Spinning an answer in an interview
May 20, 2012 4:19 PM Subscribe
Could one get away with saying he was laid off instead of let go for poor performance in an interview? Have you ever heard of anybody being fired for cause because he said he was laid off?
The former company's policy is only to give dates, salary, and eligibility for rehire (which is yes in this case). Also references are willing to say "let go due to lack of work available."
Also there is no written documentation that says the person was released because his work was poor.
The former company's policy is only to give dates, salary, and eligibility for rehire (which is yes in this case). Also references are willing to say "let go due to lack of work available."
Also there is no written documentation that says the person was released because his work was poor.
You might want to do a fake reference call on yourself (or have a friend do it) just to make sure. It is weird that they have said they would say you are eligible for rehire, if they in fact fired you.
Once you verify what the references are going to say, then you know what you're up against.
Now, there are some professional communities where all the managers know each other. If you are in one of them, there's a chance that this will come back to haunt you if your new manager gossips with your old manager, but you probably won't be fired for it; more likely it will be filed away mentally and used to bolster a case for firing you if you have problems at the new job.
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:39 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Once you verify what the references are going to say, then you know what you're up against.
Now, there are some professional communities where all the managers know each other. If you are in one of them, there's a chance that this will come back to haunt you if your new manager gossips with your old manager, but you probably won't be fired for it; more likely it will be filed away mentally and used to bolster a case for firing you if you have problems at the new job.
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:39 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: The company's policy is only to say not eligible for rehire if the firing was for cause (something more egregious). I asked HR if I were eligible for rehire and they said yes.
Also I wasn't working at the job for over a year (only several months) so it was chalked up to it being a bad fit. I honestly don't know why my performance was deemed terrible when most of my mistakes fell under the category of "new person errors".
posted by molamola at 4:49 PM on May 20, 2012
Also I wasn't working at the job for over a year (only several months) so it was chalked up to it being a bad fit. I honestly don't know why my performance was deemed terrible when most of my mistakes fell under the category of "new person errors".
posted by molamola at 4:49 PM on May 20, 2012
if the firing was for cause (something more egregious)
Well if you weren't fired for cause, then, IMO, you were laid off and should say so.
It's somewhat hairsplitting, but I think you are perfectly in the right. All layoffs are "about performance" in some sense: unless they eliminate a whole company or department, they are going to get rid of the people whose work they like least.
And it's not at all uncommon for employers to claim someone was a "bad fit" when they just want to cut costs, or dislike the person personally. Don't take what some jerk said in an exit interview as something that goes on your permanent record and that you are honor-bound to report verbatim.
In short: You got laid off.
posted by drjimmy11 at 4:56 PM on May 20, 2012 [5 favorites]
Well if you weren't fired for cause, then, IMO, you were laid off and should say so.
It's somewhat hairsplitting, but I think you are perfectly in the right. All layoffs are "about performance" in some sense: unless they eliminate a whole company or department, they are going to get rid of the people whose work they like least.
And it's not at all uncommon for employers to claim someone was a "bad fit" when they just want to cut costs, or dislike the person personally. Don't take what some jerk said in an exit interview as something that goes on your permanent record and that you are honor-bound to report verbatim.
In short: You got laid off.
posted by drjimmy11 at 4:56 PM on May 20, 2012 [5 favorites]
I would say the odds are on the side of getting by with, "laid off." The biggest reason being that former employers have to walk a very tight rope regarding dismissals of any kind. We live in a very litigious society, and companies aren't keen on having to defend lawsuits from former employees. Most HR departments will only answer the very basic of questions, such as length of time employed, job position/title, and salary (sometimes only range) at time of dismissal.
Bottom line: I wouldn't worry over the semantics, and I would argue that''s really all it is.
Good luck!
posted by Gerard Sorme at 4:56 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Bottom line: I wouldn't worry over the semantics, and I would argue that''s really all it is.
Good luck!
posted by Gerard Sorme at 4:56 PM on May 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Wait, you were there for a few months? Don't lie: just say that the position was not a good fit for either side, and you were only present for a few months.
posted by ellF at 4:39 AM on May 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by ellF at 4:39 AM on May 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Don't lie. It's foolish, risky, and remarkably unprofessional.
Whenever I'm about to hire someone, I get on LinkedIn or elsewhere and see who I know who might have worked with or otherwise known the applicant. Then I drop them a note, and get their feedback and any backstory. I often hear things that are different from what the candidate told us. If it's a small difference, I might overlook it. If it's a big difference - including fired vs. laid off - you can bet the person isn't getting an offer.
To the other part of your question, about finding out the truth down the line: Yes, you risk being fired for having lied in an application or interview.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:13 AM on May 21, 2012
Whenever I'm about to hire someone, I get on LinkedIn or elsewhere and see who I know who might have worked with or otherwise known the applicant. Then I drop them a note, and get their feedback and any backstory. I often hear things that are different from what the candidate told us. If it's a small difference, I might overlook it. If it's a big difference - including fired vs. laid off - you can bet the person isn't getting an offer.
To the other part of your question, about finding out the truth down the line: Yes, you risk being fired for having lied in an application or interview.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:13 AM on May 21, 2012
I'm with the crowd on this one, say laid off, and move on, especially if you're not a brain surgeon or something.
You might even say, "You know, it worked out because as it turned out, the position wasn't a good fit for my skills." That's the truth, and I doubt you'll be asked to elaborate.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:13 AM on May 21, 2012
You might even say, "You know, it worked out because as it turned out, the position wasn't a good fit for my skills." That's the truth, and I doubt you'll be asked to elaborate.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:13 AM on May 21, 2012
Response by poster: I normally say it wasn't a good fit in interviews, but what do I say when I get probed? Saying "My performance was not good enough" is good way to get sent out of the door immediately--nobody likes a liar but poor performers are worse.
posted by molamola at 10:56 AM on May 21, 2012
posted by molamola at 10:56 AM on May 21, 2012
"I was at Company X for three months, which was structured as an informal evaluation period. At the end of that time, and upon reviewing the fit, position, and my ability to effect change, we agreed that this was not the right position. I was formally let go, but the decision was mutual."
posted by ellF at 11:11 AM on May 21, 2012
posted by ellF at 11:11 AM on May 21, 2012
Response by poster: How am I going to follow up when I answer the inevitable "why was it not a good fit" question? In other words, is there a way I can tell the truth without screwing myself over?
Every time I say "I was let go because I was not a good fit for the position" I don't advance in interviews. Whenever I say "I was let go when we had a restructuring of our department (this IS true)", I go to the next round.
posted by molamola at 8:02 PM on May 21, 2012
Every time I say "I was let go because I was not a good fit for the position" I don't advance in interviews. Whenever I say "I was let go when we had a restructuring of our department (this IS true)", I go to the next round.
posted by molamola at 8:02 PM on May 21, 2012
If asked why, say that the job was not what was laid out during the expectation setting process, and while you are a team player and made the best of it, it was not in line with your skillet or career goals. As the department restructured more generally, you were let go.
posted by ellF at 11:35 AM on May 23, 2012
posted by ellF at 11:35 AM on May 23, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
That doesn't match up with "let go for poor performance", are you 100% sure that is what they will say? Otherwise, yes, I have heard people use the lay off excuse insted of firing without consequences for jobs that are a little bit further back on their resume and unlikely to be contacted.
posted by saucysault at 4:24 PM on May 20, 2012