Gross Misconduct and the future

mustsucceed

I am currently suspended facing gross misconduct for something which I'm sorry to say I actually did do. working for an estate agent I played a VERY small part in a private deal receiving some cash to do so - i have confessed to everything and await to hear the companies decision, but not expecting to keep my job. I have been honest and helped as much in enquiries as much as possible, with my conduct before being very good - but I am unsure as to how my company will provide a reference for anything I wish to do in the future. they are a small independant, so i have tried my best to plead some sort of help when it comes to providing a reference.

has anyone got any recommendations as to how I should go about putting this job on my cv as I have been there for 15 months and can not just not mention it on my cv! i wanted to know, if anything, what to mention to any potential new employer or the best way of securing future employment?

doobiesis_2

I had a similar issue last year, I was fired from my job for no good reason though, they needed to make some people redundant...

But back to the point. What I did was take on some Temporary work and now I've just left there and got a permanent job, not having to go to them for a reference at all.

Bit of a bummer before Xmas hope it goes well

Oldernotwiser

mustsucceed wrote: »

has anyone got any recommendations as to how I should go about putting this job on my cv as I have been there for 15 months and can not just not mention it on my cv! i wanted to know, if anything, what to mention to any potential new employer or the best way of securing future employment?

You shouldn't mention your reasons for leaving on a CV, so this isn't the problem. Your difficulties will come, I'm afraid, when you need to give a reference or you're asked about it at interview.

jennilb

I think the idea of building up referances through temporary work is a good one. You could speed this up by also doing some voluntary work - then your two references would come from your most recent (temporary) employer and the voluntary work, and it would not look odd to not list this employment as your referance.

Have you considered resigning before you are dismissed? At least then you wont have to lie on application forms when they have a tick box asking if you have every been dismissed or found guilty of misconduct. It would affect your ability to cliam JSA I believe if you resign, but you may feel this is worth the risk.

You will still need to have a convincing reason prepared, to tell prosepective employers, for leaving your current (I assume permenant) role to take (proabably) lower paid, less challenging short-term temporary work.

Hoof_Hearted

One possibility -- and I've seen it done -- is to offer to resign to save them the bother of sacking you, if they give you an agreed reference. This will be a reference agreed between you and your employer which will be truthful but may leave out the dodgy bits. Worth a try?

Anihilator

Many employers are not stupid and will read between the lines however, people who leave good jobs for no reason and take temp jobs are highly suspicous.

bendix

Companies I've worked for in the past invariably have a policy of not giving references at all, except in so far as to simply state the bare facts of job title, start and finish date.

mustsucceed

thanks for your thoughts - i did think temp work would be the way out, but the voluntary thing seems a good idea (might make me feel better too!). the company i work for are a small independant so I am hoping we can come to some agreement over either a useful reference so i can secure a future job or just a neutral one - fingers crossed!

Oldernotwiser

mustsucceed wrote: »

thanks for your thoughts - i did think temp work would be the way out, but the voluntary thing seems a good idea (might make me feel better too!). the company i work for are a small independant so I am hoping we can come to some agreement over either a useful reference so i can secure a future job or just a neutral one - fingers crossed!

Voluntary work is a good idea but don't forget that you may be sanctioned from receiving JSA for up to 26 weeks, whether you're sacked or leave voluntarily.

mustsucceed

well my fears were confirmed today, i received recorded delivery a letter stating i am dismissed based on gross misconduct. I emailed my employer back to again apologise once again, but also to see how they would help in with a reference if at all.

some friends have said that if asked in an interview not to mention the GM as when they request a reference they might not be able to put it - is this incorrect?

I want to be in the best position with all the information possible for my job search - I still want to apply for full time perm jobs, but feel these may be difficult to get.

I am thinking to get out of the profession also, would this be a wise move considering my situation?

wontfallforit

mustsucceed wrote: »

I am thinking to get out of the profession also, would this be a wise move considering my situation?

Well, estate agency is a struggling profession, and you have this black mark hanging over you. What you did wasn't misconduct in the sense of messing about on work premises, but rather was a very specific breach of industry rules, regulations and trust. So you might not have a choice about leaving the profession.

However, you've accepted your mistake and seem keen to move on from it, obviously.

You could always chance not mentioning being dismissed for GM, but you're likely to hit a number of brick walls before you get anywhere at all. Job interviews may go well, and you could easily start a new job, but if your old employer decides to come clean (which they're well within their rights to do so), then you could find yourself right back at square one.

Even if you do get a reference which doesn't mention your GM, it only takes someone who knows someone, who knows someone...before the whole thing comes back around to bite you. Heading towards a new sector might give you a clean(er) break, but you may still have issues regarding your reference.

I don't envy your position, and sorry about my overwhelming negativity, but you're probably quite aware that things are unlikely to be easy on the job front for the next couple of years.

Best of luck - hope you sort something out soon x