Q: I was fired from my job because I refused to take the blame for what was their fault and not mine. How am I supposed to explain this on an interview?
A: In explaining a termination it’s important to say what you learned from the experience and as a consequence, what you would do differently going forward. With this reframing you can approach your explanation in a variety of ways.
For example, you might say you’d do a better job upfront of matching yourself to the opportunity; that you’d take more time to learn the business culture and the company’s values; that you would communicate differently; that you would assume less and confirm more; that you would work harder to build consensus and develop relationships, and so on.
Above all else, be mindful of this: Just as you didn’t want to get into the blame game in your last employment, don’t engage in it now or as you look for what’s next.
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Joyce Richman (www.joycerichman.com) has been specializing in executive and career coaching since she started her own practice in 1982. She works in a variety of environments including: higher education, manufacturing, sales, marketing, media, technology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, banking and finance, service, IT, and non-profit sectors. A member of the adjunct faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership, Joyce is certified to administer a number of feedback and psychological instruments. Joyce has appeared regularly on WFMY-TV and is the career columnist for The Greensboro News & Record. She is the author of Roads, Routes and Ruts: A Guidebook to Career Success and co-author of Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job. A popular speaker, Richman conducts seminars and workshops throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Her coaching profile can be found at TheCoachingAssociation.com.
