Gross Misconduct - Help

Dooglass

First time poster here guys, I've been browsing the previous forums looking for answers but I need some more help.

I have recently been dismissed for gross misconduct from my post in large retail firm as a face to face adviser. The disciplinary has been taken place and the conclusion has been reached. I admitted to what I had done, (double credit check), it was quite cut and dry and unfortunately classes under fraud under the code of conduct.

I need some advice on what to do going forward. I'm currently in my last year at university (accounting believe it or not) with some healthy volunteering and paid experience. It was a stupid misjudgement from me and I should have known better and ended the transaction. But I'm guessing I can't go into financial services and the like, I'm at a total loss of what my possible options are for future. I feel like my life is ruined and I'm losing my mind. Any potential advice would be a relief!

nicechap

What does your university careers advisor say?

Dooglass

I will book an appointment with them and discuss my options.

Crazy_Jamie

Dooglass wrote: »

But I'm guessing I can't go into financial services and the like

What makes you think that? I appreciate that being dismissed for gross misconduct in the circumstances that you describe is not ideal and may well be an extra hurdle for you to overcome, but then again you're hardly the first university student to make a stupid mistake. If you build an otherwise strong application, I'd be surprised if you couldn't find work in financial services. Of course I don't know the answer to that question for certain, but then again neither do you. I'd make it your priority to find out what the answer is.

Dooglass

Thanks for the reply!

I've just been reading and it seems very unlikely that I'd get employed by a decent company (Especially FCA) regulated, due to the nature of the dismissal. This is only from my own research, and they normally ask for 5 years worth of job references. If I ever had an interview, would I need to disclose what happened say 6 years on?

I'm going to appeal the decision regardless, but I just need to find out whether or not I could get employed again in finance

xapprenticex

Unless you have a record you'll be fine long term, after 5 years worth of experience you wont have to use your current place as a reference anyway.

What exactly is a double credit check and why did you do it?

Dooglass

A criminal record? No it was a silly decision. Customer declined credit check on one system and accepted on another, I went through with the sale. But even after 5 years would this still come up on pre employment screening?

glosoli

I work for a bank, and if an error such as this is made where a lend has been granted when it shouldn't have been, it would be registered as "fait accompli", which would be logged against the employee but as long as it's a one off and not a pattern of behaviour then it would be a slap on the wrist with support given to ensure the cause of the error was addressed.

I had one registered against me some time ago for forgetting to include a childcare expense in to the decision system, and approved what would have been otherwise an un-affordable house loan, mistakes like these do happen and it's a shame they did not allow you to learn from it.

I wouldn't worry too much about the reasons for the dismissal moving forward, however try and bulk out your CV a bit so that you have other positive references to provide. It certainly is not a life ending moment for you, your life is just beginning.

Dooglass

It counts under gross misconduct though. It's hard not to feel disheartened. I was naive with the disciplinary process and was not clued up enough. Did you get dismissed or was it a slap on the wrist?

I will be beefing up my cv but is it worth looking in the finance sector again? Pretty sure decent sized companies will turn me away without a chance to explain! Or it may come up in screening checks

glosoli

I'm not sure what the transaction was you were dealing with however with mine it was a £550,000 loan for a house purchase, and in my case it was a slap on the wrist. It stayed on my record for a year but that was it. No development plans or formal interviews or anything. I'm not familiar with recruitment processes or the like however the best thing you can do is simply be honest at any interview that you attend, and try and turn it into a positive and say you are now very attentive to detail or something like that. I have every confidence it won't be the big barrier you think however see what your university adviser thinks.

Wish you well :-)

Snakey

If you're full time at Uni, you can just leave this job off your CV can't you? Especially if it's your finals year - you didn't work because you wanted to concentrate on your studies.

You say you have other voluntary and paid work experience to back up the academics that you will hopefully have under your belt in a few months' time, so I wouldn't worry about not being able to use these guys as references.