How do I explain my most recent job dismissal on job application?

October 14, 2014 11:18 PM

I live in the US. I am applying for a city job and the application asks if I've ever been involuntarily dismissed; if I answer yes, I am required to explain. Unfortunately, I have to answer yes (there is no way around it), and I don't know how much to reveal or how to word this explanation.

Why this is tricky:

I used to work for this very same city department (different job/location/supervisor, though). I was dismissed by human resources several months ago because I'd failed to keep in touch with them about my mental health-related medical leave. This was 100% my fault, i.e. no hospitalization or anything like that was involved. They made multiple/varied attempts to contact me after I went on leave and just stopped communicating with them. But as I had essentially disappeared off the face of the earth, they were forced to let me go. I've been unemployed since.

So I HAVE to explain this involuntary dismissal because they're definitely going to know. But how much do I say? Do I state the bare minimum that they would likely find out from HR anyway, i.e. I went on medical leave but failed to keep in touch so I was dismissed? Is there a better way to put it? Because that sounds bad (since, I know, it is bad). Do I need to try to convey here that this won't happen again -- and how would I do that -- or is the less said, the better?

Obviously, I don't want to open up the door to discussing said health issues with them if possible, especially as they are ongoing.

(Information that is probably not relevant but explains further why I'm flipping out: there is a very good chance the supervisor for this job I'm applying for -- with whom I occasionally had work contact with/exchanged pleasantries with -- will call up my old supervisor about me. My old supervisor knew about the issues I was having that prompted me to take leave, but even though they were supportive, even though I'm including them as a work reference [other than the disappearing act, I was a good employee], even though they are a totally stand-up/ethical person, I can't help but wonder what they'll reveal even if inadvertently, and it worries me. Again, this might be utterly irrelevant.)

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (4 answers total)

I don't have specific advice for you, but I would inquire whether you have really thought out your parameters. For instance, you ask, "Do I state the bare minimum that they would likely find out from HR anyway," which is a different proposition from stating "the bare minimum." When I fill out standardized forms, often I don't even use complete sentences. My point is not to necessarily encourage you to state the bare minimum—I can't say whether that's appropriate for your circumstance—but only to suggest that if you are considering "bare minimum" as one possible parameter, then make sure you really are pushing that out to bare minimum. Know your range of options.
posted by cribcage at 11:50 PM on October 14, 2014

I would be inclined to say something totally bland (and as noted, not in full sentences) like "Extended medical leave, now fully resolved" and only add additional detail if directly required. More detail is not usually your friend on this.

So - if you haven't already, you need to reach out ASAP to your former supervisor to make sure they're okay with you putting them down, and answer any questions (minus medical ones, obviously) about why you did what you did and why you're past it.

This bears repeating. I've had a few people list me as a reference without asking, and even when I'm unreservedly supportive it's awkward because there's no way to not have the surprise call from the prospective employer reveal that I wasn't expecting to be asked. And when I'm not supportive, I'm not very inclined to hide that in a surprise call, whereas if asked ahead of time I'd either demur or figure out a way of saying something true but kind.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:53 AM on October 15, 2014 [3 favorites]

Nthing the idea that you call up your old supervisor and ask them frankly about recommending you. Not only "would you be willing to serve as a reference and state that my work was acceptable?" but also "I'm considering applying for another job in the department, and I'd like to honestly know whether you'd be willing to recommend me for that job. I definitely learned some lessons about how important it is to keep up on required paperwork even in difficult circumstances, but I worry that HR won't be on my side. Basically I don't want to stir up trouble, and one of my deciding factors would be whether you would be supportive if Mr NewSupervisor asks about me." (note that you're implicitly admitting fault, and saying you won't do it again.)
posted by aimedwander at 6:34 AM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

You know that your old supervisor will be contacted so you need to be honest. You need to say you were involuntarily dismissed and if you need to explain, I would say there was a miscommunication about a medical leave or an extended medical leave. Maybe you don't want to go into it, but given the circumstances of being fired, you can't really not mention the medical leave thing.

Are you sure about using your old supervisor as a reference? Have you reached out to this person and specifically asked if they would be willing to be a positive reference for you as you look to re-enter the workforce? Because if they are called out of the blue, it's probably not going to go the way you want. And even if you were a great worker, if you just disappeared like that, I'm sure it was frustrating and didn't leave a great lasting impression, so this person may not even want to be a reference.

Whether you use your old supervisor as a reference or not, given the closeness of these departments, it sounds like the new place will be calling your old supervisor anyway. You should really try to plant the seed of positive feedback from your supervisor by giving him/her a heads up and having some sort of positive interaction.
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:03 AM on October 15, 2014