What Do You Write On The Application… If You Were Fired?

Here is a question asked by Drew Williams, one of my readers here at Interview Chatter:

The problem I’m having is that question is asked on the application, usually an online one, and you are screened out automatically. Do I answer “no” so I can get an interview and then explain everything then? I will have already been dishonest but I have to answer question or I won’t be able to finish application?

The the simple answer is to answer “yes” to this question on an application if you have been fired. Honesty is critical to you successfully navigating the hiring process. But what if the question on the application is, “why did you leave your last employer?

Here is another question asked by Kathleen Riley: 

The fear here is that the prospective employer will look at the reason for leaving - “termination” - and toss the application in the waste basket. How can a person - who did nothing wrong - write “let go” on an app and still project the image that she will be a good employee?

If you have an opportunity to say something other than “I was fired”, do so. My recommendation is to say on the application, “it was time for a change and/or I am looking for new opportunities.”

Once you have an opportunity to discuss your previous employment, you will want to discuss what happened. In that discussion you will want to speak from a place of accountability. If you were fired, say so and follow it up by saying, let me share what I learned from that experience.

What other suggestions do you have for jobseekers who have been terminated? Leave your response in as a comment below!