Anonymous writes:
I was terminated from my previous job. Could my ex-employer say any negative things that will reflect on my chances on getting a job?
Possible? Yes. Likely? No.
Given our litigious society, employers are getting more and more tight-lipped about what they say about former employees — so that it does not come back to haunt them.
That said, most employers will state that you were terminated, and some may state whether you were fired for cause or simply terminated… so, you need to face the fact that in many cases, a prospective new employer may very well know you were fired.
But I think you need to spend less time worrying about what a former employer might say about you and more time on how you are dealing with being fired — and what you have learned from the experience.
From my work with job-seekers, I know that getting terminated — whether for cause or downsized — is tough on the ego, so you need to pick yourself up off the ground, shake off the termination, and go right back out there and seek new employment. Don’t let the termination affect your job-hunting. Do not bring it up in your cover letter, resume, or interview.
But do be prepared to address the issue if it is raised in an interview. Your prospective new employer is going to want to know what you have learned from the experience — and you need to be prepared with a good answer. You never want to sound bitter — and you never want to badmouth a former boss or employer.
Read my article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth, published on Quintessential Careers.
Bart writes:
I was fired for the first time ever. The reason they gave me was slowness in performance. I immediately started job hunting and have been looking ever since. It’s been a couple of months now and I need a job — soon!
If I have been unsuccessful finding a job in my career field through these past months, should I just take any job I can get? I need to pay the bills, and I know there are lots of low-wage jobs around — and one of those would at least get me back on my feet financially.
I totally understand your frustrations with job-hunting, and while I’ll say more in the following paragraphs, the bottom-line is you must do what you must do to survive… and if that involves taking a survival job for a week, a month, or something longer, it’s certainly better to do that than lose your house, car, or other possessions.
The employment situation for many job-seekers has not been very good over the past few years, and while we continue to see some glimmers of hope that things are improving (new jobs are being created), we also see other reports that some employers are still planning more layoffs this year and that some jobs will never come back (due to productivity gains or migration of those jobs overseas).
You have to remain positive you will find a way back to your old career — or find a path to a new and exciting career. I know that the longer a job search lasts, the harder it is to remain positive. And I know that being fired is obviously still weighing on your mind. Employers can sense desperation or doubt, so you need to get the past behind you and focus on the future, one that includes you back employed in your career field.
How are your job-hunting skills? Are you using your network to its full potential? Have you stayed active in your professional organization (and perhaps its online discussion board, if it has one)? Have you tapped into the alumni network of your college? Try to accomplish some job-search activity every day — even after you take the survival job.
And most employers see survival jobs, especially in light of the recent employment situation, as more positive than negative… so, if you need to pay the bills, take one of those survival jobs but keep your job search moving forward.
James writes:
I was terminated from my last job. On several employment applications since then, I haven’t been able to get employed. I always tell my prospective employer about my last employer and that I was indeed terminated. Should I omit my past employer that fired me on my future employment applications? Can my past employer tell others that I was fired? What is my past employer allowed to communicate to others?
The Career Doctor responds:
I can’t say this fact often enough: job-hunting is all about marketing and selling. Get the prospective employer hooked on your mix of skills, abilities, and accomplishments — and then let them see any warts or scratches in the polish. In other words, never broadcast anything negative about yourself to prospective employers.
Please note. I am not saying you should lie or cover up any negative information. What I am saying is that you should never volunteer the information. Eventually you’re going to get a question about why you left your last job — but hopefully after you’ve had plenty of time to sell yourself.
Remember also that in this economy, lots of people — unfortunately — have been terminated, downsized, or rightsized, so you are not alone.
Can your past employer slam you if a prospective employer calls them? Sure. How many actually will do so in this very litigious society? Very few. If contacted, most will simply offer your dates of employment and some vague reason for termination — thus it’s up to you to fill in the details in as positive a way as possible, including demonstrating what you have learned from the experience.
It might also help to read my article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth, published on Quintessential Careers.
Patrick writes:
I have a problem: 2 months ago I was terminated from my job on conflicts on a safety issue where I knew I was right about it. Well, finding a new job has been both depressing and not going well at all. It makes me wonder if my past employer is giving me a bad reference and reputation to where the prospective employers don’t want to sit down with me for an interview. Is there anything I can do about this?
And what should I say when asked on the applications why I left or reasons for leaving? The 20 or so rejection letters I can handle, But what will it take for someone to give me a chance and let me show them that I’m not what my old boss says I am??
The Career Doctor responds:
It’s certainly possible your former employer is giving you a negative recommendation, but it’s more likely that you have not properly dealt with the issue from a psychological and job-hunting perspective.
First, from the psychological perspective. Being fired is a traumatic experience. I don’t care what anyone says. Being fired hits us right in the ego. Our self-esteem takes a shot and it takes a little while for us to get over the shock and the hurt. It’s during this time that our mental well-being can affect our job-search efforts.
Second, from the job-hunting perspective. It’s not uncommon for people to give off signals even when we’re trying not to, and after being fired and feeling mentally hurt, we often do not do our best job-hunting, oftentimes signaling our fragile condition to prospective employers. What can you do about it? First, try and get over the disappointment and move onward with your life and your career. Next, make sure you have all your job-search materials in good order and that there are no indications of your termination in your cover letter or resume. Remember that you c ontrol what prospective employers learn about you; and on job applications, simply state that you left to seek new opportunities.
If you are not getting any interviews, it’s probably more to do with your job-hunting techniques or materials than your previous employers. References are usually not checked until an employer becomes a little more serious about you as a candidate. And if you’re really curious, you can always hire one of the companies that calls your former employers and tells you what they’re saying about you.
I suggest you read my article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.
Finally, if you’re interested in one of these reference-checking services go to the Job References & Career Portfolio Services section of Quintessential Careers.
Lucy writes:
I am currently unemployed. I am a certified paralegal, as well as graduate from a major university. My BA is in English and I pursued my paralegal degree, having failed to find a job with my English degree. I am now laid off and I need to find a way to make my very sketchy work history look better. How can I improve my chances? I am definitely getting interviews, but no one is interested in hiring me.
One of the first things I evaluate when working with a job-seeker who is having troubles finding a new job is to examine whether the person is getting no interviews or no job offers. If you’re not getting any interviews, then the problem probably deals with your job-search strategy or your job-search correspondence (cover letter and resume). If you’re getting interviews, but not getting any offers, then the problem usually resides with your interviewing skills.
What kind of jobs are you seeking? What kinds of jobs are you interviewing for? Even though you are getting interviews, I really question whether you have taken the time to develop a strong job-search strategy. If you haven’t yet done so, take the time now to figure out what you want to accomplish next; that is, what types of jobs interest you and what types of jobs do you qualify for. Take the time to examine your accomplishments and key transferable skills. Conduct some job-specific research and then develop a plan for finding a new job.
I believe a good part of your problem is with the job interview, but if you take the time to be sure of the type of job you want, you’ll appear more confident in the interview — and that confidence can only help you. How comfortable are you in job interviews? Are you always prepared? Do you ask questions? Have you done your employer research? You must be completely prepared for each job interview — it’s your final chance to sell your potential to the prospective employer. Go to our Guide to Job Interviewing Resources to learn more about interviewing and to practice answering common job interview questions.
How can you be sure of where your problem lies? If you had strong rapport with one of your recent interviewers, make a phone call and ask if he or she would critique your job-hunting/interviewing skills. If you’re not comfortable with that situation, see if you can find a local career organization, college career center, or job-hunting club that can offer assistance.
Laura writes: Would it be “career suicide” to take a position within HR at another company which is not for profit — and the pay is $12K less than my current salary? The position that I currently have may be in jeopardy due to a merger, and I would rather be employed than unemployed. What other factors do I need to consider?
In your case, however, you are not talking about changing careers or taking your career in a new direction. You are simply feeling a bit panicked and want to make a move before your current company does so for you. You need to evaluate this job offer objectively — as if there was no hint of change in your current position. Would you really take what I’m guessing is a lateral job move for a significant pay cut? I’m guessing your answer would be a very loud “no” — unless you were very passionate about the nonprofit’s cause and wanted to support it regardless of personal sacrifices.
Now, I totally understand your feelings of vulnerability and concern. It’s an anxious time within your current company, and there is probably quite a bit of office gossip and rumors.
Instead of taking the first offer that comes your way, why not invest your energies and emotions into a full-force job-search? Develop a plan. Get in touch with your network of contacts. Stay positive and look for new opportunities and growth.
Ann writes: After many years of working at jobs I didn’t like and/or had no growth potential, I went back to college and completed my B.A. in sociology five years ago.
I then became employed as a child protective investigator, but the next year I was terminated from my job. I was told I had failed the mandatory performance assessment test and would no longer be able to perform the job.
Since then, I have applied for many jobs in the same field. I loved my job and want to work with children in some helpful capacity. However, as soon as any potential employer hears that I was fired, the interview is terminated.
Simply put, you’ve got to rebuild your career. There are no quick fixes, but I can give you some pointers to get you started in the right direction.
First, you need to rebuild your confidence and self-esteem. I recommend finding a mentor within your profession, possibly a former colleague or even a former professor.
Second, you need to develop a job-search plan. There are numerous opportunities — in both the public and private sectors — for case workers and investigators who have a desire to help children in need. There are also numerous other career opportunities for job-seekers who want to work with children, such as teaching, guidance, counseling. You need to investigate all your opportunities.
Third, you need to have something to say for what you’ve been doing these past two years. I hope you’ve been volunteering, taking classes, or somehow staying active. If not, I suggest you immediately start doing one or more of these activities.
Fourth, you need to come to some level of acceptance about getting fired and move on. Why are you saying anything negative in job interviews? A job interview is the chance for you to sell the employer on all your wonderful attributes. Never offer anything negative in job interviews. I strongly suggest you read my article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.
Stephen writes: I have been unemployed since Sept. 28 of last year. Does the fact that I have been unemployed for several months relay something undesirable to prospective employers when I interview with them? If so, how do I overcome this negative?
The economy makes job-hunting in general much more difficult. That fact aside, employers will still seriously question a prolonged jobless period such as yours. And the issue is not so much that you’ve been unemployed, but more, a question of what you have been doing all these months. And dealing with that issue needs to be your focus.
During these past months have you had any kind of educational experiences? Have your worked part-time or volunteered your services? You want to show prospective employers that your skills have not been lying dormant for all these months, but, in fact, you have been sharpening them through one or more of these activities.
What can you do if you’ve done nothing during all these months? I suggest you immediately look at taking a course or two at your local college — or perhaps a distance learning institution. You might also see if there is a non-profit organization (museum, service organization, school, religious group, etc.) that could use your skills and expertise.
Finally, be wary of communicating any kind of negative feelings about your period of unemployment. Remember that you are always marketing yourself in the job-hunting process, and no one wants to buy (hire) an inferior product; always try to be positive in your verbal and nonverbal communications. You can read more tips and advice in my article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.
Carolyn writes: I had a great job at Wal-Mart. I made a very stupid choice and ate a bag of potato chips without paying for them. I was fired immediately. I had worked for the company for a little over a year and had always gotten excellent evaluations from my supervisors. I like that kind of work and I’m applying for other stock positions. Should I leave Wal-Mart off my applications? If I include it, what do I put on an application as my reason for leaving? Is it true that Wal-Mart can’t tell them why I left?
The Career Doctor responds: You’ve learned one of the hardest lessons for an employee, and while Wal-Mart’s reaction seems a bit harsh for a first-time offense, I totally understand the company’s stance because employee theft cuts directly into profits — and most studies show employee theft as a much bigger issue than shoplifting.
I don’t believe you should leave your Wal-Mart experience off your resume, especially since you seemed to do well there and get high reviews. The risk, of course, is that a potential employer could contact the manager of the Wal-Mart and ask about you. Can Wal-Mart say the reason you were fired? Yes. How likely is it to happen? Because we’ve become such a litigious society, my sense is fewer and fewer employers are willing to say too much for fear of a lawsuit.
So, what do you say in a job interview when the interviewer inevitably gets to the “why did you leave your last job” question? Be very careful here. Not being at least partially honest may come back to haunt you if the employer calls Wal-Mart, but being too honest could end the interview. So, I suggest you state that you had made a thoughtless mistake that you now realize was in error — and that you’ve learned from the experience. Don’t say anything more, even if pushed to do so.
Try to strengthen your chances by having a set of strong references — former coworkers and associates — who can speak of your great retail acumen.
Read more tips and advice in my article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.
Best of luck. You will face an uphill struggle, but once you get your next job things should be better for you.
Donna writes: I am having a difficult time finding work with a BS degree in business, and an MA in education. I was terminated on my previous job. What is the best way to explain that to a prospective employer?
The Career Doctor responds: Unless there a criminal reason for your termination, I see no reason why an employer would ever have to know you were terminated from your last job. Perhaps you chose to resign. If the reason was simply corporate rightsizing or restructuring, or personality clashes, or some other non-criminal reason, I would simply state that it was a mutual decision between you and your former employer and that you were seeking new challenges and opportunities — a chance to offer your key skills and education to help other organizations excel. Always put a forward-thinking, positive spin on your answer — always with a push toward helping prospective employers excel; helping solve their problems. Never be negative, never feel you need to explain, but also never lie about it.
I think the biggest problem job-seekers who have been terminated face is themselves. The great majority of us have been fired, terminated, downsized, or rightsized at one time or another, so I know how you feel. You need to rise above the bad feelings you may be having about losing your job and focus on putting a new shine on your cover letters, resumes, and interviewing style. Now is the time to take advantage of your network to search out new opportunities and new directions; and don’t forget to take advantage of the alumni and career resources of your college(s).
I strongly recommend you read my article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth…it’s full of helpful advice, strategies, and resources for helping you rise above and move forward.
Best of luck.
Anxious about asking for a raise? Here’s the cure. Click here to view more details
|
Job Search: |
EmpoweringSites.com -- Kettle Falls, WA 99141
Home Page: http://www.empoweringsites.com/
Copyright © EmpoweringSites.com. All Rights Reserved
Serviced by Movable Type Solutions Company