- LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND SOMETIMES RESULTS
IN SITUATIONS THAT CAN BE EMBARRASSING OR DIFFICULT
TO EXPLAIN DURING A JOB INTERVIEW.
THESE SITUATIONS MAY INCLUDE A NEGATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE
WITH A PREVIOUS EMPLOYER, TIME GAPS IN A RESUME,
OR A PRIOR FELONY CONVICTION.
IF YOU DID HAVE A DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE
AND ARE NOT ASKED ABOUT THE SITUATION
DURING AN INTERVIEW,
YOU HAVE NO NEED TO DISCLOSE THE UNPLEASANT EVENT.
HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE ASKED,
BEING HONEST AND FACTUAL IS YOUR BEST APPROACH.
IF YOU WERE FIRED, PERFORMED POORLY
OR LEFT IN A NEGATIVE MANNER, STATE THE FACTS BRIEFLY
WITHOUT ADDING YOUR PERSONAL OPINIONS.
TELL THE INTERVIEWER THAT YOU HAVE MATURED,
ADDING A BRIEF POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU LEARNED
FROM THE SITUATION, AND YOU REALIZE THAT
YOU DID NOT HANDLE THE SITUATION APPROPRIATELY.
DO NOT SPEAK POORLY OF ANY CURRENT
OR PREVIOUS EMPLOYER, BOSS OR CO-WORKER.
IN ADDITION, DO NOT PLACE BLAME ON WHO WAS RIGHT OR WRONG
IN YOUR NEGATIVE WORKPLACE SITUATION.
IF YOU HAVE A TIME GAP IN YOUR RESUME,
BE PREPARED TO EXPLAIN WHY.
IDENTIFY A KEY SKILL YOU SHARPENED DURING YOUR TIME GAP
AND RELATE THIS EXPERIENCE TO A KEY SKILL NECESSARY
FOR YOUR TARGET JOB AND INDUSTRY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU STAYED HOME
TO RAISE YOUR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
AND ARE ASKED ABOUT THE TIME GAP, EXPLAIN THE SITUATION
WITHOUT PROVIDING SPECIFIC DETAILS
AND THEN SHARE HOW YOU USED THE EXPERIENCE
AS A TIME TO BECOME INVOLVED IN A COMMUNITY
ACTIVITY, SUCH AS A SCHOOL PTA.
ADD HOW THE VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE IMPROVED YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT
AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TEAM-BUILDING SKILLS.
IF YOU HAVE A FELONY RECORD,
YOU MAY BE ASKED ABOUT YOUR CONVICTION.
AS WITH OTHER DIFFICULT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS,
BE HONEST AND FACTUAL IN YOUR RESPONSE.
EXPLAIN THE SITUATION, TELL THE INTERVIEWER
THAT YOU ARE MAKING EVERY ATTEMPT TO START ANEW
AND ARE COMMITTED TO DOING YOUR VERY BEST.
BRIEFLY ADD WHAT YOU DID DURING THAT TIME TO IMPROVE YOURSELF,
SUCH AS TAKING CLASSES, SPECIFIC TRAINING OR WORK.
THE GOAL IS TO BEGIN TO RE-ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY.
SOME INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ASKED MAY BE ILLEGAL.
THESE INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS,
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR MARITAL STATUS, RELIGION,
SEXUAL PREFERENCE OR AGE.
RESPOND TO THESE IN A NONCONFRONTATIONAL MANNER.
FIRST, IDENTIFY
WHAT THE INTERVIEWER'S CONCERN MAY BE.
IF IT CAN BE ANSWERED WITHOUT REVEALING
THE PERSONAL INFORMATION, ANSWER THE CONCERN.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE ASKED "ARE YOU MARRIED?"
IT MAY BE THAT THE JOB REQUIRES SOME TRAVELING
AND THE CONCERN MAY BE THAT YOUR SPOUSE MAY INTERFERE
IN YOUR TRAVEL PLANS.
ANSWER BY SAYING "MY PERSONAL LIFE WOULD NOT INTERFERE
IN ANY ASPECT OF THE JOB."
THEN RE-STATE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS.
IF IT IS A QUESTION THAT CANNOT BE ANSWERED
WITHOUT REVEALING PERSONAL INFORMATION,
STATE THAT YOU WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT EMPLOYEE
AND AGAIN RE-STATE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS.
ANTICIPATING AND PREPARING FOR TOUGH INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
WILL MAKE YOU MORE CONFIDENT DURING AN INTERVIEW.
REMEMBER THAT EACH EXPERIENCE, BE IT POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE,
IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
DON'T GIVE UP.