references for new job

magali

I have a job interview next week and am not sure what to tell the employer about my previous job as I got the sack.
I stole a christmas tree and I think it was to set an exemple as lot of people did it and got away with it, I apologise and left.
I really hope to get this new job but what should I say about my previous job? I worked there 2 years.
I was thinking about ringing my old job to let them know that I have a job interview coming and asking them (if the employer was ringing them) if they would tell what happen or giving me a bad reference?
If they say they will, I would tell the truth at the job interview but if they say they won't then I will say that I left.
What should I do?

Anthillmob

employers can refuse to give a reference but cannot give a bad reference. if that makes sense.

nicking a crimb tree was a bit silly. i mean loads of us have stolen pens,post it notes, sellotape from their employers at one time or another but a crimbo tree is a different kettle of fish.

not having a pop at you though. whats done is done and im sure you have seen the error of your ways.

personally i believe honesty is the best policy. it will probably hinder you but then if you did get the job and then they found out further down the line that you were sacked from your previous job for stealing you could very well end up being sacked again.

good luck.

CFC

Hi Magali, sorry about the unfortunate situation you are in. When your new (hopefully) employers contact your old ones, your old ones will say that you were dismissed and probably say why.

I suggest you make a clean breast of it at the END of the interview. Make the best of it, say that you don't think your old employers would mention it but that you have learnt from the experience to be scrupulously honest.

Say that it was a cultural thing at your old place of work, and that you (and everyone else) were surprised to be taken to a disciplinary for it as it went on all the time.

The learning point for you was that honesty is always the best policy and you've learnt from your previous experience.

magali

thanks for your answers, would like to add that I am a gardener and that was why I got a tree and not some post it...

dmg24

The OP was asking for advice Toots - not a telling off!

pboae

Not only can an employer give a bad reference if it is true, but they can be sued by the new employer if they give an untrue good reference, and the new employer suffers a loss as a result. E.g. if magali* went on to steal something from the new employer and it came out that it had happened in the previous place too, the new employer could sue the old one for misleading them if they has said they were honest, etc. and not mentioned the incident.

*not saying you would, it's just an example of how it works.