How to Approach the Fact You Were Fired in a Job Interview

​You were fired. It happens. In fact, it happens to a lot of people. However, now you have to go into a job interview having been fired from a previous position. And you know there's a good chance that:
 

1. The hiring manager is going to ask about it.
2. You're going to have to answer their questions.
3. It could ultimately affect whether or not you get the job.

 
As you might expect, all of this can create a high-pressure situation, and the last thing you want heading into a face-to-face interview is to be feeling a lot of pressure.
 
With that in mind, below are six steps for approaching the fact you were fired in a job interview:
 
#1 - Change the focus of your resume.
 
Obviously, any gap in your employment history will be reflected on your resume. Since that's the case, changing the focus of your resume can be in your best interests. For example, list your skills first instead of employment history. Try to illustrate the value that you can bring to the role and the problems that you can solve for the organization. After all, your potential value is ultimately more important than your work history, anyway.
 
#2 - Do not lie or be misleading!
 
If the subject of your employment gap is broached, be honest about it. Don't try to cover it up or side-step it in some fashion. Remember that a company is more likely to hire somebody who has been fired and is upfront about it rather than somebody who lies about being fired and then the hiring manager finds out the truth after the fact.
 
#3 - Be forthright by detailing the circumstances.
 
In addition to acknowledging what happened, you should also be forthright about the circumstances surrounding what happened. Hopefully, you did not do something especially egregious to get fired, such as commit a crime of some kind. If so, then the content of this blog post may be helpful to you only to a point.
 
#4 - Explain what you've learned from the incident.
 
Employers want job candidates who are capable of learning from their mistakes, especially mistakes like this one. So it's important to convey that you have learned something and that your learning experience will make you a better worker and employee going forward.
 
#5 - Emphasize what you were doing during the gap in your employment history.
 
Hopefully, you did more than absolutely nothing during the time that you were unemployed. Did you participate in skills training? Did you volunteer anywhere? If so, mention these and other activities that show you're proactive instead of reactive.
 
#6 - Do not talk badly about the former employer (including your former boss).
 
No matter what the reason (or reasons) for your dismissal, do not speak badly about your former employer. This never comes across well to those who are interviewing you.
 
You're probably heard the phrase, "Honesty is the best policy." Well, that policy applies to what you should do if you have to explain the fact that you were fired during a job interview.
 
Are you currently engaged in a job search? Then Time Staffing can help!
 
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