Dismissal Dilema
`YOU ARE FIRED!'
The words no longer sound as threatening as they once did. Perhaps it is a situation that is de-rigueur in this era of hire-and-fire. Perhaps the long hours we spend in the workplace, commonly called the chambers of sensory deprivation have softened our brains and dulled our finer senses, but the fact remains, that getting fired is no longer seen as the end of the world. You might have to face a few uncomfortable moments when the question comes up for discussion in interviews, but just as long as you know how to handle the situation, the blight in your career graph does not have to be a deal breaker. Here are a few strategies you could use to handle questions relating to your job loss:
You could steer clear of mentioning the sack in your résumé especially if it was your first job or if you were on the job for a very short period of time or have perhaps been on other jobs that add weight to your experience since then. What the interviewer does not know will not trouble him. However, if you were sacked from a recent job with experience relevant to the post for which you are being interviewed, it may become tougher to dodge questions relating to the job loss.
When attending an interview, be prepared to answer questions about your experience. Even if you have omitted to mention the job from which you were fired, if there is a significant time gap between one job and another, you must expect to be questioned. It will perhaps be one of the first things to come up for discussion.
Be prepared with a plausible answer. Saying that you had taken time off to study/ gain additional skills can prove to be a sword that cuts both ways, unless you have evidence to back your claim. While it is important to be truthful, you can always present the truth in a way that is most favourable to you. You could for example, briefly mention that you `left the job' because you were dissatisfied with your prospects. If the employer is aware that you have been fired, take the situation head-on. Briefly explain why you were fired, and focus more on the positive aspects - such as what you learnt from the experience, and what you have done to improve yourself since then. Try to look at the situation objectively and from the employer's point of view, as well as your own.
It is natural to feel anger and resentment at being fired, especially when you have been handed the short straw for no fault of yours.
However, do not let those feelings manifest themselves during the interview. Do not spew venom at the organisation or employer that fired you. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and does nothing to improve your image in the eyes of the interviewer.
Getting fired is not the end of the world. A lot of people who went on to build successful careers have been fired from jobs at some point in their lives. The difference is that they learnt from the experience and focussed on moving ahead without further ado.
BINDU SRIDAR
faqs@cnkonline.com
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