Should I mention a dismissal if asked at an interview?

Jlawson118

I've got a job interview tomorrow and I have a feeling they may ask me why I left my old job, and wanting to me honest with them incase I'm ever found out soon.

My old job basically failed health & safety regulations as soon as you walk through the door, and as I'd just started my second week, I was crushed to the back of a trailer when the conveyor belt pushed me. The conveyor belt had no brakes on it, and as shown on my first day, the emergency stop button didn't work. I got out of it mostly alright, but I had a severely sprained wrist. The management just shrugged their shoulders and refused to sign it in the injuries book. I was in A&E twice within the week, followed by a trip to the doctors as well.

I ended up having two weeks off, I emailed the top manager handing in my notice but he pressured me to stay, and money was very difficult at the time, so I did go back. I could barely move my hand but they deemed me fit enough to work. But I was struggling, and after a week or two they picked up on my poor performance and pretty much sacked me for it on the grounds of failing my probationary period.

There was no point in me having them done for unfair dismissal as being at the back of a trailer, nobody saw me, the CCTV wouldn't have picked it up, I hadn't signed any logs, and they fixed the button by the time I'd gone back, added a safety bar and added some brakes.

If asked at my interview tomorrow why I left, is it best to be honest about why I lost my job? I know it wasn't my fault anyway but I'm hoping they don't just think I'm making excuses, or I was a complainer or something like that, nor do I want them to see I was dismissed from a job and that makes them lose their confidence in me..

What should I do?

I'll also add that my P45 doesn't say I was dismissed

Undervalued

Jlawson118 wrote: »

I've got a job interview tomorrow and I have a feeling they may ask me why I left my old job, and wanting to me honest with them incase I'm ever found out soon.......


.....What should I do?

I think you have answered your own question! Tell the truth, it will come back and bite you if you don't.

Jlawson118

Undervalued wrote: »

I think you have answered your own question! Tell the truth, it will come back and bite you if you don't.

Well that's the thing, I do want to be honest to save it biting me on the backside if I don't, but I just worry they'll look down their noses at me. I really need this job right now

[Deleted User]

They left you, you didn't leave them. That CV has/You've passed the first sift, if it mattered much you wouldn't be called in.
They are in the past and your now ready for the future, not so sure how you'll fare if you are trying for exact same line of work, sometimes perhaps a change of job scenery really helps things along or change someone's sell-ability, but much more important like human's no two companies are the same)

They may not even ask, no one on here can confirm really whether they will.

Just be as confident as you can be (it's a two way process, think 'I'm allowed to ask questions too'!!).

Jlawson118

Deleted%20User wrote: »

They left you, you didn't leave them. That CV has/You've passed the first sift, if it mattered much you wouldn't be called in.
They are in the past and your now ready for the future, not so sure how you'll fare if you are trying for exact same line of work, sometimes perhaps a change of job scenery really helps things along or change someone's sell-ability, but much more important like human's no two companies are the same)

They may not even ask, no one on here can confirm really whether they will.

Just be as confident as you can be (it's a two way process, think 'I'm allowed to ask questions too'!!).

Thank you! That really boosted my confidence, I guess things are in the past!

Savvy_Sue

They may well ask, as it doesn't look as if you were there for very long. Personally, I think I'd go with a rehearsed version of your post. "When I started, I immediately found there were some serious Health and Safety issues, and I was actually injured. I did not feel that my concerns received a good enough response, so it was a relief when I was dismissed because the injury left me unable to work at the speed they required. I have now made a full recovery."

Other people may improve on that, but whatever you decide, PRACTICE saying it out loud, preferably with an audience.

I'm hoping you have made a full recovery. If there is an ongoing problem you might need to explain what / how etc.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

If you have told them about that job then they are likely to ask your previous employer for a reference so they will find out then anyway.

In future, if you were only there a handful of weeks, it may be as well to leave it off your CV altogether, especially if there are periods of unemployment either side.

bugslet

Jlawson118 wrote: »

Well that's the thing, I do want to be honest to save it biting me on the backside if I don't, but I just worry they'll look down their noses at me. I really need this job right now

Good idea from Savvy sue. Most employers, or the decent ones anyway, know that there are some dodgy employers, like myself they may have worked for not great companies. So tell the truth, it's much better than being caught out in a lie later.

Good luck!

DebtMan2017

Jlawson118 wrote: »

I've got a job interview tomorrow and I have a feeling they may ask me why I left my old job, and wanting to me honest with them incase I'm ever found out soon.

My old job basically failed health & safety regulations as soon as you walk through the door, and as I'd just started my second week, I was crushed to the back of a trailer when the conveyor belt pushed me. The conveyor belt had no brakes on it, and as shown on my first day, the emergency stop button didn't work. I got out of it mostly alright, but I had a severely sprained wrist. The management just shrugged their shoulders and refused to sign it in the injuries book. I was in A&E twice within the week, followed by a trip to the doctors as well.

I ended up having two weeks off, I emailed the top manager handing in my notice but he pressured me to stay, and money was very difficult at the time, so I did go back. I could barely move my hand but they deemed me fit enough to work. But I was struggling, and after a week or two they picked up on my poor performance and pretty much sacked me for it on the grounds of failing my probationary period.

There was no point in me having them done for unfair dismissal as being at the back of a trailer, nobody saw me, the CCTV wouldn't have picked it up, I hadn't signed any logs, and they fixed the button by the time I'd gone back, added a safety bar and added some brakes.

If asked at my interview tomorrow why I left, is it best to be honest about why I lost my job? I know it wasn't my fault anyway but I'm hoping they don't just think I'm making excuses, or I was a complainer or something like that, nor do I want them to see I was dismissed from a job and that makes them lose their confidence in me..

What should I do?

I'll also add that my P45 doesn't say I was dismissed

I'd say just explain to the interviewer like you explained in the post. He/she might not even ask.

Also,try and suss out what kind of person the interviewer is. A few might have an issue with dismissal,but I think most will see it as you went in when not fully fit and that shows you are willing to go above and beyond. Use them exact words. Dont say you went in because money was tight. Say something like "I went in because I didnt want to let my colleagues or management down.I also try and push myself and go above and beyond." Then when/if they ask about any negatives you just simply return to that and say sometimes you overwork yourself. :j

Jlawson118

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

They may well ask, as it doesn't look as if you were there for very long. Personally, I think I'd go with a rehearsed version of your post. "When I started, I immediately found there were some serious Health and Safety issues, and I was actually injured. I did not feel that my concerns received a good enough response, so it was a relief when I was dismissed because the injury left me unable to work at the speed they required. I have now made a full recovery."

Other people may improve on that, but whatever you decide, PRACTICE saying it out loud, preferably with an audience.

I'm hoping you have made a full recovery. If there is an ongoing problem you might need to explain what / how etc.

He did ask me and I said just that! He seemed really shocked and said "Well we definitely don't treat our staff like that so don't worry!"

Although now I have to wait and see if I've got the job. Fingers crossed I have! About time I had some good luck :rotfl:

Sncjw

Did you report the employees to the CEO or head honcho of the company for failing health and safety. I remember your posts