Free Career and Job Search Advice

geenet · Newbie Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hi there!

I was recently fired from my old job and would like some advice on what say in the interview and how to say it for my next job.

Thanks

Gee

julian · Expert Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 255 Career Advice: +2/-0

Ohx...this is a very common question regarding interviews. Unfortunately, people do get fire, and unfortunately, futue employers do ask them what the reson of them being laid off is. In this case, there are some things whici one should take into account. First, the future interviewer is interested in finding out what your problem area is through this question. So the best thing which you can do is answer it honestly and show that you have learnt from that experience. Other suggestions:
- do not quarrell with the interviewer
- do not badmouth your previous employer (the future employer always sets himself in the previous' place, so it will be like youi're badmouthing him...not good)
- never blame it on the office politics because you might be considered incapable of handleing situations of crisis
- never invoke incompatibility between you and your previous boss
- do not hide the truth
and....that's about it.
Good luck!

geenet · Newbie Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Julian,

Thanks much for the advice. I will make sure to use it on my next interview.

Gee

Katja144 · Expert Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 176 Career Advice: +2/-0

Randy · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 2:39 am Post subject:

Well, there's this aspect to it all:

These days more and more employers are reluctant at verifying anything other than the actual dates of employment. So now we've entered into the real heart of the matter: Should you lie on your application regarding the reason you left your former employer?

The answer to that depends upon how good you are at lying.

Employers routinely lie to employees. such as "There's no money for raises but we sure hope you didn't notice all that new office furnite and new company vehicles we just purchased this year," and so forth. So I've just learned to follow their lead.

As it stands, you have a specific date for when you left your last employer, right? So the question (on the application) becomes "Why did you leave?"

(Play along, okay?)

Answer: "Personal reasons"

In the interview you'll be asked about this, right? Well, you "explain" by repeating yourself, only now you get to include--allude to, actually--your former employer. "I had to leave for personal reasons which required my immediate and complete attention. I know and understand how displeased this made my former employer notice blah blah blah...."

You've already created "plausible denial" on the part of the prospective employer sitting if front of you when he might say next:

"According to your former employer you were terminated...."

I.E., the whole time he's saying that, YOU'VE already given him reason to think, to believe that it is indeed possible that under the situation as you've given that an employer MIGHT be vindictive enough to...to what? LIE, that's what! And you'd damned well better believe that HE knows that employers lie because he IS one!

So now what?

Look surprised! BE surprised (this is why I say you must be able to lie really, really well, to the degree that YOUR lie becomes YOUR truth!)! "No, sir, that's simply not true at all. As I said, I admit I had to leave rather abruptly and I know--and completely understand--that they weren't pleased with me for doing so. But no, sir, I did NOT get fired."

(Now you can't do any of that, of course, if there was some sort of "official firing party" in which documents were signed at the time, including something with YOUR signature on it, but in all my experience--and that's a few "terminations"--I've never, ever had this happen.)

And hell, if all else fails, this will work:

Have a friend/relative call your former employer and just ask for the reference as if you were applying for a job!

Just remember this:

Lying on an application WILL get you fired AFTER you've been hired, that's for sure. And it should. But if they haven't done that much of a "background" check BEFORE hiring you, unless and until you prove yourself to be a major screw-up AFTER the fact, don't you think the chances of any such checks AFTER you've been hired will be slim to none?

And if you really, really want to carry this further, turn the tables on any future potential employers whom you're sensing will use your vile, evil past for having been fired (after all, doesn't getting fired mean you're the lowest form of life on the planet?) and ask HIM/HER:

"I was wondering if your company has ever terminated anyone and, if so, why should I believe you wouldn't do the same thing to me?"

See how ludicrous this all really is when we act like the CEO of a corporation of ONE--that being YOU! This is YOUR life, NOT theirs!

ank06 · Expert Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 248 Career Advice: +1/-0

Rita MC · Newbie Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Unfortunataly this is quite a common situation for a person trying to find a new job after being fired. I completely agree with you Katja.

Here there is a good article which will help you with your CV/ resume after being fired from your previous job.

Does one have to lie about it?
Does one has to cover it with custard?

Read more:
http://www.cvtips.com/fired_CV.html

lexa10881 · Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject:

That is going to be tough. Do you know the exact reason why you were fired? If not, figure that out, perhaps by asking your old employer. You need to have a good explanation because the subject is certain to come up. One thing to remember is to be direct and honest. Lying about your past job history makes the firing more understandable if your interviewer finds out. Thses articles might help; there are some other useful articles too but these can get you started:

http://www.cvtips.com/justification_for_being_fired_interview.html
http://www.cvtips.com/fired_CV.html

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