The words that haunt you to this day ring in your head: “You’re fired.”
You’re not making a big deal out of nothing. Experts believe that being fired can be a traumatic event. Not only does this unfortunate scenario knock your confidence, it’s a threat to your livelihood. In seconds, you go from having a steady income to needing to find work. Picking yourself up and dusting yourself off can be trickier than you expect.
When you’re applying for jobs, you might not know how to explain your situation. Put simply, there is no nice way to say “fired”. You may worry that the hiring manager will judge you or that you will miss out on opportunities. So, what exactly should you be writing here?
Luckily, we can help you overcome this hurdle. In the following guide, we will take a look at a better way to say you were fired on your application and the expert tips you can use to get started.
Do you need to say you were fired on an application?
The answer is not always. One of the biggest misconceptions here is that you always have to say that you were fired on an application. However, often enough, there is no need to disclose this information to the hiring manager at this point. Most application forms won’t directly ask you why you left your previous role, and so you needn’t say anything yet.
Should it be a straightforward application form — asking you to enter your previous roles and dates of employment — do as it says. Supply the information that the form is asking for and nothing more. That doesn’t mean that you should try to hide the fact that you were fired when applying for jobs. If you want to give the hiring manager a heads-up, you can include this detail in your cover letter, where you have more room for an explanation.
Of course, some application forms will ask whether you were terminated from your last role. If it’s a simple “yes” or “no” checkbox, select the “yes” option and leave it at that. Chances are, the hiring manager will ask you to elaborate on this should you make it to the interview stage. Again, you may want to add a brief justification in your cover letter.
On the other hand, if you have space to explain yourself, you need to use your best judgment here. There’s a right and a wrong way to say you were fired on an application. We’ve got you covered. Take a look at our advice in the next section of this guide.
How to say you were fired on an application
Okay, if the application form asks whether you were fired and has the space for an explanation, there’s only one thing for it. You’re going to need to write one. You may find this an intimidating experience. You are essentially being asked to explain why your former boss decided to let you go. Take a deep breath — in and out. And then, follow these steps.
1. Be honest and direct
When you’re looking for a better way to say fired on an application, you may be tempted to tip-toe around the topic. That is a mistake. Attempting to avoid the subject or sweep it under the rug won’t get you anywhere fast. It will make you sound shady to the reader.
Instead, take an honest and direct approach. Say that you were let go, the reason it happened, and the date that it happened. Try not to attach too much emotion to this process. Keep in mind that being fired is by no means the end of your career.
2. Keep your explanation short
Avoid over-explaining yourself when writing about being fired. If this is a sensitive subject matter for you — as it is for many people — you might have the urge to write a short memoir about the experience. Don’t do that.
You might have a million reasons that the firing wasn’t your fault. That’s cool, but listing them won’t do you any real favors here. The hiring manager will see this move as defensive. That’s not a good look when you’re trying to get your next job. Instead, stick to the facts and make sure you lead with a short, concise, and well thought-out explanation.
3. Choose your words carefully
Spoiler: There is a better way to say “fired” on your application. The words that you use have power. Fired is a term that has a whole load of negative connotations. It conjures imagery of Donald Trump on The Apprentice, dismissing his latest victim. Needless to say, that is not the type of picture you want to share with the hiring manager here.
So, instead of saying “fired,” you should choose a less aggressive term. There are plenty out there. You can say that you were “let go,” for example. That one tends to work well in most situations. If you were made redundant, say that instead. Consider how you can best describe what happened to you and why your contract was terminated in your last role.
4. Put a positive spin on it
Positivity will make all of the difference here. When you are writing about this experience on your application, put a positive spin on the matter. What did you gain from the experience? Did the move give you a push to pursue a new dream? How have you taken what has happened and moved forward? You might have taken a course, learned a new skill, or decided to try to enter a completely new sector. If so, talk about it now.
5. Don’t add too much detail
As we have already mentioned, your explanation needs to be short and sweet. With that in mind, you don’t want to slide in too many needless details here. Instead of going too in-depth about what happened, you should stick to the facts and outcomes here.
If you are in the habit of writing too much, take a breath, and edit. The reader does not need to know what you were wearing the day you got fired or how rude your boss was when it happened. Adding these snippets will focus all of the reader’s attention on the wrong thing. Give them a miss.
6. Unless it wasn’t your fault
Of course, if you were fired but you did nothing wrong, you should say so. For example, if the company had to let a few people go at once thanks to budget cuts, that is a legit reason. It shows that your skills and work ethic had nothing to do with the firing. It’s worth drawing the reader’s attention to this fact when you are writing your application form.
Be clear about what happened. You could write something like, “Due to budget cuts, the business was forced to downsize in 2023 and I was made redundant toward the start of the year.” This sentence shows that the situation was completely out of your hands.
7. Explain what you’ve learned
Every day is a school day — so, what did you learn from this experience? When you get fired, you might not immediately see the lesson in it. However, once the pain of this experience has lifted, you can certainly learn something from it. Were you lacking in certain skills? Was your work not up to scratch? Did you need more discipline?
Whatever the lesson is here, it’s time to speak about it. Writing about what you learned will show the hiring manager that you are able to self-reflect. This is a strong skill that will help you succeed in any given workplace. Let the reader know that you have learned from being fired and that you are ready to improve your performance in your next job role.
8. Be conscious of your tone
It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it. Okay, that’s not entirely true. What you say matters a whole load when it comes to your application. However, adopting a positive tone could also help you charm the hiring manager. When you are writing your next application, aim for a bright and optimistic tone, rather than a standard, formal one.
Final thoughts
Getting fired is tough but don’t let it deter you. When you’re applying for new jobs, you don’t have to go into great detail about the situation. Instead, use the tips we have outlined here to help you tackle this problem with finesse. Doing so will help you put a positive spin on the event and give you the best shot at landing that all-important interview.
Ready to land your next job? Applications are just one part of the puzzle. Make sure that your resume hits the mark by using our completely free resume review tool now. Give yourself the best chance of success by using our expert guidance.
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Written by
Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer, Charlotte Grainger, Editor & Content Writer
Charlotte Grainger is a freelance writer living and working in Sheffield, UK. She has a passion for career development and loves sharing tips and advice. Follow her on Twitter
