- 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.