Adive Needed: How to explain getting fired?

[Poinsett]

I was recently let go by my employer. Their "official" reason was based on a mistake that I made. It involved a computer database that supplies procedures and set points for the machine that was under my responsibility. When making a new specification I input the wrong line speed. Consequently the machine produced bad results. I fully admit(ed) to the mistake but there was nothing I could do after the fact but correct it and keep it from happening again, which I did immediately. About 2 weeks after this occurrence, I was told this was ?unacceptable performance? and terminated.

I am a degreed individual with 3 years of experience with this company. I can easily have great references from certain people I worked with throughout the company, but I am still struggling with how to answer those tough questions about why I no longer work for that company.

Anyone have any advice?

 

[EKKC]

admit the mistake?
i wouldn't lie.

IMO its better that it involved a technical mistake than for the interviewer to think you have work ethics problems

 

[gsaldivar]

Originally posted by: EKKC
IMO its better that it involved a technical mistake than for the interviewer to think you have work ethics problems

 

[Poinsett]

I had a recruiter this morning suggest that I say something like "I thought it would be better for me to look for a job full time"

I was thinking that complete honesty would be better, but he didn't seem to like that idea, although he did not know the whole story.

 

[Platypus]

There is no reason to beat around the bush, if you used that company as a reference, which you should since it's work experience, they will call them. Just be straight up and tell them you were let go because you made a mistake; you've learned to be more diligent from it.

It's all about learning from your mistakes, no one is infalable and companies know that. If you lie to them or avoid the topic and they find out you'll never get the job.

 

[Reel]

What if they want to call your previous employer or what if someone else starts working at your new company from your old company and mentions it casually? I think that telling a lie when applying can lead to some sticky situations if not termination. If you can dodge it anyway you can, I'd say go for it but try to avoid outright lies.

 

[scorpmatt]

from what i've been told, the average company cannot give out whether the employee was a hard worker or not, only how long they worked there

 

[Poinsett]

I am totally agreeing with you guys. Thanks for the input.

That recruiter this morning just made me think about it some more and so I thought I would see what other people thought.

 

[HN]

why "official" in quotes? was there some other underlying reason?

and 12 posts since 2001. i like that :thumbsup:

 

[Garet Jax]

Two choices:

1) Tell the truth
2) Lie

I would opt for number 1, but it can be very difficult to paint correctly. Focus on a number of key points:

1) It was not a character flaw that caused the firing.
2) It was a technical oversight.
3) You could have chosen to lie, but you chose the higher ground (further demonstrating the first point).

 

[Yossarian]

the first company doesn't sound like a place I'd want to work. mistakes happen to everyone. if you make one, don't learn from it, and repeat the mistake I could see getting canned. but to fire someone who owns up to the error and has a good attitude is foolish.

 

[EKKC]

most recruiters are great and all

but just remember they are not selfless. they want you to get the job no matter what so they get the commission off of the referral. they value your getting the job over your integrity. whereas it should be the opposite for you. if they take you in and found out (however they did is another matter) about your previous mistake it will reflect back onto you

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
from what i've been told, the average company cannot give out whether the employee was a hard worker or not, only how long they worked there

...and their re-hire status, which is telling.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Poinsett
I was recently let go by my employer. Their "official" reason was based on a mistake that I made. It involved a computer database that supplies procedures and set points for the machine that was under my responsibility. When making a new specification I input the wrong line speed. Consequently the machine produced bad results. I fully admit(ed) to the mistake but there was nothing I could do after the fact but correct it and keep it from happening again, which I did immediately. About 2 weeks after this occurrence, I was told this was ?unacceptable performance? and terminated.

I am a degreed individual with 3 years of experience with this company. I can easily have great references from certain people I worked with throughout the company, but I am still struggling with how to answer those tough questions about why I no longer work for that company.

Anyone have any advice?

I would just explain it the way you just did. Not much you can do about it except explain it and move on. Everybody makes mistakes.

 

[stnicralisk]

Call your boss at company 1 and ask him to give you a good review. A few days later have someone call him up and ask him when you worked there and whether or not the company would hire you again.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Poinsett
I am totally agreeing with you guys. Thanks for the input.

That recruiter this morning just made me think about it some more and so I thought I would see what other people thought.

You're just a piece of meat to recruiters. I wouldn't take their advice. I had a recruiting agency pushing me to a bunch of different companies and the first time I declined an offer because I didn't feel comfortable with the job, the recruiting agency dropped me. They are all about getting your hired ASAP so they can get the referral commission.

 

[Syrch]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
from what i've been told, the average company cannot give out whether the employee was a hard worker or not, only how long they worked there

Nope they are unable to give any bad information from what i'm told.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Syrch

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
from what i've been told, the average company cannot give out whether the employee was a hard worker or not, only how long they worked there

Nope they are unable to give any bad information from what i'm told.

The only answers that are technically allowed to be asked by law are if you actually worked there between the dates you've specified and if you're eligible at that company for re-hire. However, nobody cares anymore anyway. Some companies actually hold true to this by only answering those questions, which is cool, but it can backfire if the person asking wants more info and the person answering can totally build you up (good references).

References and past employers are two different things. If you want to put someone down as a reference from the same company you just left, that's different than your potential employer calling the company and verifying employment history, but many people don't care either way and just ask away or answer away.

 

[CarlKillerMiller]

Covering up something like this would simply not be worth it. A off-hand call to your old supervisor could sink the chances you had for this job.


If you're up-front about it and they still don't accept you, don't worry about it too much. It's likely that they're such a tough employer that you would have been fired at the first mistake you caused there, anyway, giving you two firings to explain.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Syrch

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
from what i've been told, the average company cannot give out whether the employee was a hard worker or not, only how long they worked there

Nope they are unable to give any bad information from what i'm told.

It wouldn't be very hard for an employer to indirectly give such information if they worded their answers carefully.

 

[TipsyMcStagger]

tell the truth, but phrase it in a way that makes it sound like you learned from it. Make it sound like you are better at your job because you made the mistake and know how to fix it/never happen again

 

[Poinsett]

Why the "official" in quotes? Two reasons:

1 - I did make it plain to certain people that I was not satisfied with my current position and I was making a push for a promotion or transfer to another plant. Either one. This included people at other locations (internal) that were intersted in having me work there. So I don't think the people at my location took that very well.

2 - People make mistakes like I made and not come close to getting fired. I feel they were looking for a reason and then I handed them a smoking gun.

I'm just glad a have some good references from the company.

As far as what they might say during a background check, the HR manager that handled my termination was clear in telling me that if called by a comany all he would do is confirm my employment dates. I'm taking that with a grain of salt.

I realize what you guys have said about recruiters, but at least that does give them some motivation to at least try and find me a job. They don't get paid unless they find a job and I don't get a job unless I get an interview. I can deal with all their BS in the mean time.

 

[Poinsett]

Originally posted by: stnicralisk
Call your boss at company 1 and ask him to give you a good review. A few days later have someone call him up and ask him when you worked there and whether or not the company would hire you again.

That's a great idea, thanks.