Incoming wall of text. TL-DR: question at the bottom about how to label "fired from a previous job".

I have a relative who is in her early twenties, who is looking to begin a career. What I mean is: she's looking to get started @ a 9-5, full time, salaried position somewhere. Recently, she's been waiting tables at different restaurants while going through school and moving, etc. Her most recent job was a slight hiccup: she took a job as an assistant manager @ a small restaurant on a golf course. She really enjoyed herself. Unfortunately, she gets a call on her day off out of the blue and her manager told her she was too slow and they didn't need her. In the next few weeks, as she got her final checks, she gathered none of her coworkers, the store owners, and the other managers thought she was doing a great job and was unjustly fired.

Some of her reasons she thinks she was unjustly fired are:
- She was taking time (off the clock) to figure out the register (because the hiring manager had mislabel several buttons). The manager scolded her for trying to read the manual. I've never heard of a manager who wouldn't want their employees to better themselves, especially off the clock.
- Manager had a strict register scheme: only use pre-determined amount for items purchased (probably to protect against people stealing or giving away food). My relative had to "void" out some purchases because the manager didn't update prices as she should have. Manager chewed my relative out for using the "void" button, and threatened to remove it if she didn't stop. Sounds quite immature to me, not to mention lack of trust to someone supposed to be "assistant manager".
- The week after she was fired, the manager accused a coworker of stealing beer AGAIN. The manager would rather keep a thief on payroll than someone "slow"? My relative actually found the mistake in the inventory logs that proved the coworker was not a thief last time, but doesn't think the manager believed her hard proof.
- The hiring manager had made this particular store their "baby", so to speak, because she "turned the place around, profitable." But, the rumor is the owners did such an awful job running it, that may not be the major accomplishment. Hiring manager also was doing school part-time while my relative could devote much more time to the job.

After hearing these and other little factoids from my relative, I honestly think she was unjustly let go and her manager is incompetent.

* Now she's applying for her "big-girl job" and there have been several questions on the job applications: "Have you ever been fired from a previous job?" and she asked me what she should do? I advised her to write "No", but be prepared to explain why, since I know that's not hard for employers to check up on. I don't want her to be further screwed over by the situation.

But, really, I dunno what to do in her situation. What do you say is the appropriate response?

5/11/2011 5:33:25 PM

You're only hearing one side of the story. Dont be so quick to believe what your relative says.

I would put "Yes" on the app and be prepared to explain why. Although her reason would be difficult to take at face value by any hiring manager. I believe in NC the potential employer can only call the previous place of employment to verify the dates of employment. The previous employer cannot tell them why she was terminated (I think).

[Edited on May 11, 2011 at 5:47 PM. Reason : a]

5/11/2011 5:45:35 PM

She shouldn't list the job on her resume, or as a reference.

Your resume isn't your C.V. It's a short form showing the BEST experiences and talents you have for a given job you're applying for.

And given that she's just trying to start a career, I would have her focusing on aspects other than job history (education, extracurricular interests, anything that can show her as being responsible, reliable and self-sufficient).

----

And No, she shouldn't say she was fired. She was let go, which is completely different. ^ is wrong. If it comes up in the interview (which it wont), she can clearly explain her side of things and say it just wasn't a good fit for her.

[Edited on May 11, 2011 at 6:00 PM. Reason : .]

5/11/2011 5:57:56 PM

^ That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that. What should she do about the: "Have you been fired from a job before question?"

^^ True. Although, she said the owners and general manager told her today that they were "shocked that she was fired" and weren't convinced. I will look into the NC employment law issue though, that's a good point.

5/11/2011 6:00:40 PM

i always make sure to write "without cause", especially since i have an unemployment referee who agrees with me

5/11/2011 6:36:22 PM

^ Can you elaborate please?

5/11/2011 8:17:14 PM

I would only report the firing if the job for which she were applying was in the same field.

If the "big girl job" is not involving food-service, most of the other industries would only be confused as to why the applicant in front of them was previously too incompetent to be assistant manager at a golf course restaurant. You get no bonus points for unabashed honesty, only further inquiry as to why you're requiring more attention involving the telling of your life story about mislabeled cash register buttons and beer thieves.

5/11/2011 8:56:10 PM

^^ i won my case against my employer and you can only win if youre found to not be at fault when youre fired. you get a sweet letter to hang on your fridge which says the referee finds you were not at fault. so yeah i was fired but i got to keep my dignity and good name.

5/11/2011 8:58:40 PM

^did you frame it and put it in your new office????!

5/11/2011 10:39:02 PM

no actually i think it got thrown away and then i just went on living my life. why do you think i should have?!?!

5/12/2011 7:30:46 AM

Do not put the job down on ANYTHING, no point making an issue of a non-issue.

Unless she worked there for like years they probably are not going to question a small hole in her employment history. Just have a story straight as to what she was doing during that time.

Full Time Student
Caring for Family
Volunteer Work
etc.

5/12/2011 8:46:43 PM

yeah just don't include that job on the resume, answer "no," problem solved.

5/12/2011 9:13:35 PM