How to Answer "Why Were You Fired?" Interview Question

If you have been asked to leave a job then you have to declare this and deal with it accordingly in an interview.

Lying or bending the truth is not an option here. Don’t end up with everyone being embarrassed when your reference says something different to what you have told them. And remember that most offer letters are given on the condition that references are accurate. If you have been dismissed from a previous role it is unlikely you will get a reference and if you do it probably won’t be something you want in your new employment file.

why were you fired

Deal with this very carefully – why were you asked to leave? Make notes on the following:

  • What was the situation you were fired?

  • Why?

  • Was there any option or second chances?


If you were dismissed for gross misconduct then you are going to need to prove to the interviewer that what you did was a mistake and you have learnt from this and it will not happen again. If you were dismissed for not making targets then that is totally different to something serious and you need to explain the reasons why you couldn’t make the targets and if you are going for a similar role how in the future you propose to change and what you have done since to make sure the situation will not happen again.

This is the time for convincing the interviewer that you are a reformed person looking for a chance to start afresh and that you have been honest about mistakes in the past and that you hope that you can be given a chance to prove that you will be the model employee and exceptionally hard working.

Remember be honest, do the same research you would for any interview but remember you need to go one step further by being able to show them exactly why they should pick you when a previous employer didn’t chose to keep you employed. Please also remember not to be negative otherwise the interviewer will not look on this favourably and they will think that given time you will be negative about them too.

photo by: espy786

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