« Santeria didn't make the curriculum | Main | Guy with long name fired in Poland »
Fired? Better admit it
Posted by Fired Fred on August 8, 2007 4:51 PM
It seems like everyone working today was fired yesterday, maybe even multiple times. Take the boss too literally at her word that Saturdays are "clothing-optional" and you'll be out the door even if you have all of your work done.
Being equipped like some prehistoric draft animal doesn't help, it just give HR something to highlight more easily in the security tapes during your "gross misconduct" appeal to the unemployment office. So I've heard, anyway.
There's a writer in Canada who says honesty is the best policy when it comes to talking about firings with the next soul-crushing company that interviews you. I'm skeptical, and you should be too, but here's what she has to say...
This may be the time to do a little soul searching. It is important to have an honest look at why you were fired. Recognize your part in it and avoid placing blame on your previous employer. Recruiters and hiring managers are more often looking for your "attitude" and how you deal with tough situations, rather than what actually happened.Attitude means a positive one here, I think. Whiny biatches don't get second interview callbacks. Then there's this bit...
If you were fired because you did not get along with your supervisor, examine the best way to explain your side of the story, but in a way that does not make that boss look bad. If it was because of personalities, identify what they were.That's important. Even if your last boss's idea of workplace motivation included screaming and cattle prods, you can't portray her in a negative way to the interviewer. Stupid isn't it, but that's how the world works.