4.4 Ways to Explain You Were Let Go From Last Job
Careers Done Write is pleased to have Elaine Hirsch as our guest poster.
Elaine Hirsch is kind of a jack-of-all-interests, from education to technology to public policy, so she is currently working as a writer for various education-related sites and writing about all these things instead.
Losing a job, like any major life event, can involve a lot of anxiety. Not only does it mean a shift in one's day-to-day life that is probably unexpected, it can be a hit to the ego as well. To make matters worse, the stress of leaving behind a workplace can be dejecting while preparing for fresh interviews. Among these concerns is whether your resume fully represents your skill set, whether employers value potential employees who’ve attended online college programs (a simple web search will net you pages of results), or just questions about your previous job. If you've ever sat in front of a desk while HR reps challenge you rigorous behavioral and technical questions, you know exactly how difficult it can be to explain why you were let go by your previous employer.
Here are some tips to jump over the hurdle of losing your job and to land a better job than the one you’ve been recently fired from:
Negative Connotations of Being Fired
First, the term “fired” is loaded with many negative connotations. Being fired from a position implies that you failed your responsibilities at your last job, which is a terrible way to start a job interview. Although you shouldn’t lie about your previous mishaps, it’s important to be able to learn from your mistakes and move on. Acknowledge what went wrong and suggest ways that you could have better handled the situation. Not only does doing so give more insight to your prospective employer of why you were let go, but it is a good way of displaying honesty and integrity, as well as and ability to learn from past situations.
Let Go of Your Ego
Let's say you weren't let go by your former employer, but you quit. Your ego might be in better shape; but either way, you need to get a new job, and you'll be asked why you're no longer working for your previous employer. The key here is to remain collected and non-egotistical. Perhaps your previous position wasn’t challenging enough (it happens all the time). Or, maybe you didn’t think that you were going to experience growth in the role (it was a dead end). This is a good opportunity to let your motivated personality shine through.
Accentuate the Differences Between Employers
Every company has a set of cultures or goals to which they adhere. Do your research before the interview and understand what each prospective employer looks for in its employees. Highlight these values. How does your personality align with the corporate goals of the company? This will give you a competitive edge over your less prepared competition.
Be Pragmatic
It’s important to keep in mind that regardless of how you left your old job, the time you spent there taught you many valuable skills that you will transfer to a new position. Be sure to illuminate your strengths and acknowledge your failures, but remain sincere during the entire hiring process. By doing so, you’ll have the best shot of landing the new position despite your previous employment history.