Last Updated: 6th November 2020
Nobody likes getting fired. But it can happen to the best of us. Maybe it’s the economy, or because of new management. But now you have to move on and get another job. And here’s the tricky part – what to write in your resume if you’ve been fired from your last job?
Your resume, cover letter, application form, every document that has to do with your job application should be positive. There should NOT be any mention of you getting fired from the last job. However, there might be instances where you have to talk about it, like:
Job Application Form
Usually job application forms have a separate section to list your previous work history. It’s best to concentrate on your responsibilities for the past jobs you’ve had. If there is a definite need to enter the reasons for leaving previous job position, simply mention “terminated”, or “job ended”. You can even mention “would like to discuss in person”.
Never lie, because any lies you feed to your prospective employer through your job application can form the grounds of termination in the future. So stay away from lies.
Interview
The best way to prepare for an interview when you’ve been fired from your last job is to practice your responses to possible questions regarding the termination of your last job.
You know best why you were fired. So it’s up to you to decide what to say, whether you choose to stick to the naked truth, or maybe disguise some of the details. But again, never lie. Here are some sample reasons you can cite as the reason for leaving your previous job:
Corporate downsizing due to economy – need I say more?
Low job satisfaction – You weren’t happy with your last job.
Unclear – You’re still unclear what went wrong.
What Not to Do
Never play the blame game.
Do not bad mouth or gossip about your former boss or colleagues during your interview.
No rants either.
You’d simply projecting a bad image with this behavior. And you definitely don’t want that to happen, right?
So stick to your story, and highlight your skills to land the job you want.
To know more about how to land your dream job and master interview skills, contact me now.
Read my other articles for Women Entrepreneurs.