessary qualifications for the position.
Company Restructuring
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Sometimes, a firing can result from a company moving you to a new position for which you are not suited, resulting in poor performance, or if it assigns a new supervisor to your department with whom you are unable to establish a comfortable working relationship. If this is true in your situation, you may list "company restructuring" as the reason for leaving. By doing this you're indicating that extenuating circumstances may have led to your departure without directly having to admit you were fired.
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