I recently got fired from my job in F&B. My boss said I wasn’t a good match with my colleagues. Mostly, I kept to myself and I don’t know why I didn’t get along with them. I am trying to find another job but am finding interviews especially difficult as I don’t know what to say when asked why I left my previous job. I feel down as I don’t know if I will be able to fit in at another workplace. Can you give me some advice? Peter

First of all, it’s important to remember that to achieve success, you must be prepared to learn from your experiences and adapt. It would be a good idea to obtain feedback on your previous experience, so if possible, ask your former manager to honestly and specifically tell you why you were let go. It’s also important to be open to this feedback so you can understand the details around where you went wrong and what you need to improve on.

In an interview, it is essential that you are honest with all potential employers about the reasons for leaving previous roles. However, there is no need to
highlight your weaknesses, so always focus on the positive experience you gained and, if relevant, draw attention to positive references you are able to
provide from previous employers. The most important thing to show any potential employer is that you have carefully considered the role and organisation, are confident you have the skills to take on the role, and are at a company where you want to work.

When you get another job, you must consistently demonstrate a positive work attitude, as this will help you build more effective relationships with your
managers and colleagues.

Christopher Aukland is regional director of Michael Page and Page Personnel in Hong Kong. Michael Page and Page Personnel are part of PageGroup, one of the world’s leading recruitment companies, with operations in 164 offices in 34 countries worldwide.