Thank you for visiting bizzia Careers. If an employer asks you if you have been fired and you say you have been let go, you are mincing words. Let go = Fired. “Is that perceived as a lie?” It is not a perception issue. If you were fired, I recommend that you say “yes” to the question and move quickly to communicating what happened, what you learned and declare your commitment not to make the same mistakes in the future.

As far as the harassment issue, that is a sensitive issue, but very real. It happens. My one question, why did you stay so long? Why did you take so long to report the issue?

Here is a link to a post I did regarding unjust terminations: http://www.bizzia.com/articles/how-to-explain-an-unjust-termination-198/

Here is the link for part 2: http://www.bizzia.com/articles/how-to-explain-unjust-termination-part-2-198/

Please let me know if you have additional questions after reading these two posts.

Darlene

I have worked as a manager in a high-turnover industry for nearly 18 years with most of my jobs lasting less than 3 years each. I had always managed to find employment and resign from all of my jobs for most of those years – until the last five years. I was terminated from a job in 2005 after three years of service. I was very successful in that position until towards the end of my tenure, my boss insisted upon making changes with which I disagreed – but with which I eventually complied – and the business began to suffer. I took the fall, and was unable to find another job for seven months.

When I finally got another job, I lasted only a year and three months. At the time, I thought I was doing well, but when I got my annual evaluation, my boss had an entirely different opinion. Looking back, I now know that I was not performing to my potential and abilities, and I can accept responsibility for losing my job. I was fortunate enough to get another job month later and I put my heart and soul into it.
The business was a “train wreck” in many ways when I first assumed duties, and over the course of the ensuing year and a half became very successful. Employee issues became a focus over the past six months of my employment, working on improving communication, morale, and employee satisfaction as a result of an employee satisfaction survey, from which we learned that employees had several concerns about the management team. It appeared that progress had been made, until a group of employees began the petition process to organize under collective bargaining, their chief complaint being benefits – the contents of which were completely outside of my control.

My boss, who never visited, appeared at work one day along with Human Resources, and early on in the day, I found myself offered with the opportunity to resign. I was shocked! Though on some levels, I had felt “vibes” that I chose to ignore, deciding to keep plugging away out of loyalty to the business (the employees, the clients, etc).

So now I am a three time loser! I have gone through all of the typical stages of grieving, and have been working on some hard soul searching. I accept my shortcomings, and I have learned VOLUMES from the experiences that I have had.
BUT – how do I translate this into the interview process? I actually *am* good at what I do, and because of the lessons that I have learned, I was able to apply them especially to my last job – but: politics being what they are, I was the one to take the fall.

This is all very complicated, of course, and even a lengthy post is inadequate to fully articulate *everything.* Am I one of the first 25? I have found the website VERY helpful so far, but did not see anything to address my particular situation. I would be very grateful for the opportunity to learn from you. Thank you in advance for considering responding!

I ran across this website while doing a Google search trying to find a good answer to my job application dilemma. I am currently unemployed due to layoff but my question is about a previous termination (a very long time ago). I’ve sent an email separately with the details of the situation that I need assistance with. This site has been very helpful in other areas of my job search so I’m hopeful that I can also resolve my “dilemma” as well!

I have been laid off unjustly, and once I handled my frustration and anger about the situation, it was much easier to transition back into the job market. It also gave me an opportunity to find a new path and today I am enjoying my new career choice and using my skills and abilities from the old career path.

Also, the point about networking is important. The more connection you have going in the better.

There is a lot I want to say concerning your comment, but let me begin with the simple answer to your question, my recommendation to you and others reading this comment is to assume a prospective employer is going to contact your previous employer. Why? Because based on the other information in your comment, you understand the consequences for lying on an application and you will not do that.

Your situation is not unique from the standpoint, that others before you have found themselves in your situation after losing employment unjustly. These same people found employment. You will too. Having an attorney helps build your credibility when discussing the circumstances that led you back to being unemployed. Leverage that without slamming the perpetrator or the organization.

In other words, stand on your performance record from that previous employer and others you have worked for in the past. Don’t allow the harassment issue to overtake your job search by misbehaving and hoping that a prospective employer will not contact a previous employer. Again, assume they will, so what can you do to ensure that you don’t lose the opportunity to work for a great company? What can you do to compete for a great job without feeling like you have been discriminated against based on the previous situation?

First, contact the old employer and ask them what they will say to prospective employers about you. This is key to knowing how you need to respond to prospective employers about their organization and the circumstances that led to your termination. Second, it is imperative that you make a decision not to dishonor your employment record by lying to get a job. Your dishonesty will find you out. When it does, you now make your chances of landing a job even more difficult. Third, I want to recommend that you re-evaluate your employment situation. What else can you do if you are finding it difficult competing for the jobs you want? How else might you penetrate an organization and get in? There are all kinds of ways to get jobs today, namely networking. Who else do you know, that knows someone, that you need to know that can help you network your way into an organization? If you can come that way, now you have an opportunity to tell your story. Don’t let the harassment situation be the central part of your interview. Find a way to say what needs to be said without sharing all of the gory details. Hiring managers are looking for the best candidate for the job. Highlight your skills and abilities and what you will bring to the organization and minimize the proverbial “baggage” of what happened in the previous organization. your discussion on that situation should be very limited. Give them the bare bones of what happened and move right back into why you would be a great fit for their organization. You must minimize what happened despite how huge an issue it is in your life. I pray that this helps. If you would like to contact to me by phone, please send me an email and i would be happy to discuss this further with you. I pray that the right organization finds you and that you will have an opportunity to continue to do what it sounds like you enjoy doing for a living.

Have a great day today!

Darlene

I probably know your answer, but must ask because protective instinct tells me to do one thing in this situation, but ethics tell me to do another! I was let go from my job in medical sales due to a sexual harrassment issue. I was “the harrassed” for months but did not report it to H.R., a co-worker did. At any rate my boss was fired immediately, I was told I was extremely valuable (and was #1 sales person in my company) but little did I know they marked the calendar to fire me as soon as they were clear from an EEOC lawsuit (301 days later) and did fire me. I’m very marketable but have NEVER had this much trouble landing a job. The few “good” jobs I’m interested in have 500 other great competitors leaping at them as well. Anyway I’m inclined to lie and tell employers I’m still employed. 50/50 chance they will call my former employer and find out but it seems that’s the chance I must take. What employer will hire me under the above terms? Applications read “May we contact current employer?” If I’m currently employed the answer is “No” and that makes sense (if we’re employed we usually don’t want anyone calling our current employer!). Everything else in my background is stellar. I think the chances of a company going back and calling my “current employer” after I’ve allegedly submitted notice, and after they’ve already done my full background check and set a hire date, are slim. I know the rule is NEVER lie but, if I tell them the truth I’ll be deemed a liability. My former employer left me with a “not eligible for rehire” record which has never occurred in my working history. I worked there 3 years. An attorney took my case a few months ago on contingency and I only mention that because I was indeed the victim but unfortunately, when ugly H.R. issues such as this arise, ultimately the victim is viewed as as much of a problem as the predator, and is kicked out.
What is your experience with prospective employers calling “current” employers after an employee has submitted 2 weeks’ notice to the former employer. Is that really something they typically keep up with? They cannot rightfully call the former employer without the candidate’s consent on the Application, or without at least knowing the candidate has had time to put in 2 weeks’ notice, can they? Much thanks for any input you have! Jessica