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Getting fired.
1/ I interviewed someone recently and I asked “have you ever gotten fired” (Huge disclosure I have no idea if this is kosher to ask- I went rogue). I was incredibly impressed by her answer and it helped clarify my thinking of getting fired.
1/ I interviewed someone recently and I asked “have you ever gotten fired” (Huge disclosure I have no idea if this is kosher to ask- I went rogue). I was incredibly impressed by her answer and it helped clarify my thinking of getting fired.
2/ We’ve hired people that have gotten fired from companies you may never have heard of and we have rejected people that have been top performers at very well respected companies. (We’ve also clearly done the reverse as well).
We make our own decisions.
We make our own decisions.
3/ Having said that, we try to understand integrity in the interview process in several ways. One thing I like to do is ask about their previous employers – and when something didn’t work out, ask about why.
4/ The why often matters a lot more to me than the what.
5/ I’ve perceive a high correlation between low integrity and people that will point first to their previous bosses/colleagues as being the problem. In some cases it’s hard to get candidates to stop dumping on former colleagues. In other cases they are subtle, but powerful digs.
6/ I don't like when people dump on their ex team/teammates.
I like people that can just take responsibility for their own actions and try to identify ways they could have improved the situation. I find it to be representative of integrity, character and a growth mindset.
I like people that can just take responsibility for their own actions and try to identify ways they could have improved the situation. I find it to be representative of integrity, character and a growth mindset.
7/ So the person I asked recently in the interview responded this way: “Yes.”
Didn’t beat around the bush. Just answered openly and transparently. I literally leaned forward in my chair. Then the answer only got better.
Didn’t beat around the bush. Just answered openly and transparently. I literally leaned forward in my chair. Then the answer only got better.
8/ Her: “I used to work in mortgage back securities for a bank during the financial crisis.” (pausing)
Me: “Oh, I understand. That was just a tough time.”
Me: “Oh, I understand. That was just a tough time.”
9/ I’m usually good at just letting silence play out – here I made a rookie mistake and jumped in, trying to move on because I thought I understood. The honesty in the first part of her answer got me so excited I missed the better part. She saved me.
10/ Her: “No that’s not it actually. Everyone didn’t get laid off. I got fired. It was me. I should have done a better job of showing what I could do, and I failed at that. I had more talent than I was showing them. I didn't have the impact I could have had. It was my fault.”
11/ Full stop -just think about that. She could have gotten through the conversation without giving more detail. She didn't. She showed courage- and many other wonderful traits- by giving more detail.
12/ I’ll spare the rest of the details but her self-reflection was extraordinary. Her focus on personal growth -driven by introspection- gave me goosebumps. We gave her an offer.
13/ A TON of people get fired. For a lot of reasons. I think how you handle it matters a lot more than what often drove the firing. It’s an opportunity for self-reflection and growth.
14/ Getting fired is an opportunity to stand up after you got knocked down. An opportunity to thrive in a better situation and build a better version of how you show up to the world.
She took that opportunity and taught me something along the way.
She took that opportunity and taught me something along the way.
