So you were fired? Now what? How will you explain it when you interview?

There are many questions that plague job seekers. What salary are you looking for? is a big one. Why should we hire you? is another. And Why did you leave your last job? can leave you spluttering if you were fired and dont know how to answer. And most people dont! After theyve stumbled through a few answerstrying in vain to phrase it in an acceptable wayand are not invited back for a second interview, their fears are confirmed. No one will hire them because theyve been fired.

Except thats not whats really happening. The problem is not that they were fired, but how they answered the question.

We dont stay at a job our entire lives like most of our grandparents did. Not only is it common to change jobs, some believe it's the best way to leverage salary and career. While most of the changes may be of your own volition, odds are a few will involve being fired or laid-off. Companies are bought out, merge, and consolidate, which means inevitably theres a duplication of staff. It can be as simple as the new president wanting to bring in his own team. He probably didnt even look at your capabilities, He just decided you were outta there.

These departures arent as difficult to explain. You can say:

Our company was bought and the entire department was eliminated. (Its not me; a bunch of us were asked to leave.) Safety in numbers.
The new president wanted to bring in his own guy. I lasted about a week. (Its not me; the president didnt even take the time to find out if I was good at what I do.) A prospective company cant possibly hold something against you thats so impersonal.
The company was losing money and downsized. (Its not me; if the company had been profitable, Id still be there!)

The common thread is, Its not me. Therefore, I am not flawed, unwanted, performing poorly, or any other reason you can think up or worry about. But these types of partings, while they seem impersonal, can still have a detrimental effect. Well get to that in a minute.

The instances that cause real damage feel very personal, even when they arent. You are the only one who was dismissed, and whats more, you know theyll replace you. Youre caught off guard, angry, and frightened, too. In an instant, youre on the defensive, which is usually where people remain. And thats exactly what causes the problem.

Firing isnt always about the individual, even though thats whos impacted the most. Sometimes its about the bossespecially bosses with issues. It might be about poor performance, but thats not always negative. It could be the result of having different philosophies. For instance, the company may value those who work weekends, nights and holidays. You prefer to balance your life.

Once youre fired, you cant change the circumstances. But you can control how you view them. While departmental or companywide layoffs are easier to explain, they can also cause damage. You wonder, If Id been really good, wouldnt they have found another spot for me? In addition, youre in an insecure place that sometimes is difficult to adjust to.

Take time to clear some tears or anger. If youre tempted to recoil, rehash, threaten revenge or otherwise communicate with your previous employer, dont. Remember one word: reference! Dont burn your bridges. Leave the company gracefully.

Most importantly, detach yourself from the event and honestly examine what happened. Thats the only way youre going to get any insight and begin adjusting your thoughts and perspective. There are hundreds of reasons for dismissal, so no pat answer will suffice. The unequivocal rule is to tell the truth. If they discover you lied, youll be wondering for a long time how youll pay your bills. So when youre asked why you left tell them you were fired. Forthright brevity is best. Its all in how you phrase it. The trick is a shift in perspective, which is easier when youve purged the defensiveness and shame.

Dont give a long, rambling story or blame the company, your boss, or anyone else. Were you even partially- at fault? Take responsibility. Did you learn from the experience? Say so. Are you completely at sea as to what happened? Thats okay. Not every job is right for everyone. There are philosophical differences, chemistry problems, tough spots, and bosses who are difficult and self-absorbed.

Regardless of the reason, it wasnt your perfect job or you werent quite what they needed. The great thing is that it was recognized (in whatever form) and everyone is moving on. The goal is to be real about what works for you and why the firing took place.

The first step, as trite as it sounds, is to look at it as a blessing. It may take some time to see, but no matter how bad it looks or feels, something good will come of it. Maybe it will be a better job, a chance to grow, or the realization that you hated your career who knows?

But if youre too busy being angry and defensive, not only will you miss the chance to capitalize on the positive outcome, but youll also keep experiencing negative consequences. When you're in a victimized frame of mind, you'll miss recognizing an opportunity and continue to perpetuate your unemployment.

Lets examine two answers to the question: Why did you leave your last job?

HOLDING-ON HENRIETTA: I dont know. I was doing my job. Everyone liked me. They always came to me for advice instead of our boss. When the other manager left, they promoted the assistant. Shes maybe about 28. I guess they thought shed be good just because shed been there a long time, but she really was a shrew. I think she hated me. She was always talking down to me. One time she took credit for one of my projects. Shes the one that should have left! Im glad to be out of there.

OBJECTIVE OLIVIA: I was fired, actually. The assistant manager was promoted to manager because she had seniority and she was very good at her job. Unfortunately, she was young and perhaps she thought respect was automatically accorded instead of earned, because when everyone else began coming to me instead of her, it didnt seem to sit well with her. Despite that I excelled in my responsibilities and met my goals, she let me go. Im sorry to have had to leave the company. I learned a lot there.

Can you spot the differences? As the interviewer, what would you think?

You must work out a comfortable response. Rewrite it, rephrase it, and test it. Be able to say it calmly and sincerely. If you notice hesitation or discomfort, your words, your attitudeor possibly bothneed adjustment. There is no good or bad. Theres only perspective, which is your choice. Firing is considered bad, but whats bad about being fired when a boss has issues? Whats bad about protecting a customer or not compromising your ethics? Whats bad about being asked to leave because the position description changed and doesnt fit your job preferences or skills? Whats bad about being fired from a sales job for lousy numbers when you hate selling (and realize later that youre relieved to be gone)?

When youre comfortable with what happened, youll be comfortable with your response, and it will be much easier to look someone in the eye while you answer their question.

Judi Perkins
http://www.CareerCube.net