How To Answer A Very Difficult Interview Question: Why Were You Fired?

I was privileged to be on a panel of interviewers when we were looking for an IT Officer in our company. One of the questions was “why were you fired?” We had the best two candidates who made for the final interview and the first candidate responded “My former employer fired me because I showed up at work late while drunk but I promise that I will never repeat the same mistake.” The second candidate said, “My previous employment was amazing, I loved my work, got along well with everyone but one day, I allowed my personal life to interfere with my professional life but I have sought out help from counselors and I am much better now.”

The question was a determinant because the two candidates had the excellent experience that we were looking for.

Potential employers will ask this question to understand why your previous employment was ended, find out if you conducted yourself inappropriately, and most significantly to check how you respond to a difficult situation.

To respond effectively and prove that you are an ideal candidate, it is important to take responsibility for the actions that led to your firing and demonstrate how you have grown.

I later consulted an interview coach who provides one-on-one interview coaching in Kenya and he gave me the best tips to answer the above question.

1. Be Truthful

One of the interviewees who didn’t manage to the second interview said that she resigned from her previous employment but after a background check, it was found that she had been fired.

For you to build trust with interviewers, it is important, to be honest, and use the right language because that will display your maturity.

2. Be Concise

To avoid taking too much time on this question, consider giving out brief answers by focusing on the facts and avoiding irrelevant opinions.

If you had personal issues that affected performance at work, there is no need to go to every detail and their negative impacts.

For example “I had significant personal challenges that required to be addressed and being let go allowed me to seek support to overcome those challenges. I am now prepared and ready to fully devote myself to effectively work.“

3. Practice Prior to The Interview

For you to be comfortable when answering such questions, it is important to prepare for common and tricky questions that employers ask during the interview.

Create a script and practice by recording yourself or get someone to act as an interviewer and give you the feedback that will improve your performance.

4. Demonstration Accountability

If you were fired because of certain behaviors, never play the blame game, hold yourself accountable for your actions and demonstrate how you have grown and learned from the mistakes because that will show your professionalism and reliability.

For example, the second candidate acknowledged the responsibility that led to his firing and the lesson he learned from that experience.

5. Show Your Best Attributes

After explaining why you were fired, demonstrate the skills that make you an ideal candidate for the role by focusing on the requirements in the job description.

For example “Despite leaving the company, I found out that it did not allow me to fully utilize my extensive digital marketing skills. I am well-versed with web analytics, social media marketing, google ads, and search engine optimization and I am excited about the opportunity to take advantage of these skills to help improve the visibility of the company.”

6. Minimize Use of The Word “Fired”

The first candidate said he was fired because he was drunk and that showed a negative connotation. He should have considered using softer language to be able to sell himself as a candidate.

Based on the situation, you can say that it was due to layoffs, the company downsized, you had a problem that needed to be addressed or you had a mutual agreement based on the differing goals with your employer.

To Wrap-Up

If you were terminated for whatever reason, it is crucial to tailor your response positively and handle it in a way that demonstrates that you are the best fit for the role.

If you have an upcoming interview and don’t know how to handle this question and other interview questions, invest in a mock interview coaching session that will prepare you for success.