Will being honest hurt my chances at a new job?
January 5, 2011 12:29 PM Subscribe
Job hunting filter: I’ve been at the same job, in a leadership position for 9 years. I think I’m finally ready to move on and have found a job available at a university that I might be qualified for and am planning to apply for. The application is somewhat extensive and at one point it asks if I have ever been fired from a job. Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
Prior to my current position I had another leadership position in another organization for six months. It was not a fit and the executive director and I didn’t see eye to eye from day one. I really wanted to leave, but had never had such a negative job experience and was somewhat paralyzed by the experience. Also, the ED was pretty much on vacation for the last 4 months of my stay there. However, shortly upon her return, she called me into her office and told me that she didn’t think we were a fit (which I agreed). She gave me the opportunity to resign, but, in a panic, and not knowing if I would have to apply for unemployment benefits, I said no, that she should terminate me. Fortunately, I didn’t need unemployment benefits, as I got some consulting gigs almost immediately and then, 9 months later, got a full time job, where I am currently employed. Now, my gut tells me I have to say I got fired on this application and provide an explanation, but I’m worried that it will eliminate me from even getting an interview. And if I don’t tell the truth (aside for being dishonest) I’m worried that the background checks of a large university will find out the truth anyway. Also, none of the same people that I worked with, including the ED are employed at the organization from which I was fired. I think I know the right answer here, but wanted to get some input from you smart folks.
Prior to my current position I had another leadership position in another organization for six months. It was not a fit and the executive director and I didn’t see eye to eye from day one. I really wanted to leave, but had never had such a negative job experience and was somewhat paralyzed by the experience. Also, the ED was pretty much on vacation for the last 4 months of my stay there. However, shortly upon her return, she called me into her office and told me that she didn’t think we were a fit (which I agreed). She gave me the opportunity to resign, but, in a panic, and not knowing if I would have to apply for unemployment benefits, I said no, that she should terminate me. Fortunately, I didn’t need unemployment benefits, as I got some consulting gigs almost immediately and then, 9 months later, got a full time job, where I am currently employed. Now, my gut tells me I have to say I got fired on this application and provide an explanation, but I’m worried that it will eliminate me from even getting an interview. And if I don’t tell the truth (aside for being dishonest) I’m worried that the background checks of a large university will find out the truth anyway. Also, none of the same people that I worked with, including the ED are employed at the organization from which I was fired. I think I know the right answer here, but wanted to get some input from you smart folks.
Their background check is going to consist, at most, of calling the places on your resume and asking the HR department if you left voluntarily or involuntarily. Since the person who "fired" you isn't there anymore, only organizations large enough to have HR records from nine years ago will be able to come up with this information.
I would pretend this whole thing never happened unless you think that it's likely that such records exist. Of course, if you have that job on your resume, you may be asked in your interview why you left it so quickly. In that case, you say it wasn't a good fit (for reasons that you can elucidate and compare to the kind of position that IS a good fit), you left as soon as you realized it, and your stable record proves that this incident was an aberration.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:37 PM on January 5, 2011
I would pretend this whole thing never happened unless you think that it's likely that such records exist. Of course, if you have that job on your resume, you may be asked in your interview why you left it so quickly. In that case, you say it wasn't a good fit (for reasons that you can elucidate and compare to the kind of position that IS a good fit), you left as soon as you realized it, and your stable record proves that this incident was an aberration.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:37 PM on January 5, 2011
You were fired, but not "for cause," as it were. I'd explain what happened. "Not a good fit" isn't something that is considered a blemish on one's record by most hiring folks, especially for such a short period of time, considering most "probationary periods" are about 3 months.
posted by xingcat at 12:46 PM on January 5, 2011
posted by xingcat at 12:46 PM on January 5, 2011
If I'm not mistaken, even saying that someone left a job voluntarily or involuntarily opens a business up to a lawsuit - the current standard for references/background checks involves merely saying "person X worked here from this date to this date." At least, this is my understanding of the current state of the field...
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:47 PM on January 5, 2011
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:47 PM on January 5, 2011
You were only technically fired, so no. Seriously, I am generally all YOU MUST DISCLOSE EVERYTHING but you would have resigned if you hadn't worried about the unemployment thing.
Even if it comes up (which it won't), you can say "Oh, is that how we left it? It was a terrible fit, and we both realized it, but I guess they fired me technically so that I would be eligible for unemployment."
This really isn't the same thing as you thinking you were doing just fine and getting fired because you were clueless--people negotiate the end of jobs that aren't a good fit in lots of ways, including asking for a technical firing. What they want to know is if you ever had a Dunning-Kruger experience where you thought you were awesome and your employer thought you were a chucklehead.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:47 PM on January 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Even if it comes up (which it won't), you can say "Oh, is that how we left it? It was a terrible fit, and we both realized it, but I guess they fired me technically so that I would be eligible for unemployment."
This really isn't the same thing as you thinking you were doing just fine and getting fired because you were clueless--people negotiate the end of jobs that aren't a good fit in lots of ways, including asking for a technical firing. What they want to know is if you ever had a Dunning-Kruger experience where you thought you were awesome and your employer thought you were a chucklehead.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:47 PM on January 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Everyone who's anyone has been fired at some point. Just be honest.
posted by dortmunder at 12:51 PM on January 5, 2011
posted by dortmunder at 12:51 PM on January 5, 2011
Best answer: Here's the thing, disclosing might cost you the interview - but being caught NOT disclosing would definitely cost you the job, so unless you are 100% sure that they're not going to find out I would not lie about anything on an application.
posted by dadici at 1:14 PM on January 5, 2011
posted by dadici at 1:14 PM on January 5, 2011
Best answer: If you are honest on your application form, there is a small chance that you won't get an interview (small because I'm guessing they're trying to dig out "with cause" firings for embezzlement or sexual harrassment or the like, not "not a good fit" firings on someone who has gone on to have a successful career elsewhere for the last 9 years).
If you lie on your application form, there is a small but significant chance that they'll find out during the background checks and not interview you because you were dishonest. (Small because the fact that they're asking means that they clearly don't trust their own background check process!)
There is something you could do to stack the odds in your favour though. Call your old company's HR department, and say "Hi, parkerposey has applied for a job in Company X. Can you confirm dates of employment and reason for leaving?" and see what they say. They might ask you to put the request in writing, in which case use an email (not in your name) from your consulting business (if you have your own @CompanyX.com email addresses that you can use) or ask a trusted friend to do it. (Just get the Company X name sorted in advance). Which may seem a bit dishonest, but it's not really, you're just finding out what your old company will say about you.
The other alternative would be to ring HR yourself, as you, and ask what information they would give out about you in a background check. It's HR rather than your old boss, so they won't have any emotional investment in the process.
Good luck!
posted by finding.perdita at 1:27 PM on January 5, 2011 [4 favorites]
If you lie on your application form, there is a small but significant chance that they'll find out during the background checks and not interview you because you were dishonest. (Small because the fact that they're asking means that they clearly don't trust their own background check process!)
There is something you could do to stack the odds in your favour though. Call your old company's HR department, and say "Hi, parkerposey has applied for a job in Company X. Can you confirm dates of employment and reason for leaving?" and see what they say. They might ask you to put the request in writing, in which case use an email (not in your name) from your consulting business (if you have your own @CompanyX.com email addresses that you can use) or ask a trusted friend to do it. (Just get the Company X name sorted in advance). Which may seem a bit dishonest, but it's not really, you're just finding out what your old company will say about you.
The other alternative would be to ring HR yourself, as you, and ask what information they would give out about you in a background check. It's HR rather than your old boss, so they won't have any emotional investment in the process.
Good luck!
posted by finding.perdita at 1:27 PM on January 5, 2011 [4 favorites]
(Small because the fact that they're asking means that they clearly don't trust their own background check process!)
Well, not strictly. Part of the reason for asking such questions is to find out whether you will answer them honestly. I would tend to agree with the people who say that being honest is the better choice here.
posted by bardophile at 2:05 PM on January 5, 2011
Well, not strictly. Part of the reason for asking such questions is to find out whether you will answer them honestly. I would tend to agree with the people who say that being honest is the better choice here.
posted by bardophile at 2:05 PM on January 5, 2011
Now, my gut tells me I have to say I got fired on this application and provide an explanation, but I’m worried that it will eliminate me from even getting an interview.
Tell the truth. It doesn't sound that bad to me, and I'd be surprised if it disqualified you, or even raised eyebrows.
That said, if they don't want to interview you because of a true recounting of your employment history, think how much worse it will be if they find out after they hire you. Maybe they'll never find out and you can lie to get ahead in the world, but if your conscience is already telling you not to do it, I suspect you won't sleep as soundly.
posted by Marty Marx at 7:19 PM on January 5, 2011
Tell the truth. It doesn't sound that bad to me, and I'd be surprised if it disqualified you, or even raised eyebrows.
That said, if they don't want to interview you because of a true recounting of your employment history, think how much worse it will be if they find out after they hire you. Maybe they'll never find out and you can lie to get ahead in the world, but if your conscience is already telling you not to do it, I suspect you won't sleep as soundly.
posted by Marty Marx at 7:19 PM on January 5, 2011
I think the fact that you've been at your current job for 9 years is a mark in your favor, and makes being truthful less of a risk. If I were an employer, I would be looking for a recent history of firings or a trend of being fired from your job. One firing after 6 months and then 9 years at the same job says to me "That job just didn't work out" rather than "This person is going to be a total flake and we're going to be wasting our time."
posted by that girl at 8:19 PM on January 5, 2011
posted by that girl at 8:19 PM on January 5, 2011
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posted by Mr. Excellent at 12:33 PM on January 5, 2011 [3 favorites]