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Tell the Truth--Without Blowing the Job Interview


Monique blew a job interview.


What happened? The interviewer asked about her old boss-the one who fired her. She got nervous and gave off signals that she was hiding something.

Most of us have something in our past that we'd rather not discuss in job interviews. How we handle this may mean the difference between getting hired and getting the rejection note. What do you do? Be prepared to tell the truth intelligently. Plan carefully how you'll tell the story. What information puts you in the best light? What is better withheld? Be prepared!



Accept What Happened
Accept the past. Monique will never be happy that she was fired, but she can come to terms with it. She can tell herself, "I made mistakes, I accept that, and I move on. I am still OK." If she instead thinks, "I got fired-I'm a terrible person," others will pick up on that.

Don't Criticize Or Blame
Never criticize a former boss, however bad a person he or she may be. Employers will think, "If she's criticizing that boss, how long before she criticizes me?"



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Put The Best Spin On The Facts
Ron quit his job and spent a relaxing summer at the beach, thinking about his next move. He feared employers would think he wasn't a dedicated worker. We coached Ron to tell employers he had been working really hard, decided to take time off to plan his next career move, and had some great experiences with his volunteer work. No lies-and no mention of the beach.

Keep Personal Details Personal
Sharing parts of your private life can make you a more human and attractive candidate-and it can become a liability. Jan was moving across the country to rekindle a high school romance after the school reunion. She fears employers will think she's flighty.

We told Jan not to create problems. Her love life is not the employers' business. She might simply say, "I used to live here, I like the city, and I decided to move back." It's all true. Employers won't know about your personal life unless you tell. Don't.

Sometimes There's No Good Way Out
Bob couldn't legally hide his past-it would come up. We recommended beginning interviews by telling the truth powerfully.

He said, "There's something I want to bring up. I was convicted of dealing drugs, and served 3 years in prison. During the entire ordeal, I worked to keep my family together, and succeeded. I used the sentence to study, pray, and focus myself on what's most important in life, and am clearer now about what really matters.

I know the consequences of being out of integrity, and believe in being 100% honest in all transactions and communications. I have a question, "Is there anything in this job that might demand an association with anything illegal? If so, we Don't have a match. Otherwise, you'll need to decide whether you're willing to overlook my past. I regret it, but cannot change it."

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What could Monique have done?
Since Monique had gotten along very well with all her previous bosses, she should talk about the good relationships first. Then, she could say that the experience with her last boss taught her how critical it is to be on the same page with the boss. Finally, she should ask whether, if she were hired, if she could regularly check in to make sure she was working on the boss's top priorities.

Rehearse And Then Rehearse Some More
Never "just wing it" in job interviews. Anticipate any issues you might have, and prepare exactly how you will respond. If a question catches you off guard in an interview, make sure you're ready for that question the next time.


NOTE:  Be sure to check out our free career webinars.

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