Interview question

RavenSpawn

What would you say in an interview if asked why you're no longer with your previous employer if you got fired?

Without going into much details, I was fired because I apparently "leaked" confidential information while I was a desktop technician. The information I saw, which I thought was someone resigning their position within the company, and then asked a friend of that person just to confirm was true turned out that the dept they were working in was restructuring and laying off 4 people. I had no idea about the restructuring nor about the other 3 that were being laid off. Because of this, it brought up a big stink once management found out as those associates being laid off had no idea and were not going to be told until the day they were being let go. The place I worked at had a high turn around for floor associates so I thought it would have been common knowledge. I admit this was a mistake on my part but this would have been my first mistake in the almost 3 years I was with that company. I explained to my boss how I came into this information and he said he would have to discuss it with management but didn't indicate in any way that I would be fired, simply I would have to gain the management's trust again. I got along pretty well with my boss that I thought he would do his best to defend me but was asked to return home early after being sent to Toronto to support their other site while the tech was going on vacation. When I went back to the office and was told I was being fired, I was never asked any questions or explain myself or anything, basically that I'm being left go and escorted out of the building.

So basically my question is how would you answer why you're no longer with the company without saying you've been fired, even though it was wrongful dismissal so it doesn't reflect badly during the interview if you just say it is confidential.

I had 2 interviews recently and 1 of them, which I went for a 2nd interview and was told they were waiting to hear back from my references and then set up a bilingual test to test my french. When I called the HR guy back, he said they had chosen another candidate and the reason I didn't get the job was due to that company not giving any references, just confirming employment with them and the fact I said my reason for no longer being with my previous employer was confidential in nature didn't fare to well with them aside that I would have been a good fit for the position. I haven't heard back from the other company either but will follow up with them to see if I'm still in the running or not at this point. I just want to know how to handle that question next time I have an interview since I know when I mention it is confidential, they are thinking I was fired and that doesn't go well with prospective employers.

Sorry if this is long and I could have gone longer but any suggestions would be appreciated.

sprkymrk

Well that's a tough one. Of course my first question (which you don't have to answer) is HOW did you see this confidential information? That sounds like an email to me, so I might venture a guess that there are about three ways you saw it. Either 1)You were sent the email by mistake, 2)You saw it over someone's shoulder while helping with an unrelated issue, or 3)You were reading someone else's email without permission.

That aside, assuming you are innocent of any wrong doing and guilty of only poor judgement (we all are at times), I think I would try to be upfront about it. Say you made a mistake that caused some problems at work and were let go without a chance to make amends. Rule #1 is to always admit your mistakes and don't make excuses. One thing I have learned in 20 years of working is that admitting to one's own mistakes may not always be the easy way, but it is the right way.

As far as telling them it's confidential - no way. If you told me that in an interview I could think of a LOT worse things it MIGHT have been other than the true story.