Reader questions and feedback on advancing in your career. Also refer to life story, success, motivation, advancement, career, achievements, history, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
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Elevator Speech
The following 1 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
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Was fired and learned a lesson
Question
January 27, 2006
Thanks for the information concerning the amount of time it may take to find a new job. I just got fired almost a month ago. And it's frustrating, because I know why I got fired, and I definitely have learned my lesson. But the interview process is the hardest, because people always ask why you left your old job. If I am pretty sure they will ask to call the employer, I tell them the truth, acting as humbly as I can, and let them know to the best of my ability that I have truly learned my lesson, and it will never happen again. But if I can avoid it at all, I just tell them I got laid off due to budget cuts. I just try to remain as humble as possible right now, so that if in either case, it comes back to bite me. Surely they would understand why I felt the need to lie about the reason for me leaving anyway. But I still do not have a job, and did not receive unemployment...so it's frustrating. But thanks for the article.
- USA
9828
Answer
Legally, a former employer can only verify that you worked there. Most companies will give no further information for fear of a lawsuit. But still, you never know what they may say, so you don't want to take any chances, especially if you were fired for some activity that could prevent you from getting another job.
Although I advocate honesty, there are situations where telling what happened is not the best route to take. Even if you have learned your lesson, often companies don't want to take a chance. Whatever happened is best left unsaid.
But you need to have at least one reference from your previous employer. If you know someone there that can be a reference, you can then say that you had a personality conflict with your boss and would prefer to use this other person as a reference. In that way, they can verify you did work there and you can avoid a possible embarrassing situation.
Don't get discouraged and keep trying. I hope things work out with getting a new job soon.
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