When you get fired from a job you did well at it can be a confusing situation when it comes time to put in your next resume. It can feel like being fired invalidated a great reference but I think there are ways around this confusing situation.

I think the key to handling this issue is to make the decision beforehand. You need to weigh a lot of factors here. How were you fired? Were you a good employee before that? These are the things you need to weigh because you do not need to list any jobs you don't want to....

If you decide to list it I think full disclosure is the best policy. Tell your potential employer about the nature of your last job and exactly what happened that led to your firing. Of course, emphasize the positive.

I think that it is also important to show that your learned from the firing. Do not blame the employer unless you have compelling reasons to do so, because the new employer might see this as a bad sign. You need to show that this was a growth incident that has made you a better employee.

Overall I think this is an issue a lot of us have to deal with and there are numerous ways to do it. Omissions are not something that can get you in legal trouble so this one is up to you, but I do think that in most cases honesty is the best policy. You will be surprised at how receptive some potential employers are. If anything, most will appreciate the honesty and see this as a sign of character!

Learn more about this author, Royce Radcliffe.
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