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jcs32784 · Newbie Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

To make a long drawn out story short, I was fired about 7 months ago from my first " real job" out of college. I was a police recruit and was fired for what was deemed conduct unbecoming. I was accused of attempting to cheat on an exam while in the police academy. My major problem is I now can't find a job. I have made it my full-time job to find a job and literally over the past 7 months have had 4 interviews out of 100's of applications and resumes sent out. Based on this I have no real experience and a huge black mark on my record stating that I have possible integrity and honesty issues.

When I'm at an interview the question of "have you ever been fired or terminated from a position" always comes up and I always answer it honestly. I have a strong feeling that this is holding me back from being employed. I have read a lot of articles saying state what you have learned from this situation and how have you grown from it. To be quite frank, the only the I have learned is you can't trust people and supervisor's could give two sh*ts about employs, as long as it makes them look a little bit better for their next promotion. I understand that this isn't this best outlook about a previous employer and I certainly wouldn't think about saying this in an interview. When the interviewer asks the question I don't want to sound like a disgruntled ex-employ that still blames his former co-workers and boss, but I didn't do what I was accused of and there is no proof stating otherwise except for my word.

I am in desperate need of some advice and help. How do I get over this hurdle, what can I do to move on from this bump in the road? Any adivce is helpful.

Pauloz · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:52 am Post subject:

jcs 32784

You've got a Catch 22 there. You need an employment record to get some credibility for a career job. The

Your best shot is get a sponsor from a community group, get some voluntary or other work under your belt, and find someone who can back you up.

The obvious situation is that without something to defuse that record, it's the only information you can give a potential employer.

Employers won't take risks, particularly at middle management level. They have to file a report on whoever they recommend, and that has to go up the line. They're not so much being gutless as realistic. Management could drop a ton of bricks on them if they don't like the recommendation.

This isn't the end of the world. A recommendation and refs from someone else will go a long way to undoing the damage.

One other thing, which you may not need to be told: Watch your back, don't mention any previous problems when you're in the workplace. There's always some possible jerk who might use it against you.

Randy · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: please help...any advice

quote="jcs32784"

To be quite frank, the only the I have learned is you can't trust people and supervisor's could give two sh*ts about employs...

Don't you wish they'd have taught you THAT in college?

So now doesn't that make you wonder else they might have lied to YOU about? Oh, hell, here I go...

Each time I say this, I get beat up. Then again, I'm speaking only from my experience which, by the way, has more than a few incidents similar to yours, that is, former employers who do and will lie like hell about you behind your back. So over the years I finally decided that the only way to deal with liars is to do what they do best: Lie.

If I was you, and when asked why I left the police-thing, I'd offer no more than it just wasn't working out, wasn't what I was hoping for, blah blah blah. And then I'd add, quickly and decisively, that when you told them you were leaving, it was not received well at all and because of their rather "unexpected" reaction, you're afraid that they might say that they terminated you or some such. Now, being the good person you are, you don't really want to believe that about them, but you really are worried because, again, man, did they ever get really pissed off! And so forth....

All you done is what employers and politicians do all the time: Spin.

You told the truth, well, sort-of, from Obi Wan's "certain point of view". But what you HAVE done is plant doubt in the mind of the person interviewing you or rather, as you learned at police academy, you've given them reason to give YOU the benefit of the doubt.

And remember, all former employers you talk to are just like your previous, so they now how two-faced and backstabbing employers can be, and are, 'cause they do the same thing every day.

And absolutely YES listen to Paul! Once you're settled in somewhere else, NEVER tell the truth, never, ever, no matter what or to whom. Those secrets go to the grave!

Do what you must, of course, and what you feel is the right thing for you. But me? I'll go to hell and die before I ever let another employer use my ethics and morality against me.

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