How to Explain Being Fired, Let Go or Terminated in a Job Search
- 1). Communicate with a representative from the human resources department or appropriate manager at your old job. Confirm what he will tell prospective employers who call. In many cases, especially with large companies, he will only confirm the dates of your employment -- not the circumstances under which you left.
- 2). Do not mention having been fired in your resume, cover letter or job application. All of these documents are for showcasing your strengths -- not for candidly admitting faults or your personal therapy over losing your job. No prospective employer will hold it against you that you didn't bring up the termination in that paperwork.
- 3). Work through the negative emotions surrounding being fired. It's easy to hold a grudge or to take a shot to your self-esteem. That's natural, but it should never be part of your interactions with a prospective employer. The better you've dealt with those feelings, the less likely they will be to creep unexpectedly into an interview.
- 4). Let the interviewer bring up the subject of why you left that job. If she doesn't mention it, there's no reason it should be part of the conversation. The only exception to this is if you're certain your former employer will bring it up if contacted. In that case, broach the subject and move on to steps 5 and 6.
- 5). Keep discussion of the termination impersonal. If you can, phrase it as an organizational change such as "The new manager decided to bring on his own team," or "I was in violation of company policy, and they had to let me go." Be as truthful as you can without volunteering reasons not to hire you, and never make it about how your former boss was a jerk or you got railroaded. That makes you look unprofessional and defensive.
- 6). Finish any conversation about getting fired by discussing specifically what you learned from the experience. Prospective employers don't want somebody perfect, but they do want somebody who can learn from mistakes and work with a team.
