How to explain in an interview why you were sacked

If you have been dismissed from your job, explaining why that happened to an interviewer can be a daunting prospect. You may feel that it puts you at a disadvantage to other candidates or that the interviewer will take the employer’s side. Whatever the reasons were for your sacking, however, there are plenty of ways you can present yourself in a favourable light.

Is dismissal different to redundancy?

Dismissal means that your employment was terminated by your employer because you didn’t meet the requirements of the role and breached the terms of your employment contract, for instance, you continually failed to meet performance targets, you stole from your employer, or you were guilty of misconduct.

When employment ends because of redundancy, it means that your job is no longer needed by the company. It is the job that is redundant, not the employee.

This blog post concerns answering interview questions when you have been dismissed, not when your job has been made redundant.

Prepare for the question

Just as you would prepare for any interview question, you should plan how you will answer a question about your dismissal. Being sacked is obviously an upsetting experience but concentrate on the facts:

• What job were you fired from?
• Who was the employer?
• When were you fired?
• What were the reasons for your firing?

This will form the beginning of your answer to the question of why you were sacked.

Step two is to consider whether the sacking was justified, for instance, did you fail to meet agreed targets, and what you have learned as a result. For example, the dismissal might have led you to realise what type of job or company culture is a better match for your personality and skills.

Be honest and concise

You might be tempted to hide your dismissal from the interviewer. However, if the employer finds out at a later stage that you lied or covered up your sacking, there’s a good chance they’ll reject your job application based on your dishonesty. It is always in your best interests to tell the truth.

Equally, try not to talk at length about the sacking. State the facts without becoming emotional or throwing excuses into the discussion.

Take responsibility and focus on the positive

Employers value workers who are accountable for their own actions. Taking responsibility demonstrates maturity and an ability to own your mistakes just as much as your wins. Admit any mistakes you made that may have led to the sacking but don’t be afraid to also express what you have learnt from the experience, for instance:

• What could you have done better?
• What mistakes and choices would you avoid in future?
• What have you learned about yourself?

Don’t criticise your past employer

Employers value loyalty in their workforce, so don’t criticise the company who sacked you. Go back to the facts: why did they end your employment? You probably didn’t agree with their reasons but badmouthing your manager, colleagues, or team members won’t serve any good purpose. It will simply give the impression that you may continue this behaviour and criticism with future employers.

Find other work references

If you’re successful at interview, the employer will contact your work references. It’s perfectly acceptable to exclude the company who sacked you from your list of references. However, this may mean contacting past employers or referees to ask if you can use them instead.

If the employer insists that they approach the company who dismissed you for a work reference, the legal requirement is that your past employer may only provide a reference that is fair and factual.

Wrapping it up

The questions asked during an interview are designed to discover whether you are a suitable candidate for the job. That suitability includes your skills, work experience, qualifications, and also who you are as person. When you are asked about your dismissal, the employer wants to find out whether the reasons for your sacking are ongoing and how you handled the experience.

The best way to handle this question is to prepare what you will say, be honest and concise, take responsibility for your own part in the sacking, express what you have learned from the experience, and refrain from criticising your past employer. Place your focus on how suitable you are for this job and the valuable candidate you are today.