You might feel apprehensive about your record if you've been fired and are looking for a new job. Companies often conduct background or reference checks, and you don't want anything to hold you back. But don't panic—while a termination might appear on your record, it doesn't necessarily mean your career is over or that you won't be hired again.
In this article, we'll explain employment background checks and the impact of a termination potentially going on your record.
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Does getting fired go on your record?
Yes, being fired goes on your record. When you get hired, human resources starts a file gathering your working history information. That includes all your basic info, performance reviews, job title, dates of employment, and specifics of your departure. If you're terminated, HR will note that on your file regardless of the reasons.
Can a background check show termination?
Yes, a background check can show that you were fired from a job. But can a previous employer disclose why you left? No—at least not in most cases. “The specifics of why an employee was fired are typically not shared unless there are legal reasons for doing so,” says employment attorney Christopher Lyle.
Employers are cautious about sharing termination details as giving too much can get them a defamation or wrongful termination lawsuit. There are company policies and laws—which can vary depending on the state—to protect employees' information. This means that prospective employers can’t go around requesting a full disclosure of your employment history file.
“They can simply confirm whether or not you were employed there,” says career coach Jennifer Fink, Founder of Fink Development Coaching and Advising. “However, they may also ask a hiring manager whether or not they would hire you back, which might open the door to sharing difficulties in your employment.”
If you were fired under normal circumstances (i.e. nothing illegal or immoral happened), it's more likely that they'll share whether or not you're eligible for rehire and stop there. “Most hiring managers may fear legal repercussions of speaking negatively about a former employer, so they will try to be as vague and diplomatic in their answers as possible,” Fink says.
Besides that, when running a background check, potential employers are usually more interested in knowing if candidates have criminal records or other big red flags, such as misconducts or other problems of that nature—which falls under the “legal reasons” mentioned by Lyle.
Does getting fired ruin your career?
It's very unlikely that getting fired will ruin your career unless the reason behind it involves a crime, malpractice, or misconduct. You may find out during the interview process that some hiring managers are wary of candidates who were terminated from their previous job—but ultimately, the way you address it is what matters most.
“A recruiter or hiring manager can't and shouldn't ask you directly if you were fired from the role, nor would they have that information, so it's more about how you craft the story,” Fink says. Still, you should be aware of things that are said through the grapevine, especially if you work in a field where everybody knows each other.
Depending on how tightly knit your industry is, Fink says, “there's always the possibility that someone might inquire about you off-the-record within their network.”
Should I tell my next employer I was fired?
Though hiring managers may not directly ask if you're fired, “Why did you leave your last job?” is one common interview questions that might come your way. Instead of blurting that you were fired, try a broader answer.
“In general, I wouldn't volunteer that information,” Fink says. “I would try to find a way to tell the story that's truthful, yet vague. For example, ‘After being in the role for five years, it was the right time to move on to a role that allows me to drive an even bigger impact with (insert something you'll be working on in the new role).’”
If the termination does comes to light, you want to turn that experience into something positive. “In my experience, recruiters and hiring managers care more about how a candidate discusses a termination and what they have done to improve themselves since,” Lyle says, “rather than the termination itself.”
It's also fine to give a generic answer like “company reorganization” “cost-cutting measure” instead of getting into negative details about your performance. “Reframe your experience to find the most positive and honest thing you can share about it,” Fink says. “Being able to show up from a place of integrity will shift the energy you bring into the room.”
Need more preparation? Here's exactly how to tell an interviewer you've been fired.
FAQs
Can you lie about being fired?
If you lie to a hiring manager, the truth might come out in a reference check, which will put you in a bad light. Instead of lying about being fired, give a broad and generic answer, such as “My previous employer decided to restructure and eliminate some positions” or “The company needed to reduce costs and as a result, some roles were eliminated.”
Does being fired show up on your resume?
When it comes to your resume, it's up to you to decide whether or not to add a role that just got fired from. If you decide against it, be sure it won't be detrimental to your job application. “If deleting the role would leave a significant unexplainable gap or if you gained valuable experience and skills required for the job you're applying to (that you didn't gain in any other jobs), then you will likely want to leave it on,” Fink says. “If the information isn't relevant, consider leaving it off, as long as it doesn't create holes in your resume,” she says.
Does getting fired affect future employment?
Generally, it doesn't. Unless you're fired for engaging in an illegal activity, malpractice, or misconduct, it's unlikely that your career is ruined. However, you should pay attention to how you tell the story to prospective employees. “While some organizations might have a bias around firing, not all will, and the best way to shift that bias is through the stories you tell,” Fink says. “The way that a candidate shows up and talks about their experience is more of a factor in hiring than what actually happened.”
When you get terminated from a job, can you apply again?
If you're thinking about replying for a job you were fired from, you technically can. However, they might not consider you, especially if little time has passed and management has been the same since you were terminated. But if you want to apply for new jobs at other companies, go ahead and do it—your career isn't over because of a termination.