| Topic Name: |
Job Search |
| Message Name: |
Practical Advice |
| Date Posted: |
04/07/2006 |
| In Reply To: |
Dorothy, we are not in Kansas any more - and definitely not still in college! This is the real world of work, toots. It's just not going to happen here for you for two reasons:
(1)You have not dazzled them with your work product; and (2)You did yourself no favors by requesting time off so early in your employment. You are not a victim. You need to be brutally honest with yourself and learn from this. I would launch an aggressive job search and try to put this behind you. |
| Message: |
First of all, you'll survive this. Second, I assume you resigned and they gave you a neutral or neutral to favorable letter of recommendation. They won't want to contradict that for fear you'll sue.
Depending upon whether or not you live in an at-will employment State, many States have a good faith statute. As long as a former employer responds to a reference check in good-faith with honest or reasonably honest answers about your work performance they are imune from liability. That being said, most employers (especially sophisticated ones hiring credit analysts for 3 month probation periods) will only respond to reference checks by: 1) confirming your employment and dates of employment; 2) confirming your rate of pay and position; and, (here's where it gets tricky) answer "yes" or "no" if asked if they would re-hire you. Often times, when there is a parting of ways, an employer will simply refrain from answering that question by stating "she is not eligble for rehire." It just doesn't do a company any good to muck up a former hire's prospective employment. Once in a while, a former employer steps in it when they have a vindictive or poorly trained HR person. Most HR people, however, are rule oriented and scrupulous about loss avoidance.
There are some ways you can head this off. Mention your previous employer if it is relevant to the current job you are seeking. Honestly list the dates of employment, position, rate of pay, etc. If you can direct your prospective employer to a friendly or fair supervisor who will not haunt your job search for the rest of your life, list that person on your application and provide their direct number as a reference point. BE SURE TO CALL THEM AND LET THEM KNOW TO EXPECT THE CALL FROM _______ ABOUT YOUR NEW JOB.
If there is no such animal at your old job, have a friend call and find out exactly how they will speak of you if contacted by Acme Credit Analysts about your new potential position. Knowledge is power.
Lastly, on your application, under reason for leaving, indicate only one of the following: resigned to advanced career opportunities; resigned to persue additional educational/career goals; or, resigned to give birth, get married, temporarily care for elderly parent(s). SAY NOTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT YOUR FORMER EMPLOYER, OR "BITCHY" SUPERVISOR, OR INFER YOU GOT THE SHAFT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM ON THE APPLICATION, IN YOUR RESUME, OR TO ANY LIVING PERSON AT YOUR POTENTIAL NEW JOB. Just the opposite. If asked, DURING YOUR INTERVIEW only, compliment the company, your supervisor, the HR person you speak of, the janitor, their choice in toilet tissue... etc. Indicate you learned a lot by working with them and your really appreciated the opportunities they gave you to grow in your career, but that ulitimately your realized early on that you just weren't the right fit for each other (you & company... not you and any person there). And of course that can happen without that being any one's fault, everyone was trying their best, but you didn't think it right to take advantage of the company's continued training and investment in your if it seemed clear you would be better placed in a company like ____________ (insert the name of the company you are interviewing with). Then shut up. Don't be enticed to dish any dirt. Then reiterate you are looking for a long term employment situation with a company like ____________ where you can grow and develop professionally and make a solid contribution as a member of their team, blah blah.
Learn from this experience, which means, don't make the same mistake twice. We've ALL made them in our employment history, especially early on. As I said, you'll survive it and soon this job won't even make your resume. Tell your boyfriend he owes you big. :) Good Luck, LAL
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