Never Tell the Interviewer You Were Fired

Never Tell the Interviewer You Were FiredNever Tell the Interviewer You Were FiredNever Tell the Interviewer You Were FiredIve been working on a project that involves asking real-world hiring managers for their thoughts on a variety of interview topics. One of the most enlightening comments (so far) came from a hiring manager with 25 years of interviewing and hiring experience. I asked whether a job seeker whos been fired should admit that during an interview. His reply?Of course not Youre not trying to get into heaven, youre trying to get a jobIm not saying you should tell an outright lie, he clarified, because if they hire you and find out later that you lied, youll be fired again. But its foolish to tell a prospective employer that your old employer fired you.I thought that was a great way of looking at it. Some job seekers feel guilty if they dont confess every detail. But omitting certain details is not the same as making a false statement.So how should you address a past firing in an interview? Follow these three simple principlesIf they dont ask, dont tell.Never volunteer negative information in an interview. Prepare an answer, but cross your fingers that you wont have to use it.If they do ask, put a positive spin on the truth. Avoid harsh words like fired or terminated. Talk about things like differing expectations, or a mutual realization that it wasnt a good fit.Be factual and brief, then change the subject.schliff your answer with a statement or question that redirects the topic back to your qualifications and enthusiasm for the new job.Heres a sample of how this might workI really liked the company, and Id been very successful in the role for two years. When a corporate reorganization brought a new set of expectations from the management team, I think my supervisor and I both realized the job was no longer a good fit. What skills do you think are important to ensure a good fit in this role?