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Q:
I’ve been fired from the last three jobs I’ve held. How do I explain
this to employers?
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A:
This is a common situation. Sometimes it’s the employee’s fault, sometimes
it’s not (but if you’re explaining it to an employer, it’s fairly certain
you’re interviewing). Let’s take a look at some common situations
and formats to explain them:
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Your
fault. Sometimes people
are canned for unwittingly violating company policy, incompetence – or
worse yet – criminal activities. Here, you need to do a bit of soul
searching. Have you learned from your mistake(s)? Are you
applying for a position or in an industry that would eliminate any
temptation to repeat the errors? If you’ve learned your lesson(s),
then you might say something like: “Who can say why errors are made?
I was unfamiliar with the company policy surround the situation and
unfortunately violated it. Are your company policies overtly stated?”
You weren’t
a fit. This is a frequent
cause for repeated firing. After all – you can’t put a square peg in
a round hole! If the positions,
companies or company cultures didn’t blend with your skills, talents and
personality, then you could say: “I accepted those positions because, quite
frankly, I hate being out of work. It’s unfortunate that I leapt at
jobs that were ill-fitted for me, but I learned a great deal anyway.
I’ve also learned not to leap before looking. Could you tell me more
about your widget manufacturing process?”
Not
your fault. This happens a
lot, too. Unfortunately, some gain management positions without any
skills, training or talent. This,
unfortunately causes employees to be laid off or fired for management
failures. If you’ve been let go because of this, then you might say:
“There were some realignments and restructurings. It was sometimes
humorous to step out for lunch and find entirely new methodologies in place
when I returned. What do you see the sub-widget division doing in the
next three to five years?”
IN THE CARAVAN: Whether the employee’s fault or not, recent frequent firings
are common. Explain the situations briefly, express optimism or
humor, and end your explanation with a redirecting question.
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bSafari.c
The Lion’s Pride: Q & A
