by Bruce W. Coffman

Created on: August 01, 2008

Being fired from a job will not necessarily cause any changes in the way you write your resume. After all, the resume is not the place for a long-winded explanation of why you left every job you've ever had. It simply serves as an overview of your previous work experience, so there is no reason to indicated that you were fired from the job if you decide to list it on your resume.

If you were at the job for a short period of time, you may even consider leaving it off the resume completely. However, if you spent a significant period of time there and cannot truthfully explain the gap in your employment history, you are better to leave it there. If you were doing part time work on the side or independent consulting or volunteer work that relates to your field, you could possibly get by with listing those activities instead of the job. It is, after all, true that you were doing those things during that time. However, do not make things up to fill the time.

Even though you were fired, you did work there and it is part of your work history. You gained skills and knowledge at that job that may be useful to your potential employer, so there's no reason to deny yourself the benefit of listing that experience.

The best advice about how to handle being fired from a job is to not address the issue at all on your resume since it's simply not the place for that. Use your resume for what it is meant to be, a way to get your foot in the door for an interview. If it comes up in the interview be completely forthright and honest about it. You are not responsible for blurting out that you were fired from your last job if the interviewer doesn't ask you why you left. You could get lucky and find that he or she simply doesn't ask. If you are confronted with the question, have a thoughtful, honest and reasonable response prepared. Do not let yourself be blindsided and caught off guard by this question because odds are that it's coming at some point.

If you were fired for violating a company policy or for some other reason that was clearly your fault, explain this. Accept responsibility and don't show any bitterness toward your former employer. Explain that you now understand why they had to do what they did and what you have learned from the situation. Potential employers aren't looking for perfect people, but they are looking for people who don't repeat past mistakes.

If the firing was unjust it can be a little trickier to handle, but the same rules apply. Be honest above all else. Explain the circumstances surrounding your firing and how it was handled in as much detail as you can. The interviewer is experienced enough with human resource issue that he or she will immediately know that you were wrongfully terminated. He may not say anything, but he will know. Resist the urge to make personal attacks on the person who fired you and keep emotion completely out of the picture. It's not important to the interviewer how you felt about being fired, but the facts are important. As a matter of fact, you might impress the interviewer by delivering a factual, objective description of the events.

By handling the situation with honesty and integrity, you can rise above being fired from your last job. Just remember that type of information doesn't belong on the resume in the first place. You deserve the chance to explain yourself, whatever the case, face to face once you're in the interview.

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