How to Explain That You Were Fired From a Previous Job

The fact that you have been fired from a previous job doesn't need to be volunteered in your CV or cover letter but it may be brought up during an interview so be prepared. Even though you were fired, you worked for a company and it is part of your employment history. You gained skills and knowledge at that job that may be useful to your potential employer, so there's no reason to exclude it from your CV.

If you are faced with the direct question ‘Why did you leave your last job?’ you must tell the truth and confront the issue. If you are successful in an interview, it is likely your job offer will be subject to suitable References so be up front and face the question head on. Try to refrain from using the word ‘Fired’ and instead say "the circumstances that led to my leaving were…"

Being fired from a job never looks good, but it can still be turned to your advantage if you are prepared. Potential employers are bound to be wary of a candidate who has been fired from a previous job, but honesty is the best policy. If you are honest, calm and objective about why you were fired a potential employer will have a better understanding of the circumstances and can make their own judgment. Remember your body language can give you away so remain confident and don’t get defensive. Describe exactly what happened and offer your version of why things went wrong, but never make negative remarks about the company or your former employer. Show that you have learned from the experience and that it will never happen again. Also, try not to mention any legal action that is taking place as this can really put off a potential employer.

The most common grounds for being fired are:

Interpersonal conflict with colleagues or Management - Remain objective and briefly explain why you did not see eye to eye with your colleagues. Reassure the potential employer that you have learnt a lot from the situation and how you would handle certain situations differently in the future.

Performance Issues - You can admit to performance issues as long as you show that you've learnt from your past mistakes. For example, if your employment was terminated because you lost motivation or became complacent, explain how you intend to stay motivated in a future role. If you had problems with time keeping or absence, give examples of how you have improved your time management.

Claims of Misconduct or Negligence – Briefly describe the situation which led you to being fired and explain you have really learnt from the experience. Don’t bad mouth your previous employer and focus on your key achievements in the role instead. Say in reflection you can see where you went wrong and any future employer can be rest assured that you would never make the same mistake twice.

Finally remember, being fired isn’t always about the individual and it is important to remain rational and objective when answering questions about your termination. Lots of job applicants have been fired before and go onto successful and rewarding careers.