QUESTION

How do I answer "why were you fired?" diplomatically?

Asked on Jan 22nd, 2014 on Labor and Employment - Georgia
More details to this question:
I worked at an at-will law firm. A new employee was hired in my department and I was asked to show how the department operates. I was okay doing so until I realized all questions were due to lack of basic word processing skills, our job description was "legal word processor". We had numerous meetings with HR during which I was told that the staff trainer was busy and I should be patient. I refused to provide "job" training. It escalated and I was so stressed that I closed-up and stopped interacting, except when I absolutely had to. Soon thereafter I was terminated for causing a hostile environment. I worked at this job for 6 1/2 years and always got great performance reviews and merit raises, including my anniversary on January 2012. How do I phrase my answer on interviews without sounding critical or whiny?
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1 ANSWER

You have not asked a question that can be based on the law. You have asked for practical advice, which I am not equipped to answer. However, you were fired from your job, apparently for refusing a reasonable instruction of your employer. I do not know how to say that nicely. However, honesty is the best policy in such matters. Perhaps if you mix the truth with some expression of remorse or regret, you will get another chance.
Answered on Jan 27th, 2014 at 8:49 AM

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