This is one of the most crucial interview questions. Rule #1 is to NEVER speak ill of current or past employers. Instead of saying something negative, look to reframe your answer and make it sound positive. For example, if a former employer hires lazy staff and gets rid of good workers, you can say something like “I believe I am better suited to working in a company where there is a deep sense of loyalty on both sides and where employees are encouraged to grow.”

If you have been fired from a previous job, you’ll have to come clean. In most cases, a simple “Unfortunately I was let go” followed by a discourse on what you learned from the experience is sufficient.