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Why were you fired from your last job? That question can knock you off your feet if you are unprepared. Getting dismissed from your job could happen for several reasons, including redundancy; a situation where your job ceases to exist. Whatever the reason, you have to be adequately prepared for your next interview, if you intend to get the job.
Losing your job may produce a feeling of disillusionment and cause you to feel reluctant about finding a new one. Rather than feeling sorry for your plight, you can invest in discovering what potential employers are looking for and how you can ensure your dismissal doesn’t keep you unemployed for a long time.
Are you wondering how you can prepare for an interview after being fired? Here are key tips that will help you get your next job.
After Being Fired, What Next?
Handling a job termination can be a daunting task. it chips away at your self-esteem and can make job hunting seem like hell. However, it is worthy to note that success arises when opportunity meets preparation. Did you get terminated at work? These tips will guide you to securing your next job.
- Don’t lie about getting fired: Lying about being fired will only discredit you before your prospective employer. You need to exhibit a high level of professionalism and honesty by confessing to being fired. This will assure the employer that you are mature and willing to take responsibility for your action. Even if you feel you were dismissed unfairly, you should calmly explain your side of the story to the recruiter. Also, may be better place to not bring up the subject unless directly asked.
- Work on your confidence level: Getting fired at work might wreak havoc on your self-esteem. You might suddenly feel unworthy, irrelevant, and sad. These negative emotions will only make your job hunting draining. Work on your confidence, and always remind yourself of your strength and past accomplishments. Surround yourself with friends and family members that will make you feel good about yourself. Slouching before a recruiter might indicate you are not ready for a job, yet.
- Accept responsibility for your action: This might mean taking classes or training on your areas of weakness. If you were fired because you couldn’t get the numbers right; an online class on bookkeeping might save you during interviews. Taking responsibility for your actions might also mean working on your attitude within the workplace. A receptionist fired for being rude to clients might decide to take responsibility by practicing being nice or reading self-help books.
- Don’t speak ill of your former employer: No matter what had transpired between you and your former employer; it’s best to keep the gory details to yourself. Ranting about your ex-boss’s imperfections might seem like a nice thing to win the recruiter’s favor, but it isn’t. Maintain professionalism when speaking of your old workplace. Don’t divulge company secrets as a form of revenge or to curry favor from your prospective employer.
- Highlight your past successes and present accomplishments: When you go into the interview room, focus on highlighting your past success and elaborating on your present achievements. It shows you are a positive person and makes it easy for employers to like you.
- Take your time: You don’t have to get a new job two days after being fired. Take some time to think, cry or swear aloud. Dealing with your emotions is a healthy way to prepare for the future. If you have deep feelings of resentment toward your former boss or colleagues, try talking to a therapist or a close friend. Make sure you have gotten over it before going for that interview.
The ‘Why were you fired’ Question: Giving the best answers.
Congratulations! You made it to the interview room and now what? Here are some pro tips on how to answer the defining question about why you were fired.
- My skills didn’t match the job requirement: This answer presents you as an assertive person willing to take charge of your life. Rather than stating bluntly that you were underperforming, give a good reason why it happened. You can say:
“I was originally hired as a secretary but over time my boss delegated the accounting jobs to me. I majored in communication and find numbers challenging. When I couldn’t meet up with the job requirements, we thought it was wise to part ways, amicably.”
- Insurmountable challenges at work: Another good reason is to highlight a specific challenge that made your job difficult. This honest answer will prove you are proactive and a hard worker. You can say:
“The requirements of my role changed due to a restructure, which required me to take on the responsibility of debt collection. I found the task quite difficult in the current climate.”
Why do employers want to know why you were fired?
At the soul of every employer is a desire for employees to perform optimally and contribute to the overall success of the company. Employing someone who has been fired from his previous job can cast a shadow of doubt on the employer’s part. When you walk into the interview room, here are some key reasons why your prospective employer wants to know why you were dismissed from work.
- They want to know if you are going to take responsibility or badmouth your ex-boss. If you are dumb enough to curse your former employer, your recruiter is going to believe that you will do the same or worse to them.
- They want to know if you have an attitude problem that could affect their company. If you were fired for alleged harassment, theft, or in discipline; it could show you are not the right fit for the job.
- They have doubts about your performance, skills, and knowledge. Getting fired from work comes with an invisible stigma. No employer wants a non-achiever on their team.
- They want to know if you are trustworthy. Denying that you were dismissed from work is a red flag for the recruiter. This is a risk that you may feel you need to take sometimes and that is a judgment call but comes with a lot of risk.
- They are wary of employing someone with a questionable work background.
- They want to test your loyalty. If you are going to divulge trade secrets at an interview to get back at your former employer; it means you are not loyal.
All is not lost!
Employers are often aware of or experienced difficult circumstances themselves. Most know that it could be a case of the wrong personality fit, a change in the needs of the company, etc. Having represented thousands of employees in Fair Work cases, I have been fortunate not just to hear the unjust and unfair stories. I have also heard about many of the successes that have come after.
Wrapping up
Getting fired from your job can ruin your chances with prospective employers if you don’t develop the right attitude and skills needed for an interview. You need to work on your confidence; especially if you were fired for underperforming at your tasks. It is also important to brush up on your skill and how to prove to your future employer how valuable you will be to the team.
Are you stuck after being fired from work? Do you think you were dismissed unfairly? A Whole New Approach (ANWA) is the most reliable source to turn to fight for your justice. We can help make a case for unfair dismissal, leaving you free to focus on the next step in your career. Enjoy a free consultation today when you talk to any of our agents on 1300 766 700.
