Interview question

RavenSpawn

What would you say in an interview if asked why you're no longer with your previous employer if you got fired?

Without going into much details, I was fired because I apparently "leaked" confidential information while I was a desktop technician. The information I saw, which I thought was someone resigning their position within the company, and then asked a friend of that person just to confirm was true turned out that the dept they were working in was restructuring and laying off 4 people. I had no idea about the restructuring nor about the other 3 that were being laid off. Because of this, it brought up a big stink once management found out as those associates being laid off had no idea and were not going to be told until the day they were being let go. The place I worked at had a high turn around for floor associates so I thought it would have been common knowledge. I admit this was a mistake on my part but this would have been my first mistake in the almost 3 years I was with that company. I explained to my boss how I came into this information and he said he would have to discuss it with management but didn't indicate in any way that I would be fired, simply I would have to gain the management's trust again. I got along pretty well with my boss that I thought he would do his best to defend me but was asked to return home early after being sent to Toronto to support their other site while the tech was going on vacation. When I went back to the office and was told I was being fired, I was never asked any questions or explain myself or anything, basically that I'm being left go and escorted out of the building.

So basically my question is how would you answer why you're no longer with the company without saying you've been fired, even though it was wrongful dismissal so it doesn't reflect badly during the interview if you just say it is confidential.

I had 2 interviews recently and 1 of them, which I went for a 2nd interview and was told they were waiting to hear back from my references and then set up a bilingual test to test my french. When I called the HR guy back, he said they had chosen another candidate and the reason I didn't get the job was due to that company not giving any references, just confirming employment with them and the fact I said my reason for no longer being with my previous employer was confidential in nature didn't fare to well with them aside that I would have been a good fit for the position. I haven't heard back from the other company either but will follow up with them to see if I'm still in the running or not at this point. I just want to know how to handle that question next time I have an interview since I know when I mention it is confidential, they are thinking I was fired and that doesn't go well with prospective employers.

Sorry if this is long and I could have gone longer but any suggestions would be appreciated.

sprkymrk

Well that's a tough one. Of course my first question (which you don't have to answer) is HOW did you see this confidential information? That sounds like an email to me, so I might venture a guess that there are about three ways you saw it. Either 1)You were sent the email by mistake, 2)You saw it over someone's shoulder while helping with an unrelated issue, or 3)You were reading someone else's email without permission.

That aside, assuming you are innocent of any wrong doing and guilty of only poor judgement (we all are at times), I think I would try to be upfront about it. Say you made a mistake that caused some problems at work and were let go without a chance to make amends. Rule #1 is to always admit your mistakes and don't make excuses. One thing I have learned in 20 years of working is that admitting to one's own mistakes may not always be the easy way, but it is the right way.

As far as telling them it's confidential - no way. If you told me that in an interview I could think of a LOT worse things it MIGHT have been other than the true story.

RavenSpawn

Well I did come across this information while servicing the HR manager's laptop. What I saw was only the file name which was in this manner , John Doe Final draft, or something in that nature. I saw this file number when I went to put the cursor over programs to expand its view, I thought I had stopped the cursor over programs but it had actually stoped over My Documents and thus expanded that view instead. I just assumed that this could have been a resignation letter which is why I asked, again due to the high turnover rate of people quitting and many mention it to their friends/peers if they are quitting.

As for admitting to your mistakes, I agree with that and I have no problem admitting if I did something wrong. There's no point in lying about it or blaming someone else as the truth always has a way of coming out.

I think I'll say that I was dismissed for making a mistake but was not given the chance to make ammends for it during the next interview I get.

I think I agree with you sprkymrk in if I say its confidential that it does look worse then saying I was dismissed for making a mistake.

Thanks.

sprkymrk

Thanks for explaining RavenSpawn.

See what I mean about leaving it to the imagination? It really was an innocent glance, but for all I knew you could have been using your admin privledges for nefarious purposes. I really didn't want to think that about you, but you can see where it would leave room for doubt.

Best of luck to you, and I'm really sorry about your circumstances.

RavenSpawn

Thanks sprkymrk. I just wished I had asked the question well before this interview which may or still may not have landed me the job. I did learn a lot from this ordeal though which will not happen again. I wished that I would have been given a chance considering I had an examplary record (in my opinion anyway) and many knew that I was doing a great job. Oh well..I'm still trying to get over this even though its been almost 2 months now.

sprkymrk

The hardest part is that you were there so long but now you can't even seem to get a good reference from them. Of course they are just following standard HR procedure by only stating that you worked there from dates A to B. In our sue-happy society they are afraid that if they say anything about your being fired you will sue them.

Do you think you could call your old boss (you said you had a good working relationship with him) and ask him if you could use him as a personal reference? Maybe he will empathize with your situation and be willing to help as long as he is doing it on a personal and not work basis.

RavenSpawn

This is something I found out afterwards, this company doesn't give out references, they only confirm employment. Apparently it is company policy. I do understand them not saying anything bad for fear of being sued but why prevent from saying anything good? Also, all references, or lack thereof, has to come from HR. Another thing I don't understand since they wouldn't know how you performed, only if you've ever been written up for something.

I had asked my previous manager to use her as a reference as I held a different position when I started with that company and she had no problems me using her as a personal reference but not professional. As for my last boss, I don't know whether to ask him or not since even though I got along very well with him, I know that he's the one who made the decision to fire me because more he didn't want a bad mark on his record. I've emailed him to see if I could get a copy of my performance review since they don't give references and I have yet to hear back from him, that being said, I've only emailed this morning so I'll at least give him the chance to do something. I am not predudice or anything but the 2 jobs I have been fired from, those 2 bosses are from the same ethnic background, and both times wronfully dismissed. The first time was when my son was born and simply wanted to talk to him about possibly taking parental leave. I knew at the time he couldn't afford to have my take time off due to being a little short staffed but was willing to wait for the summer when he would have had students work when school was done.

I am sorry but I just need to let some steam out.

Trailerisf

I deal with a variety of corporations. I see confidential stuff all day long. I even have known some professional atheletes getting traded a week before they knew. If I even breathed one word I could jeopardize millions in a trade.

I just ignore whatever I see. I am a fly on the wall when I am in offices. The only policy you can use. Never ever get caught in office politics, because you know everyone's dirty laundry.

Just tell them you messed up without knowing you did something wrong at the time. No need to go into details of how and why. Just explain information was disclosed inadvertently internally and you took accountability for your actions.

RavenSpawn

Trailerisf, I agree totally with you. I abid by that policy. My mistake was assuming this person was quitting and asking someone about it because I thought it would have been known by others. If I had any idea that person was going to be laid off, I would have done as with other confidential info that I've come across, discarded it. I definately took accountability for my actions which is why I came clean with my ex-boss. I mentioned that I screwed up to a couple of my IT co-workers and said that I would be ok and more than likely would just get a slap on the wrist. I simply wished I would have had the chance to say something myself before they made their decision. I mean, I've had many high level management people provide me with their passwords so I could troubleshoot their computers while they were in a meeting, conference or whatever so they're not without their laptops when they need to work. I've never used those passwords nor access to their information for granted. I had a job to to and that's what I did, nothing more. I'm sure all those that have worked in IT or serviced other peoples computers have access to personal or confidential information but know that because you have access to someone's system that you can go ahead and snoop. Most, if not all companies give a 2nd chance if you screw up (well depending on what you did of course) and at this company, I've seen many people make mistakes after mistakes and nothing is being done. Even if the company policy says 3 strikes and you're gone, they don't do anything. There's no consistency with this company. A supervisor even told associates that john doe was going to get fired once john came back to work and nothing was done. This was after I was let go and I'm sure that this type of mishap has happened before I did my mistake.

Ok, I will shut up now, I'm sure most of you have had enough of my rant but feel free to leave any comments/suggestions etc. Thank you

karmber

RavenSpawn wrote:

What would you say in an interview if asked why you're no longer with your previous employer if you got fired?

Without going into much details, I was fired because I apparently "leaked" confidential information while I was a desktop technician. The information I saw, which I thought was someone resigning their position within the company, and then asked a friend of that person just to confirm was true turned out that the dept they were working in was restructuring and laying off 4 people. I had no idea about the restructuring nor about the other 3 that were being laid off. Because of this, it brought up a big stink once management found out as those associates being laid off had no idea and were not going to be told until the day they were being let go. The place I worked at had a high turn around for floor associates so I thought it would have been common knowledge. I admit this was a mistake on my part but this would have been my first mistake in the almost 3 years I was with that company. I explained to my boss how I came into this information and he said he would have to discuss it with management but didn't indicate in any way that I would be fired, simply I would have to gain the management's trust again. I got along pretty well with my boss that I thought he would do his best to defend me but was asked to return home early after being sent to Toronto to support their other site while the tech was going on vacation. When I went back to the office and was told I was being fired, I was never asked any questions or explain myself or anything, basically that I'm being left go and escorted out of the building.

So basically my question is how would you answer why you're no longer with the company without saying you've been fired, even though it was wrongful dismissal so it doesn't reflect badly during the interview if you just say it is confidential.

I had 2 interviews recently and 1 of them, which I went for a 2nd interview and was told they were waiting to hear back from my references and then set up a bilingual test to test my french. When I called the HR guy back, he said they had chosen another candidate and the reason I didn't get the job was due to that company not giving any references, just confirming employment with them and the fact I said my reason for no longer being with my previous employer was confidential in nature didn't fare to well with them aside that I would have been a good fit for the position. I haven't heard back from the other company either but will follow up with them to see if I'm still in the running or not at this point. I just want to know how to handle that question next time I have an interview since I know when I mention it is confidential, they are thinking I was fired and that doesn't go well with prospective employers.

Sorry if this is long and I could have gone longer but any suggestions would be appreciated.