Explaining why you were fired

Learning to segue gracefully into a discussion of your value to the company is an effective way to keep your interview on track. Practice makes perfect Getting fired is an emotional experience, and it's hard to talk objectively and calmly even weeks or months after the event. Practicing your answer helps you keep emotions at bay so you don't derail your interview. Start by writing your response down; put it away, then come back to it a day later and read it again.

If you are satisfied with your written answer, try it out on an objective friend or family member. Weigh their criticisms and tweak it if necessary. Once you're completely satisfied with your answer, commit it to memory. Practice it in front of a mirror several times. Once you're comfortable with your answer and you've internalized it, you'll be able to speak naturally about your termination with your interviewer. How much work history to include on your resume. Best and worst resume words.

Sample resume for nurses and healthcare professionals. Regardless of your situation, these strategies will help you address this tough question like a pro.

Many times job seekers are unsure of how to address any previous employment issues like termination or gaps on their resume. Hear what employers want to hear during your ex If you're considering going back to an old job, here are some tips to get your foot back in the door.

Positive I performed the best that I possibly could in that situation, and many of the employees complimented me on my work ethic and skills, but in the end, it was just too difficult of an environment to overcome. Positive I wanted to give sales a try because I feel that it really suits my personality. Negative This is a highly competitive industry and the employer and I underestimated the amount of support I would need.

Positive I received some great sales training and advice, learned a lot of good strategies, and am thankful for that experience. However, my boss and I both realized that I would be able to perform better in a different kind of sales or business development structure. However you feel about getting fired, it's never the best idea to place the blame squarely on your old employer. Instead, calmly evaluate the circumstances of the firing the majority involve either personality or performance , and you're more likely to telegraph maturity instead of lingering resentment.

Rather than dwelling on the painful realities around why you were fired, use them as a springboard to showcase what you learned—both about your career and yourself as a human being. Focus on these two questions:.

Now, though, you have experience on your side—and you're not letting it go to waste. Emphasize those points to your interviewer.

Again, don't deflect blame. In an interview setting, the best approach is always to accept the mistakes you may have made. For example, saying, "I didn't have a clear understanding of expectations" is far better than saying, "They didn't tell me what their expectations were," even if your personal opinion varies.

In the end, it's about owning your past, not making excuses for it. And if you can drive that outlook home both in tone and content, your target employer may walk away impressed by your ability to learn and grow, rather than hung up on one moment of your career you'd rather forget.

Now that you know how to explain being fired, you'll feel more secure going into that interview room. Evaluating different types of responses can help you prepare one that best fits your situation. In this article, we discuss why employers ask this question and how you should respond. Related: How to Appear Confident in an Interview.

Employers ask about why you were fired for two main reasons. They want to know the basic events that led up to your termination and whether it's something that reflects on your own character. They also want to see how you coped with the situation and if you took any steps to improve.

Taking responsibility for the situation, for example, demonstrates professionalism and personal growth. As you prepare for an interview, it's important to think through how you want to handle this question. Here are some steps you can follow to explain a termination:. Always be honest about why you were terminated from a previous position. Because people are let go for a variety of different reasons, you should try to give the potential employer the most objective explanation that you can.

Calmly explain the circumstances for why you were fired to demonstrate maturity. While an employer wants to understand the circumstances behind your termination, it's important to present the basic facts and keep your explanation as simple and brief as possible. Don't feel obligated to give details about what led to being fired unless necessary. It's important to remain calm and positive and avoid saying anything negative about your previous employer.

Because the hiring manager is evaluating whether you will be a positive addition to the team, be mindful of how you start and end the conversation. Once you have explained the basic circumstances behind your termination, use them to demonstrate what you have learned, both about your career and who you are as a person. Explain to the potential employer what you would have done differently, given the opportunity to revisit that moment.