How To Answer The Question, “Why Were You Fired?”

Have you been fired from your job? You might be wondering how to explain your situation in a job interview. After all, it’s likely to come up. What’s the best way to respond to the inevitable question of why you were fired? How can you explain a firing, so it won’t negatively impact you during the interview process?

Being asked about why you were terminated is among the most challenging interview questions to answer. It’s uncomfortable to talk about losing your job under any circumstances, and it’s even harder when you’re trying to explain it to someone you are hoping will hire you.

If you have not taken time to prepare for the interview, this question will throw you off guard ad cost you a potential job offer.

Here is how to answer the question, “Why were you fired?’

Always be honest about why you were terminated from a previous position. Because people are let go for a variety of different reasons, you should try to give the potential employer the most objective explanation that you can. Calmly explain the circumstances for why you were fired to demonstrate maturity.

While an employer wants to understand the circumstances behind your termination, it’s important to present the basic facts and keep your explanation as simple and brief as possible. Don’t feel obligated to give details about what led to being fired unless necessary.

It’s important to remain calm and positive and avoid saying anything negative about your previous employer. Because the employer is evaluating whether you will be a positive addition to the team, be mindful of how you start and end the conversation.

Once you have explained the basic circumstances behind your termination, use them to demonstrate what you have learned, both about your career and who you are as a person. Explain to the potential employer what you would have done differently, given the opportunity to revisit that moment. Accept responsibility for any mistakes you made. Describe any steps you’ve taken to prevent it from happening again.

Practice gracefully changing the topic of discussion to the value you have to offer a company. This helps you keep the conversation about your termination as brief as possible, and lets you transition to discussing your skills, experience and the open position.

Why Were You Fired Best Answers

• Being let go was a blessing in disguise for me. I now have an opportunity to explore jobs better suited to my qualifications and skills. My skills are more suited for this industry because of XYZ.
• My role wasn’t working out, so my then boss and I agreed that I should seek a more-suited role and industry, and here I am.
• I was desperate for work and took the first one that came my way. When they let me go it made me realize that I need to choose something I am passionate about. That’s why I am here.

Whatever the reason for your termination was, you’ll need to tailor your response to fit your own circumstances and how your termination was handled.

If unsure of how to handle this question and any follow-up interview questions that may arise, book a mock interview coaching session with an interview coach who will guide you before your next job interview.