Fired!! Ready to tell all like James Comey?

When you lost your job (fired, laid off, resigned) did you wish you could tell it all like James Comey did at the Congressional Hearing?  Many of my clients want to clear the air and tell it like they saw it in an interview for another job.  Convinced that they were right and the company or boss was wrong they are sure others will see it that way too.

And yet conventional wisdom is that you not speak ill of your previous employer.  Many struggle with what exactly to say.  This can be a very emotional question for job seekers.  For a while after you leave a job, you just want others to validate you.  A coach can be helpful here to help you to see the whole situation from many perspectives.

One of my clients knew exactly why he was fired and feared that others would not hire him.  As I listened to him I knew he had some valid reasons for doing what he did.  Like Comey he thought he was right.  He was working out of his own value system which conflicted with the values of his employer.

Sometimes employers can convince you that you are wrong and they are right.  That makes you want to change your thinking so you can stay.  If you can’t change, then what do you do?  This can totally zap your confidence.   Again a coach can help you to see yourself in a more positive light and help you to decide what works best for you.  The ultimate goal is always to find a way to be happy at work.

Once you understand yourself and your situation you can work on ways to explain it to another employer during an interview.  In answer to the question: Why did you leave your last job? you will want to answer in a way that doesn’t make you look bad and doesn’t condemn your former employer.

Why not be truthful about what you think of your former employer if you still feel they were wrong?  Check out what other people thought of James Comey’s testimony and you will find lots of different opinions.  Some agree with everything, some question parts and others think he is totally in the wrong.

You never know what the interviewer will think about your situation.  He may not see it your way.   If you speak from anger, he/she may feel that.  Anger can turn a potential employer off entirely.  He/she may also feel that if you bad mouth a past employer you are likely to do it to them too.  No one wants negative advertising.

So if you are thinking of doing what Comey did, think again and remember the words of Thumper in the Disney movie Bambi, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.”

Are you (or someone you know) in a situation at work that makes life seem bleak and leaves you drained of energy?  It can be a vicious circle, you are unhappy at work, your energy is low, your work suffers and now your boss is critical of you.  This makes you even more unhappy. It’s a downward spiral.  If you are sincere about wanting to change the direction and get your energy back,  I can help.  Call me at 781-598-0388 or email me at asparker@asparker.com