Dear Cindy – Should I say I was Fired in my Cover Letter?

I was fired from my last job. I work in a hospital, but not in a licensed position. I screwed up and believe in being honest, so should I mention this in my cover letter?

Sincerely,

Wondering

It's great that you take ownership for what happened and want to be honest – which is exactly what you should do – but save this for your interview when the question comes up about why you left your last job.

Give a balanced account of the circumstances – i.e., what your screw-up was – and let the interviewer know what you've done to make sure it never happens again. Keep things brief.

Getting fired is a huge blow to your confidence and self-esteem, but it doesn't have to be the end of the world.

Good luck!