Whether you have recently become unemployed or have been for a while now, it is imperative that you practice the answers you plan to share during your in-person and over-the-phone interviews with potential employers. While honesty is always the best policy so that you don’t have to worry about getting your stories straight or being caught in a lie (especially after you have been hired), giving too much information during an interview can hurt you more than help you.
Here are some common reasons why employees are let go, along with examples of responses to give if one of these fits you!
1) Didn’t “pass” the 90-day trial period.
Many employers put new hires on a 90-day trial basis at which time they review how the new worker has done and if he/she fits nicely and seamlessly into the corporate culture of the workplace. It goes without saying that your first 90 days at a job are critical to your future there. Even if your new employer does not verbally and literally tell you that you will be watched and observed for the first 90 days, you will be. This includes everything about you at work — from how punctual you are when starting your shift, the time you leave at the end of the work day, what you wear to work, your overall appearance, if you smell like a brewery and/or a dirty ash tray, how you get along with others, if you take smoke breaks, if you waste time gossiping, and your overall attitude. All of this matters.
This morning I went to our local bank and when I asked the teller how her day is going, she replied with a frown, a sigh, and a look of disdain, “Oh, it’s going.” As I waited for her to get done processing my transaction, I overhead the manager instruct another teller to keep an eye on my teller and help her as needed while the manager went to lunch. I was shocked to discover that my teller was in training; I wasn’t shocked because of how she handled my requests (she made a mistake on what I requested), I was shocked, instead, by her attitude. Here was a brand new employee who was already frustrated with and complaining about her new job – and to all people – a customer (me!) Though I did not correct her on her mistake she made regarding my request, I did kindly advise her that perhaps she might want to change her attitude around earshot of her co-workers since she was brand new. (Even a seasoned employee has no business complaining or acting like she is not happy at her job to a customer or a colleague in front of customers).
So, let’s assume this girl will NOT pass the 90-day trial period; how should she handle that?
One way is to ignore the experience all-together – to never mention it and to not include it on applications or her resume. This is important especially if she is looking to stay in banking and applies to other banks. Certainly a second bank down the street is not going to be interested in hiring her if they found out she didn’t meet the standards at another bank. If she is looking to go into a totally different field from banking, she could include it on her resume – have it written in present tense as if she were still there – and then in interviews say she decided she did not want to make a career of banking after all.
2) Got caught doing something inappropriate or illegal.
You should be let go for this. While there are thousands of people looking for jobs and careers who are willing and able to demonstrate an exceptional work ethic and a person of integrity, there is no time, rhyme, or reason to mess up your reputation, career, or work history by sleeping with the boss, stealing computers out of the back room, or taking money that isn’t yours.
Today when I left the bank I headed over to the local grocer to pick up a few items for dinner. The woman in front of me in line had a total bill due of $25.56. She handed the cashier two 20s, one 5, and one 1. I thought to myself, “Why is she paying $20 more?” I watched the cashier look at the money several times and then put it all in his cash register as the woman was busy loading her groceries in her cart. I thought maybe I had seen things — maybe it wasn’t two 20s — but I was sure of it. Then the woman turned and asked the young man, “Why was it over $40 for what I purchased?” He fumbled and mumbled and said something about giving her the correct “44 cent change” and acted as if everything was fine. I said to the woman, you did give him two 20s. Then, immediately the cashier acknowledged it must have been a mistake and gave the woman back her additional 20. After she left, he kept apologizing to me that he couldn’t believe that happened and how glad he was that we discovered the error. I told him that by then end of the shift, his drawer would have been over $20 anyway (though I have to admit I figured he would have pocketed the $20 by then).
Only he knows for sure if he was aware of his mistake. Let’s assume he was. Had he gotten away with it and been able to pocket the $20 and THEN got caught, he should be fired. Would you want someone running and representing your store or business who was stealing from you and your customers?
Now, how to handle this. First and foremost, the cashier needs to write a letter to the company and the manager explaining how sorry he is for his poor choice — how he needed the $20 to pick up his dad’s medication at the local pharmacy and was desperate since he wasn’t going to get paid until the end of the month. (Of course, if this were the actual reason – he could have gone to his boss and explained the situation and asked for a $20 advance from his paycheck. ) While it is critical to his sincerity and the future building of his reputation to NOT LIE in the letter, if the reason he took the $20 does not invoke a sense of compassion and concern from the reader, then he simply and humbly needs to just apologize and say he has learned his lesson and thank the employer for the opportunity to grow as a person.
If this is a new job, again he should not include it on his resume or applications. If he has been there for 20 years, that’s a different scenario.
Ideally, he has his long history of being an awesome employee to remind his employer of and, though he should still be fired, he would need to include those decades of work experience on his resume and applications. If he were applying to a brand new industry — he could tell his prospective employer he was looking to get into a new field (probably something he actually did think of at some point during those twenty years). He still needs to write the letter of apology and pay back what he owes.
Simply telling a prospective employer who asks, “Why did you leave your most recent job?” — “Here, I have a letter of reference for you!” or “Well, it was nothing criminal” or “I just can’t talk about it due to the advice of my attorney” are all FLAG RAISERS and reasons you will NOT get called back for a second interview, let alone be hired. You need to think it through and practice your answer BEFORE you are asked! While every situation is different and stressful, it is important to be prepared and confident.
To get help with your particular situation and how to respond when asked, contact Blue Flamingo Productions for free advice.
3) Just had “enough” one day and decided to quit right then and there.
I suppose most everyone has had this feeling at one time or another; however, as with most decisions in life, it’s better to take a deep breath and think it through before walking out the door for good. If you truly loved your job and just had a moment of frustration, ask for it back. If you are unable to get rehired, write your job in present tense (as if you were still there) and then in your cover letter you can state that you are interested in exploring other opportunities where you can utilize your additional skills.
As you move forward in your career, here are some things to keep in mind:
1) Always be the absolute best you that you can be at your job.
2) Don’t complain at your job to your colleagues or your customers (if something unfair, illegal, or harmful is happening to someone — report it to your boss or someone who can do something about it). If you had a bad moment during your work day – share it with your family members or closest friend – (not with your facebook followers).
3) Get your formal reviews IN WRITING. If your boss says you are doing a great job, get it in writing (to add to your portfolio).
4) Do the right thing – always. If you are done doing what you are supposed to do, help others.
5) Take pride in your work. Work as if you owned the business.
TODAY’S QUESTION:
Why are you unemployed and do you handle it on interviews?
(Everyone who responds and shares their stories will be in the running to win a FREE gift from Blue Flamingo Productions).
SEND YOUR COMMENT TO writerswithspark@gmail.com and type WHY I AM UNEMPLOYED in the subject heading! We will review/approve your comment and then post it here!
