Good Job is Slate’s advice column on work. Have a workplace problem big or small? Send it to Laura Helmuth and Doree Shafrir here. (It’s anonymous!)
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Dear Good Job,
I’m trying to figure out how to answer the question that will probably come up in interviews on why I left my last position.
I was let go due to performance issues, but I was told I am leaving the company in good standing and was free to apply elsewhere within the company. This has bugged me ever since, especially since some of the reasons listed were not my fault, and my supervisor knows this. When I asked why none of this was brought up in the last few months, she didn’t give me a straight answer.
This had all come up before, and she was supposed to have weekly meetings with me about improving, but that never happened. I should have pushed for those meetings, but she was very busy, and it was hard enough to get answers from her for other things. People in my life think that there is something fishy about my being let go, but I have no evidence. I don’t want to lie to a potential employer, but I don’t know how to tell them why I left when it was all so weird. I don’t want to turn them off with my answer. I really need another job, especially for health insurance.
—Fired and Confused
Dear Fired and Confused,
I’m sorry; it’s frustrating to lose a job when you weren’t given enough information or a chance to improve. If it’s any comfort, the circumstances don’t sound all that fishy to me. A lot of managers don’t know (or care to learn) how to help a direct report improve their performance. Try to recognize what you learned from the job, appreciate that the separation was civil, and focus on your next opportunities.
When you’re asked about your last position in an interview, keep your response brief and respectful of your previous employer. Some standard lines are: “It wasn’t quite a good fit.” “I wasn’t the right match for the role.” But the important thing is how you pivot immediately after that. “But I learned a lot while I was in the job.” “But I gained a lot of experience in that position and left on good terms.” Ideally, you would then provide a few examples of the sorts of skills you developed while you were in your last job, to turn the conversation toward what you accomplished there rather than how it ended. Don’t speak negatively about your past employer or blame your manager for your job loss, even if it was their fault. The point isn’t to be fully honest (that’s what friends are for), but to show that you’re thoughtful, open, and willing to learn and adapt. Good luck!
—Laura
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