Fired and Letting Go of the Anger

I was fired from my previous job because a co-worker simply did not like me. I was set up and now I am looking for another job but I don't know what to say about why I was fired. The reasons given by my former employers were that things were not done that should have been done and my work performance was not up to their needs. I know for a fact my co-worker had something to do with things being deleted off my computer that I did and . . . . . I am just lost at what to say because this has never before happened to me. Co-workers know but I have no proof. Several of my co-workers said I can use them for references, also. Please help me. I don't know what to say.

Forced to Self Terminate?

I have a very stable employment history and stayed three or more years with each of my previous employer and I ended up on good terms with each of them. My current employment is an exception. I was offered a job as floater and I was told that the job would include travel to fill positions as needed, but I was assured that I would not be sent immediately and I would receive training. I agreed and accepted the position.

What do you tell someone in an interview when you've been fired from a job?

Many people have left their jobs under circumstances that they are not particularly proud of. You are right to think about how you would present your situation in an interview. Since I do not know all the details of your stories, my comments will be general.

I would first consider a total work history. Is this the first time you have been dismissed? Do you have a solid work history other than this last job? How long did you work there? Were you fired for cause?

Telling New Employer about Firing

I do not know the reason for your termination and what discussion you had with your employer before you left. But if you were paid during that time and taxes were taken out, there is a record of your employment. Lying on an application (or resume) can be cause for dismissal if discovered at a later date. You also don't say how long you were out of work prior to that job and whether you need to show some employment during that time. Some people do omit some jobs on an application, but I think a better way to handle the situation is to face it, admit it and be able to express what you learned and, if terminated for cause, how you plan to behave in the future and what you learned from the experience. When you do have the opportunity to discuss it with a prospective employer - remember it is NEVER a good idea to say anything negative about a previous employer. Learn from your past mistakes and strive for a better future.

Bad Reference

Sounds like you have had a tough time over the last several years and that you are feeling some frustration with your former employer. However, you did have the position for a year, they will be called for a reference so I would certainly list this last position. It sounds like you are still working there which also gives you an advantage when searching for the next position.

Short Work Period

There are many reasons that people have jobs that are short lived. You did not state in your note exactly what happened, but when and if you discuss it in an interview what is most important is how you present the story and the confidence with which you share the information. You do not have to offer long explanations, just give the facts and move on to focusing on your accomplishments, skills, and longevity with your formal employer.

Explaining Termination

It is always difficult to be terminated from a position. We are not always clear about the reasons. The first issue here is for you to reconcile the reason for yourself. You may or may not ever fully know the actual truth. Either way, as you approach your next interview, you must NEVER indicate any hard feelings about a past employer. So you have to work through your own feelings about it so they don't erupt during an interview.