is there an 'better' way to say I got the sack on a application form/interview?

PrincesaGuerrera

Hi there

This is my first post so please be gentle with me!

I recently just got sacked from my last job that I had been at for 5.5 years. I had been on a final warning disciplinary which was due to finish in June and I made some losses for the company (I was in sales) and lost my job. Anyway now I'm panicking a bit cos I know lots of employers want to know the reason why I left my job and I'm really worried if I say I was sacked the won't think twice about filing my CV under 'B' (for bin). This is the first time I've been sacked so I'm getting worried esp as I'm not that young any more (41years) and know I'll be competing with others with glowing work records jobs.

Also as I've started to sign on now I'm getting a bit depressed at the thought t hat the DWP might force me to take/apply a job that I don't want just to get me off the dole. I had a meeting last week with the advisor who gave me some details of some jobs which I know I should apply for (even tho they are mind numbing call centre jobs which I just can't face applying for yet). I'm going on holiday for 10 days on Tuesday (within the UK) can I use this as an excuse for not applying as they would be interviewing while I was away?

Hope somebody can help

thanks so much in advance!

Torry_Quine

PrincesaGuerrera wrote: »

Hi there

This is my first post so please be gentle with me!

I recently just got sacked from my last job that I had been at for 5.5 years. I had been on a final warning disciplinary which was due to finish in June and I made some losses for the company (I was in sales) and lost my job. Anyway now I'm panicking a bit cos I know lots of employers want to know the reason why I left my job and I'm really worried if I say I was sacked the won't think twice about filing my CV under 'B' (for bin). This is the first time I've been sacked so I'm getting worried esp as I'm not that young any more (41years) and know I'll be competing with others with glowing work records jobs.

Also as I've started to sign on now I'm getting a bit depressed at the thought t hat the DWP might force me to take/apply a job that I don't want just to get me off the dole. I had a meeting last week with the advisor who gave me some details of some jobs which I know I should apply for (even tho they are mind numbing call centre jobs which I just can't face applying for yet). I'm going on holiday for 10 days on Tuesday (within the UK) can I use this as an excuse for not applying as they would be interviewing while I was away?

Hope somebody can help

thanks so much in advance!

Sorry to hear that, it's hard but I would say you just have to be honest. You don't need to put it on a CV but application forms do ask and although some will instantly not want to employ you someone will. You would have to say at interview anyway and it could well come up when the reference is asked for from your previous employer.

I presume you have told the Job centre why you lost your job. They will contact your employer to verify and you will probably face a sanction of some length when the decision is made. Until the decision JSA is still payable and my cousin got a two week suspension when sacked for gross misconduct.

Surprised that you've already seen an advisor but yes you have to apply for any job they tell you about or you could be facing another sanction.

Also the Job centre need to know that you are going away, you will need to complete a form and tell them how you intend to job search whil away and that you would return for interview.

Savvy_Sue

PrincesaGuerrera wrote: »

I'm going on holiday for 10 days on Tuesday (within the UK) can I use this as an excuse for not applying as they would be interviewing while I was away?

err, no, if you read your agreement you'll find that you have to say you'll come back for any interviews.

nonnatus

As you are 41, I presume you worked for a considerable time in other jobs BEFORE the job you were sacked from?

If so, you could always "delete" the latest job from your employment history on your CV. You could say you took a five year sabbatical from work to travel or have kids or to have had a go at being self employed.
You are now fired up to return to the world of work with passion and more life experience, so you have LOADS to offer a future employer!! You would have to hide your P45 and fill in the new employer copy of P46.

Put it all behind you and start again, just try not to get sacked twice, this only works the once!!!

I expect to be shot down in flames for encouraging such blatant dishonesty, but you're not hurting anyone and you need to get back to work so what's the harm? The alternative would be to spend a year working more menial jobs that don't care what your CV looks like to re-build some kind of career history / references. I know which option I prefer...:o

McKneff

If you dont apply for jobs that you dont want to apply for they will stop your benefits.

PasturesNew

Despite my best efforts, I didn't manage to meet the company's over-optimistic growth targets due to [insert some current economic buzzword]

linux_geek

find out what type of reference the old company gives out most these days do not state why you left

Just lhow long you worked there and your position on leaving

But if I were in your shoes would take any job now to show you are a worker then now up

marybelle01

nonnatus wrote: »

As you are 41, I presume you worked for a considerable time in other jobs BEFORE the job you were sacked from?

If so, you could always "delete" the latest job from your employment history on your CV. You could say you took a five year sabbatical from work to travel or have kids or to have had a go at being self employed.
You are now fired up to return to the world of work with passion and more life experience, so you have LOADS to offer a future employer!! You would have to hide your P45 and fill in the new employer copy of P46.

Put it all behind you and start again, just try not to get sacked twice, this only works the once!!!

I expect to be shot down in flames for encouraging such blatant dishonesty, but you're not hurting anyone and you need to get back to work so what's the harm? The alternative would be to spend a year working more menial jobs that don't care what your CV looks like to re-build some kind of career history / references. I know which option I prefer...:o

Quite apart from the fact that this terrible advice leaves to OP open to being dismissed again at any time for lying in their application (five years is not actually that easy to cover up), what on earth makes you think that an employer is at all interested in taking on someone who has no recent employment history? Five years is a long time to be out of work, and as anyone who is actually in the position of having had a long period out of employment will tell you, it isn't easy to persuade an employer to decide to take on someone with no recent employment experience over the dozens (hundreds?) who have.

linux_geek wrote: »

find out what type of reference the old company gives out most these days do not state why you left

Just lhow long you worked there and your position on leaving

But if I were in your shoes would take any job now to show you are a worker then now up

Not true that "most" companies don't state why you left - some don't, many do.

But I do agree that the OP can't afford to be picky about their work opportunities. getting back into work and getting a new employers reference needs to be your biggest priority. The reason you were sacked isn't likely to be the biggest barrier in the world to new employment. You didn't steal anything, swear at your manager, or pick a Facebook fight with a colleague. You simply failed to meet sales targets / messed up some sales, and assuming that you aren't looking for another job in sales, that isn't going to overly bother everyone.

Naf

I suggest voluntary work while job seeking. You need to tell DWP that you're doing it, but won't affect your payments. It gives you a better last reference than saying you were sacked (managed out really). It also means you're still sorta working, which potential employers will look more favourably on than the perception of being sat on your a#@e on JSA. But you still won't be able to avoid the question of why you left your last paid job.

If you're not applying for jobs in sales, or jobs where you have a personal target looming over your head, they're likely to overlook it anyway if you're honest and open about it. Don't say sacked, they finished you after going through a performance management process, right? It wasn't just on the spot? You can just tell them straight up that you struggled to keep up with the ever moving goalposts and were put through performance management. Is still not nice, agreed: I've seen it happen to colleagues in the past, and that type of managing people out is part of why I no longer work in any kind of sales environment - its a disgusting way to treat people.

Debt_Free_Chick

PrincesaGuerrera wrote: »

Hi there

This is my first post so please be gentle with me!

I recently just got sacked from my last job that I had been at for 5.5 years. I had been on a final warning disciplinary which was due to finish in June and I made some losses for the company (I was in sales) and lost my job.

Companies generally have to be very cautious about references, but where there's clear evidence of a disciplinary on your record, they can and usually do reveal that. So in your case, you have to be open about the reason you left, otherwise your reference will state that you were dismissed.

I would consider saying something along the lines of "With the current economic environment, unfortunately I had to leave as I found it increasingly difficult to meet my sales targets"

Do you have a previous successful track record in sales? If so, then go on to say that e.g. "Before that, I had x years of meeting my targets etc".

Many of us have at least one blip in our CVs, but you have to be honest about it. However, speak with confidence and don't look/sound ashamed about it.

Good luck

vax2002

You might have a good case for unfair dismissal.
The company if involved in sales and gambling for profits on those sales should be prepared to take losses as well as gains.
If your duties were performed as instructed by your employers then any losses are par the course as are any profits.
Would they sack you for making too much money ?

I would get exploring your options for unfair dismissal.