You're Fired!

Job applications, interviews and resumes are all meant to emphasize your strengths and your best qualities. But, what if you were fired from your last job?

Let’s check out our Career Guide and see if it has any tips:

“If you were fired, you need to approach it in a factual format, with no emotion. Be honest; do not lie. Tell what you learned from it and how you are better because of it.” (IPFW Career Guide, page 56)

Take Responsibility- The truth is, you might be furious at your previous employer, what they did to you, may be completely unfair, or you may feel frustrated by your own poor performance. Your new employer, doesn’t want you to cast blame.  See where you can find fault in your own actions, even if it was only that you stayed too long at a job that you knew wasn’t right for you. Remember, there’s a fine line between being honest and giving way too much information.

Share What You’ve Learned-What would you do differently now? Learn how to better manage your time? Be more accurate in your work? Resolve conflict more quickly? Let your prospective new employer know.

Share What You’ve Done- If you’ve anything that might show the employer that you’ve improved from the past, like receive additional training in an area where you were lacking let him or her know.

Finally, keep in mind that you want to emphasize the positive, which in this case is how enthusiastic you are about starting a new job and a phase in your life!

*You can pick up a free copy of the Career Guide in the Career Services office in Kettler 109 or find it online at: http://new.ipfw.edu/dotAsset/213057.pdf”