Mastering the Job Interview #7: Why Were You Fired From Your Last Job?

The interview you’re at is going well. You’ve found chemistry with the interviewing team and you’re on track to getting the job. Then out of nowhere, the tough question arrives:

Why were you fired from your last job?

Yikes. If getting fired didn’t hurt enough, now you have to answer potential judgment from someone else.

Not to worry — we’ve got you on this.

What the question really means

For some interviews, this question is a formality (you got laid off, unforeseen circumstances) while in others, companies really want to know. In both cases, it’s a chance to share what you have learned from your experience while also sharing what you’ll do in the new job. We’ll address both in this post.

Getting Laid Off

With the economy changing faster than ever, layoffs come at a faster pace. If you work at a startup or a public corporation, layoffs and reorganizations are a natural part of the process. Technology careers, in particular, are at risk due to the changing pace of the industry: What was relevant yesterday is definitely not relevant tomorrow, and people must simply move on.

Getting Fired

Getting fired, on the other hand, is a different story. If you were terminated due to cause, then you have to answer to that and be honest about why. While companies won’t turn down someone for simply being fired, showing that you’ve learned from the situation and how you communicate that will go a long way.

How to tackle the question

If you’ve been laid off, answering the question is simple. Often times layoffs happen due to downsizing, acquisitions, and budget issues, all of which are a characteristic of a capitalist economy. In some situations, the interviewer may ask how many others were laid off. You should be as honest as possible and provide the lay of the land without critiquing too much of your former company.

If you’ve been fired, the standard operating procedure is different. Admitting termination is one thing, but you must demonstrate that you have learned from it and how you will avoid similar issues in the future. Alternatively, you can mention that your former employer decided to venture in a different direction and those plans did not include you. As a code of warning, if they end up calling your former employer, this could backfire if they answer differently.

Here are some quick tips:

1. DO be brief. When companies hire employees, they want as few problems as possible. The more you bring, the worse it sounds.
2. DO be honest. Layoffs and firings are a perfectly human element — but pick your words wisely.
3. DO demonstrate self-awareness. If you were terminated, it’s important to know what you learned. If you were laid off, discuss your career plans in context and your interest in continuation. Though you were let go for reasons beyond your reach, this is your opportunity to share how you have moved forward.
4. DO NOT tell a story. In this question especially, turning your situation into a novel will only hurt you.

Closing Thoughts

Of all the interview questions to be asked, this is probably our least favorite because it brings up a set of vulnerabilities that may have harsh consequences. However, this question also provides the opportunity to redeem and could be the difference in getting the next job.

Good luck and let us know what your thoughts are in the comments.

This was originally posted on Albert’s List. Read more posts like this at http://albertslist.org/archive/interviews/