From the article: Job Interview Answer: Why Were You Fired?
Why were you fired? Read responses and share your suggestions on how to answer interview questions about why you were fired. Share Your Answer
"We're a Family Company"
- I worked for a non-profit that claimed to be family oriented. I became pregnant and was placed on bedrest. I received a letter in the mail stating that I had 3 days to submit "necessary paperwork" to the office or else I would be terminated. Getting this paperwork required my husband to take time off of work so that I could get a ride to the place that would provide me with the "necessary paperwork". I busted my butt to get the papers to them in person on the third day. Two days later I received a letter stating my termination. WTH? I'm on bedrest people. Using a walker and shower chair! To this day I don't know who, what, when, where, or how! Everyone keeps telling me that I should sue them for wrongful termination. It was 2 years ago and I'm not sure if the statute of limitations has expired yet.
- —Guest Charlie
Complex
- I was fired from my 3 former managers who has complicity over my work ability. I use to work for an Asian Super Market during the depression years of 2008 to 2009. At that time my managers were new immigrant to the United States. They didn't like me because I am one of their people but than yet I have an advantage to speak, read, and write two languages than them. I helped them with many things that they couldn't do. I helped them with negotiating prices, inventory reports, sending e-mail response written in English, and many more. One day, the President of the Supermarket showed up to my store and greeted me with warm welcome. he invited me to a dinner with 3 managers. After three months later from the night of dinner, they terminated me without a good cause of reason.
- —Guest Ken
Offered to Bring it Back
- I worked at a burger joint. I told the manager I was taking a burger, and went to the front of the store and gave the burger to my mom. I came back in and he said I was fired. I offered to bring it back and I was told to leave
- —Guest cherice
Dietary Aide
- I was "discharged" because I wasn't trained properly. I worked at a nursing home/rehabilitation center as a Dietary Aide. What I was supposed to do was take the temperatures of the supper before I served it, but nobody ever taught me to do that; they only told me what numbers to write down. One day while I was writing down the temps a strange man walked up to me (who I later found out was an FDA). He started questioning me about what I was doing and he asked me did I know how to take the temperatures, I shook my head no. He got mad and started yelling that I was "falsifying records" and stormed off and called out for my supervisor. I stood there shocked for a second before I went on about my day. I knew that I was in trouble but at the end of the shift my supervisor called me into her office. Then I was told that I was falsifying records and that it could cause the facility to get shut down and it was against the law. The next thing she told me was that I was fired.
- —Guest MarieR
Sleeping Pills
- I had recently had a car accident, breaking my ribs and nose, and I got a cold. Because I was not sleeping well, someone offered me some sleeping pills. They didn't work but I ended up spaced out for 3 days and got fired at a disciplinary hearing. Now I don't know what to say at interview.... I can't fault anyone except myself.
- —Guest Simon
OSHA!!!
- i reported many OSHA violations to my boss (used syringes, scaples left on the floor, gas leak) and I told her that an employee of the hospital was coming in drunk on a regular basis and committing time fraud. A week later, and after three years of loyal service, and 22 year of keeping my own business with the animal hospital, I was fired.
- —Guest anne
Forgive
- Unemployment Office response was to put down "involuntary dismissal" -- which may be hindering my finding a job...I reported wrongdoing which is what the company wanted me to do by taking oath and training. Their policy backfired which led to harassment and false accusations against me forcing me not to return to work...their reason for terminating me was because I didn't return to work...now realize I should have just quit and kept mouth shut...Lesson learned...Try to forgive (Not forget is ok) -- something I just heard on a show about this same subject....
- —Guest Tbone
Ignorant Leaders
- I was hired for a position because I am a "strong leader", which was needed. My boss seemed supportive, and consulted with me on various disciplinary actions, terminations, etc. that were necessary. HR investigated after several complaints and found no issues. They even complimented my work. Two weeks later, my boss was sent in to investigate complaints. He received letters from staff and concluded I would not be successful in the position and terminated me. To this day, I do not know what the allegations were or from whom. My boss and I concluded these were people who had an issue with authority, and were resistant to change. Though I had not mistreated anyone and was a professional, I was let go, but I have since been given good references. This confuses potential employers and raises a "red flag" with them, making it more difficult for me to obtain gainful employment. It is a shame that in America, employees can be terminated for doing nothing wrong.
- —Guest Countess
Jealous Supervisor
- I was hired because I had a BA, and so I was eligible for a promotion. The supervisor wasn't, so she started to tell lies to get me fired. I was the only person she treated like that. I sent an email to file EEOC, and her boss fired me. I didn't have money to fight the case.
- —Guest alana
My English Wasn't Good Enough
- The jerks didn't train me enough to respond to all the questions I was being asked as a customer service rep for a gas company. The company does service and meter orders, repairs, parts, emergencies, and other things. Someone called me regarding a barricade, what the hell is a barricade?
- —Guest Guest Italian
Fired After Back Surgery
- I had back surgery, so I was out for 2 months. When I returned to work, I was recovering slower than expected, so I missed a significant amount of work. This led to extreme anxiety about getting fired and missing more days. Then I got fired. Without that level of stress and anxiety hanging over my head, my recovery is advancing by leaps and bounds. It is amazing what stress can physically do to our bodies. Onward and upwards!
- —Guest Kel
Suspected of Theft
- i went to work and was fired and shown the door. I was accused of being on shift when the staff theft took place.
- —Guest diane
Struggling Pharmacist
- I left the company after being sent to job sites 2 to 3 hours from where I lived. I realize now that the whole company had a toxic environment which is amazing since it is a well know chain drug corp. They treated the customers with contempt and if you tried to help them they saw it as a threat. The people in charge attitudes was a reflection of the environment we had to work in which was angry,fearful and constantly being threaten. I realize now that I am much more at peace and happier since I no longer work there.
- —Guest louise
Retaliation/discrimination
- I was fired after 5 years of service from a "world renown' medical employer basically because I testified on behalf of another coworker when we had both gotten written up over a policy that wasn't applied fairly. I believe my supervisor got pissed off that we won our appeal and had our corrective actions dropped. Also because we went over her chain of command. They also accused me of accessing information that didn't pertained to my job, and they didn't any proof!! Why all of the sudden before at my 5 year mark would I do such a thing, when my personnel file had always been clean? Not to mention the fact that I was told on two separate occasion not to speak my first language by management. So much for a supportive and diverse work environment!! Needles to say I got unemployment b/c believed my testimony and theirs was vague and without proof!!
- —Guest Guesswho
Don't Know Why I Was Fired
- I worked as a district Manager for 6 years. Never missed a day of work. I even slept at work and often worked 12-18 hour days. I was very committed. The owner paid me well to run her business. She told me daily what a great job I did for her. I asked for a day off to take my husband in for cancer surgery...j ust one day. I reurned the next day while he was in the hospital and se told me that she did not need me any longer. I never had a writeup or a paper telling me why I was fired. She gave me a paper telling me that she would pay me $2500 in exchange for me signing the paper that said I will not talk about her to anyone or tell anyone about the business practises that I witnessed. (her breaking the law). I didn't sign the paper. I DID get unemployment and I got a much better job with a wonderful boss.
- —ConnieLWill7
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