You're Fired! Now What?

Whether it comes from Donald Trump or your local nonprofit boss, the words "You're fired!" hurt like a big ol' sucker punch! When the pain of job termination eases, you'll probably need to hit the job search trail.

Before you can start looking for a job, you need to decide if you want to:

• Stay in the same occupation; or
• Try your hand at something different

In either case, here are some ideas to get your job search going:

• Spread the word in your personal and professional networks that you're looking for a new job in your most recent occupation or let them know about your desire to make a career change. Networking is one of your best tools for getting your foot in the door for a job interview.
• Update your resume. Use a chronological resume format if you're staying in your former line of work; or use a combination resume format if you're making a career change. By the way, there's no need to mention that you got fired when listing your last job on your resume.
• Get plugged into online blogs and social networks where you can get and stay current with your occupation's job market.
• Read newspapers and relevant trade journals regularly to keep up on industry trends and see what jobs are posted.
• Get out of the house. Instead of trying to conduct your job search entirely at the computer, network in person, research the job market at the library, go to career fairs, attend in-person job support groups, and hang out with colleagues.
• Prepare for job interviews, including how you'll answer the inevitable question, "Why did you leave your last job?"

There is life after job termination and you're going to prove it! Take one day at a time, one step at a time, and you're bound to land a new job.

For more help on moving on with your job search after getting fired, check out these posts:

The Pink Slip Blues
Surprise Job Termination
Wrongful Termination
Terminated and Moving On
Creating a Fresh Start for Your Work Life

Is It Legal? Background and Credit Score Checks for Job Application

It seems more employers are running background checks and getting credit scores of job candidates as part of the hiring process, these days. What do you need to know about when and how a hiring employer is getting this not-so-private information? And do you have any say in the matter?

Here's one job seeker's experience and some employment advice by a lawyer.

Question
I submitted a resume online for an entry-level tech support job for a wireless networking company, who then called me for an interview. The interview went well and I was offered a job contingent on a background check. I was never asked to fill out an "application", this was all based on my resume and interview alone. The thing is that I omitted a job from my resume because I was fired from the job and omitting it did not leave a gap in my employment. I am worried that this omitted job will show up on the background check and they will think that I was lying and rescind the job offer. Am I ok? I really need this job!

I'm not sure why they feel the need to do a background check. They also said they can get info from consumer reporting agencies. What does that mean?
--Uneasy-but-need-a-job

Answer
I have often advised people to leave off a bad job on their resume if it doesn't create a gap in employment (using just years, not months when listing dates). However, I tell people to include all jobs, even bad jobs, when filling out the job application.

Uneasy-but-need-a-job's case is unusual in that the employer is effectively using her resume as an application, which is something I've never run into. So I asked Jack Robbins, an attorney who practises employment law (along with other areas). Here's Jack's response:

Most large companies, and many small businesses, will conduct some sort of background check either prior to a job offer being made to the applicant, or done after employment begins. Under the law of most states, unless the employer is terminating a current employee for a discriminatory reason, an employer can terminate an employee who was determined to have lied in the application process. So an employee needs to weigh this risk in making a decision to not disclose a prior job, or omit any other information.

With our current tough job market, the temptation is understandable to omit any adverse information. A middle ground is Susan’s advice, that if you omit a job from your resume, then you should list it on the job application.

The background check might include a search for pending or older criminal/traffic cases and civil actions. It might also include getting credit scores. To obtain the reports using a credit service, the employer needs to first obtain a signed authorization from the job applicant. Generally, the applicant is entitled to a copy of the report. Some of the information may be incorrect or not current. Most reputable Human Resources Departments will ask the applicant for an explanation of any items in the report that are of concern.
Good luck.
Jack Robbins, Esq.

This posting is a general comment only, and not specific to your situation. Your situation might vary based on additional facts of your case.

Thank you, Jack. We appreciate your expert legal opinion.

Here are other posts on this topic:

True Confessions: Problem with Employment Background Checks
Why Not Lie on Your Resume?
Why do employers run credit checks on potential hires?

The Pink Slip Blues

If you've recently been slapped with a pink slip, what's your first step to recovery? It may depend on how urgently you need a new job. If you're strapped for cash, you'll have to start looking for new work right away. If you have money stowed away (enough to cover at least eight month's worth of living expenses), consider taking some time off to work through the shock and awe of having lost your job.

Whether you jump into job-hunt mode right away or take a break, you need to deal with the emotional side of having had your job terminated.

You Got Fired
If you were fired from your job, come to grips with why you were asked to leave and figure out how you can avoid a repeat performance on your next job. These questions may help:

• Was the job description above or below your qualifications? Being over- or under-qualified for a job can cause poor performance. Recognizing this may help you find a more suitable job this time around.
• Was the company culture not a good fit for you? It's hard to excel if you're in an environment that doesn't match your personality (for example, formal or casual) or lifestyle (for example, political or religious). Identify what company culture brings out the best in you, and find employers with that mindset.
• Was there someone or something that caused your departure (for example, a disagreeable boss or unfair employment practice)? What role, if any, did you play in the situation? Get advice from a job counselor or trusted friend to understand how to prevent such a thing from happening again.

Understanding and accepting your job termination will help you move on to a new job – one that you'll enjoy and thrive at. It will also help you talk more easily about your last job in a job interview. (Yes, it'll probably come up in a job interview, so it's best to be prepared.)

The Big Layoff
If you got laid off from your job, research what caused the layoff so you can speak knowledgably about it to recruiters and hiring managers. Here are some things that might be helpful to know:

• How many employees were laid off
• How many rounds of layoffs there have been in the last five years
• The reason the company gave you, the public, and its shareholders for the layoffs
• Whether the company is closing completely or might get turned around
• Why you think you were chosen to be laid off. This is a hard one, but once you understand this to the best of your ability, you'll likely see it wasn't your fault. This realization will help you move on with greater self-esteem.

If you're really down and out, you may need to get professional help. Consider asking a therapist, career counselor, or religious leader for a few sessions to discuss your situation. Also, try to find a support group (in-person or online) where you can work through the grief of your job loss with others who are in the same boat.

For more on having been laid off or fired from your job, read these posts:

Explaining a Job Termination
Fired But Don’t Know Why
Job Search Resilience
Gaps and Layoffs and Resumes, Oh My!

How Many Layoffs Is Too Many?

I asked recruiters and human resources professionals on LinkedIn the following:

Question

Recruiters and hiring managers, when considering a job seeker for a job opening, how many layoffs in a two-year span are acceptable? How many in a five-year span? At what point does it look like it might be the job seeker's fault, and, therefore, you don't want to take the risk of hiring him?

There are several answers worth reading. I'm posting here the answer I thought was most honest.

Answer
by Stu Needels, Regional Sales Practice Director, Mindcircuit

Honestly, recruiters and hiring managers are looking to mitigate risk. Generally, the top 25% of a company's workforce rarely get laid off. It is this group of top performers that firms want to pay a recruiter to find them. There are exceptions to every rule and today there are more downsizings than ever.

Having said that, two layoffs inside 3 years would typically be a red flag to an agency recruiter. Perhaps a corporate recruiter could afford to be more forgiving for difficult to find skills.

This was not the answer I was hoping for, nor am I certain it's the right answer. I tend to think each recruiter or manager has his own technique or formula for sizing up an applicant's work history, as voiced by the other responders to the question.

What's your view on this, as a manager, recruiter, or job seeker?

Fired for Health Issue

Question
Today I was fired without any knowledge or even inkling that something was wrong. There were never any warnings (verbal or written) and in fact, I had a conversation with my Supervisor just a week ago, telling me I was doing a great job. There was only one comment made that I had been tardy on a few occasions, which I had called ahead to say I was running late. It's never an excuse, but I didn't have a choice in the matter when they were digging up our roadway and there was no prior notice to any of the residents that this was being done. It was never an issue again.

I was brought into the conference room and was told that there were personality conflicts between me and the "community" (there were only 7 people working in the company) as well as other issues. And then all of these issues that I couldn't believe I was hearing started to come out of left field - I was tardy on a regular basis (which I wasn't), I was rude to others in the workplace (which I wasn't and would never be as I wasn't raised that way), I rifled through people's trash without their consent (I was collecting the bottles and cans for recycling that the employees would throw out because they refused to recycle as it was "too much work"), I was on the Internet looking at social networking or sports sites.

I just sat there, stunned out of my mind because I had never been told that anything was a problem. My work was getting done, I had sales calls coming into me left and right, everything seemed to be going fine. What I found out is the Assistant in the office who befriended me was accessing my social website pages and using this information against me (such as uploading photos, surveys, etc) that were done at night and on weekends. What most upset me is that besides myself, another woman was hired who was a friend of the Assistant already working there. She comes in late, leaves early, takes extended lunches, watches DVDs and accesses full-length television shows on her PC and nothing was ever said or done to her, yet I am the one being forced out.

Something that did come up when I first started was that a routine medical test came back saying I might have cancer. I was upset and consulted my boss to see if I could get on the health plan earlier than the 3-month time frame with my paying 100% up to that 3-month window. This request was denied and my boss said to go ahead with the testing, and that "the cost was not her concern, but that we would work it out when it came to that point." It seems very coincidental that they've created all these reasons for my departure when my results are due back this week and the bill arrived for the testing today. So that I don't raise their insurance premiums, cut me off now!

I was only in the position a month. Is this something that I should put on my resume? Is it appropriate to write an exit letter to your former boss as I was not able to present any type of defense or my side of the story? I understand that their minds are made up and I would not want to go back to a company that I do not trust, but I feel that there should be some sort of closer there.
--Angie

Answer
I'm not a lawyer so I can't comment on your legal rights in this situation or whether you should write an exit letter. I'll stick to what I do best: resumes.

Is it possible to speak with the employer and ask to have your employment status listed as a temporary job? If they're agreeable to that, you could list the position like this:

Sept. 2008, Job Title (temporary assignment), Company Name

If they don't want to do that, then I suggest leaving the job off your resume all together. Hopefully you had another job in 2008 that you can list in your work history, and by using years (no months), it will not be noticeable that this one-month disaster happened.

When you fill out your job application, you must list the one-month job, so practise how you'll talk about that in the job interview.

Trouble Holding Down a Job

Question
I was recently terminated from my job of 11 months as a probationary Sanitation Worker due to tardiness and poor attendance. The reason for some of my late days: I had to take care of my mom who suffers from dementia. Overall, I was good worker with a little attendance problem.

Also, in 2002 I was terminated from my job of two years as a probationary Correction Officer due to two write-ups I received. At this point I have no clue as to what to do. I always wanted to be a Correction Officer but twice that hasn't worked out. Now I am afraid no one will hire me because I have such an unstable work history. Please give me some advice.

Answer
Your situation is one that you can turn around if you can get and hold down your next job for at least one year. It doesn't matter what that job is; the important thing is to demonstrate to a potential employer that your life has stabilized and you are now a reliable worker who will work a full eight-hour day with regularity and punctuality.

To find that new job, you might do well to go through a job placement agency. See if there's a nonprofit or government-run one in your area. Because you might benefit from some in-person guidance, look for one that you can physically go to, rather than simply a website that offers job openings. These agencies go by various names throughout the country, so you'll have to do a Google search for one in your neck of the woods. Use keywords such as:

your zip code or your city and state +

employment agency
employment department
employment
employment development department
workforce assistance
job placement
job placement agency
job help agency
one-stop center
private industry council
vocational services
vocational agency

Also, look in the good old Yellow Pages under "career" or "employment."

Replaced by Owner's Son as Manager

Question
I was hired three months ago to replace the manager of the company, who also happens to be the owner’s son. The son was suppose to go out on his own and work for another company... (Continue reading)

Fired for Mistake on the Job

Question
I transferred from the hospital I worked at to a clinic run by the same hospital. After three weeks at the clinic, I was fired for making a mistake. Not a deadly mistake, but a mistake, nonetheless, that I took full responsibility for. This was my first mistake like this in my 21 years in this profession.

I am now filling out job applications and have received job interviews in the same field. How do I handle the question, "Why did you leave your last place of employment?"
-- Maurice

Answer
Maurice, without knowing what the mistake was, it's hard to give a specific answer.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Before the interview, practise answering the question with an employment counselor or a friend who can be objective and help you figure out how much to disclose and how to say it.
2. Answer the question with complete honesty, take full responsibility, and assure the employer it will not happen again.
3. Go to your interview with one or more written recommendations from previous supervisors who will vouch for your excellence in work. Also, bring a reference sheet that lists several people in your profession who are willing to speak to the interviewer about your skills.

Is there a class you can take, or certification you can earn that would demonstrate your conviction not to repeat the mistake (the way one can go to traffic school in order to avoid getting a black mark on one's driving record)? If so, enroll right away so you can mention that in your interview.

We all make mistakes; your interviewer is no exception. Hopefully he or she will identify with your situation and give you a second chance, especially given the strong career you have under your belt. I wish you the best!

Mom with Bad Job Reference

Question
My husband recently relocated us to South Carolina from Florida. We had just had a new baby, and I began work with a large law firm as a legal secretary/floater, which required me to have oncall hours one weekend per month, and one day per week. Since starting the job 15 months ago it has gone to 2-3 nights a week with some nights ending at midnight or later. My husband is a 3rd shift officer and we have two small children so I really can't work past 9 pm any longer.

I have also been subjected to yelling and cursing from other secretaries and it has escalated to a point where this job just doesn’t work for me.

I emailed my boss (who was portraying herself as a good friend, even calling me outside of work and always acting concerned about my family life and well being) and told her something along the lines of, "This really doesn’t seem to be working so well. The oncall hours are too much and I can't handle being cursed and yelled at. I think I need to start looking for another job." She replied “I want you to be happy and I will support you in any way I can.” I also told her I was not giving notice of resignation, and that I'd like to stay at the job until I found another one.

Weeks went by and I got called into the HR manager’s office. I was told “things just aren’t working out and we need to agree your last day with the firm will be the 30th” (30 days from the day of the meeting). I was shocked. I had been told what a great team player I was, how helpful, and professional, etc. I asked my boss, “Am I fired or what?” She replied, "No, I don’t think we look at it that way; it just isn’t a good fit anymore." A week later I inquired as to whether I will be paid for my remaining vacation time, as the manual states. I was told, "No." So, I started using up my sick time, and I put in a request for vacation time, which didn't get approved.

I went about my interviews, but I didn't get any calls after I submitted my references. I went to a staffing agency, which requested a letter of recommendation. I called my boss to ask for one, and she said, "I can’t give you one in a situation like this. All inquires have to go through the HR manager.” So, I emailed the HR manager, requesting a letter of reference.

Then the emails started coming, “Since we mutually agreed you would be leaving…”. I wrote back, “I never mutually agreed to anything. I told you that I was going to start looking for another job because of the oncall hours and constantly being yelled at by co-workers. But I never resigned or said I was giving notice, and I didn’t set the date of the 30th -- you did.” I don't want them to screw me out of unemployment, saying I “mutually agreed” to leave, especially when the job market is the worst in 22 years and I have 2 small children to care for.

Can you help me make some sense of all this? I am so worried.

Answer
by Garla Smith, Smart Moms®, LLC, smart-moms.net and smart-moms-online.com

Dear Mom with Bad Reference,
This is indeed a tough time for you. There are a couple of issues that I can address that may be motivating.

The first and foremost issue at hand is how do you get a job when you may not have a strong reference at your previous employer? I think the first course of action would be to find out exactly what the employer is saying about you. By law, the employer can legally only verify job title and dates of service. They have the option to decline to answer the questions concerning eligibility for re-employment, verification of duties and others. Because this is a law firm, I suspect they are providing references by the book. What may be a challenge for you is that they have a tone in their voice or are unwilling to give enough information to make the employer feel comfortable about hiring you.

As you already know, it is difficult for you to get a truthful answer about what is being said. However, you can hire someone to verify your references. There are professional agencies such as Allison and Taylor that can check your references. For instance, if you learn that the employer only answers questions about job title and dates of service in a very brief manner, you can alert your prospective employer that this is their policy so it will not be construed as a bad reference. If you learn that the employer has a particular tone (signifying displeasure) while answering the questions, this information may be admissible in court. Is there one peer (at the law firm) that would serve as a personal reference? You could provide a cell number or home phone and instruct the prospective employer that she can discuss your relationship but it is best to reach him/her after work hours. Make sure to speak with this reference about how you would like them to address your departure as well as those relevant skills. Did you do any volunteer work during this period or have another part-time job? Perhaps this avenue can provide a positive and talkative reference who can speak about your relevant skills.

Always handle things in a professional manner no matter what. When you are speaking to a prospective employer do not bad mouth the prior employer. It is always received as a bad sign, always. Don’t blame, don’t bad mouth, don’t appear to be the victim. You should tell them the truth of why you left but in a non-blaming fashion. It may be presented something like, ”I resigned from that position because they needed someone to support them after-hours and I was unable to do that with a new born baby...” Keep it brief, professional and never bad mouth the employer.

For the future, it is important to put things in writing. For instance, when you begin to feel you were being mislead about the hours and what was communicated, putting it in writing (via email) to your supervisor lets them know you are serious about that concern. The correspondence also helps to legally protect you. If you decide to correspond via email simply turn on the read-receipt option (via Outlook). Make sure you print out the email and file for your records. Any kind of abuse, especially verbal, should be documented to someone above you to alert them about what is going on. If all else fails, you have a paper trail if you need to file a law suit or proof to ensure you secure unemployment.

You may still have some recourse for receiving vacation pay. Some states require that employers pay remaining vacation time. Check these sites for rules and regulations about SC Labor and Employment Laws Link 1 and Link 2. Save your existing pay stubs and policy manual for documentation. Research to find a lawyer or someone familiar with employment laws to provide their professional opinion as to whether you have a case.

You can obtain a job after experiencing a challenging time with an employer. Commitment to finding a new job, resolve to not settle for unemployment, research to determine your rights and best practices will all help you eventually land another job. Best of luck!

Fired After Two Months

Question
from a career counselor

This is my first client who has been fired. The client was fired after working two months. My understanding is that it was a personality conflict in the office and so, of course, it was not the “right fit.” It was not about performance.

Should this position be listed on the résumé?

How should she explain this on an application, if it is not on the resume?

Should the client volunteer this information in the first interview, which is what the client wants to do?

Answer
I suggest not putting the two-month position on the resume. Use only years (not months) for dates in the work history so there is no apparent gap when these two months are left off.

The job application is another story. The two-month position must be put on the job application, along with "Reason for leaving." This is where your client needs your help: figuring out what to write for the reason she left. Ask the client more about why it wasn't a good fit and try to articulate that in a way that doesn't put the blame on either your client or the employer. "Not a good fit" is OK, but maybe you can come up with something less noticable like "short-term job." The goal is to say something that's truthful without drawing attention to it.

In the interview, your client should not bring up the subject. She should take a don't-ask-don't-tell stance. If the interviewer asks, your client should say something brief that doesn't invite a long conversation about it -- perhaps something like, "My stint with ABC, Inc. was valuable because I quickly realized how important it is to have professional goals that are aligned with the company's goals." Then the client could go on to talk about how her professional goals will serve the potential employer's goals. She should even ask some questions to assure both she and the interviewer that this next job will be a good match.

Since I started this blog, I've become more aware of how many empoyees get fired and how traumatic it is for those job seekers has they try to move on to another position. Check out my 21 "Job termination - fired" posts. Most of these cases involve personality conflicts so there might be some advice that's relevant to your client's situation.

Fired by a Bad Boss

Question
I was fired from my job. I worked for a boss who made me quit the college classes I was taking online to earn my degree on my own time. He wanted me to concentrate on my job and told me that if I didn’t quit taking these courses I was taking …there was the door. He said if I wanted to succeed in this business (I worked as an admin) I would have to do what he said and be a team player. When I told him that I had no problem taking classes that he wanted me to take to help me understand our business better but I still wanted to pursue my degree as I didn’t have one and it was a personal goal I wanted to achieve. He told me the only reason I wanted a degree was to show it off. I quit my education per his request.

I also got yelled at on an occasion when other people heard. I got reprimanded because I was in the ladies’ room once when he tried to call my company cell phone and I didn’t answer it (as I left it at my desk when I went to the ladies’ room). He was in the parking lot getting to work when he must have called me to check his calendar for something. He was at his desk by the time I walked back from the ladies’ room (that is how quick it was as I was only gone for maybe 3 minutes} and he yelled at me for not having my cell phone in the bathroom with me to answer his calls as he told me I am to be available to him 24 hrs. a day 365 days a year at all times including when I am in the bathroom. His words exactly.

When I went on my honeymoon (I got married when I worked there) I had to call in everyday to see what was going on. He has jokingly (I use that term loosely) called me names such as “dummy” and has insinuated that I am bulimic when I AM NOT when I don’t eat lunch (because I lose my appetite working for him).

Another admin position within the company opened up and the manager of that dept. came to me as they thought I might be interested in the position, which I was. Company rules are you can inquire about a job without your manager’s approval…once you want to go for it, you then tell your manager and go through the interview process, etc. After the manager of the open position came to me about the job we both went to HR. HR asked me why I wanted to leave my current position, and did I want to pursue this new position. I told her yes, I was interested but I didn’t know what the salary was in the new position. If it was much lower I didn’t want to go for it. HR agreed with me and told me to wait on telling my current boss about wanting to go for this open position until I knew what the salary was. (I also want to add that I did not bad mouth my boss in anyway to HR--I just said I wanted a change in my career as I had experience in the new admin position from a previous job years ago and it was something I would love to do.)

Well here is where things went wrong….. 2 weeks later the manager of the open position came to me (instead of going to HR) and told me they would match my salary and offered me the job. The person in HR I was dealing with was on vacation so I had to wait 2 days before talking to her to tell her what happened. When I did she immediately told me this wasn’t supposed to happen this way. (Meaning the manager of the open position should have never come to me to offer me the job without going through HR). After talking to her we both agreed I had to tell my current boss but advised me to tell a little white lie -- that I was “applying” for another position within the company and not that I was offered the job. So I did. Well he let me go 2 days after I told him as he was shocked that I was leaving him and told me to go home, clear my head and clean my house. I had a tentative start date of 2 weeks to begin the new position within the company. Well within that time my old boss (who is also a Partner in the firm) found out that the proper procedure was not followed and I was let go with a very nice severance package from HR. The person in HR I dealt with and the hiring manager in the new position got in trouble but still have their jobs.

Now I have to start applying to new jobs and have no idea what to tell a new employer as to why I was let go. The old employer where I got fired agreed to tell any prospective employer that I resigned and not that I got fired. I don’t know if I could trust their word but sort of believe they would say that…I hope. I plan on signing up for college classes online again for next semester and thought about telling a new employer that I left my last job because I was unable to pursue my education in my current position. Any advice please?

Thank you!
Jackie

Answer
by Honey Smith, Professional Life Coach

First, I must say: Congratulations on getting out from under your controlling and destructive boss.

Moreover, though it must have stung, being fired from the company of which he was partner was likely a blessing in disguise. Poor communication and highly inappropriate behavior on the part of upper management could easily have continued to cause you serious headaches and further erode your self-respect.

You wrote that the "old employer" would refer to your “resignation” rather than “firing.” Did you mean the HR person you dealt with originally? Given that she got in trouble for how your case was handled to begin with, to what extent will she stick with her promise to say you resigned? Is there some way to get such testimony on paper, as in a general letter of reference that will commit her to abide by this promise?

I also want to applaud your desire to further your education. It's not easy when you are working full time. As you look for the next position, please consider the following:

Who will really value your commitment to bettering yourself? What type of organization, industry and management will see your ambition as an asset and not a threat?

It sounds from what you wrote that you are a dedicated employee and are torn between your educational goals and your desire to do the best possible job at work. Your first boss no doubt saw how conscientious you were and sought to take advantage of this wonderful quality.

So, as you look for the next job, take some time to step back and consider what your boundaries will be. Are you clear on how much you can devote to your job and your studies, respectively? Are you being realistic about your goals and the time-frame for accomplishing them? What are your priorities and where might you compromise, if need be? Importantly, how will you include your husband in this decision-making process?

Honey Smith, Ed.M., is a Professional Life Coach who helps job seekers fast forward their careers, master life transitions and fulfill their potential.

Mom of Teens Wants Full-Time Job

Question
I am a Mom of teenagers and I’m 52. Most of my experience has been as a waitress because it allowed me to make great money and work few hours while my kids were going through the younger years. I have had several jobs over a 30-year period in the restaurant business.

I was let go at the last job. I believe it was unfair. The supervisor was also a working waitress. The owner gave her carte blanc. She worked most things to her advantage and if you didn't like it, well tough. I worked there 3 years.......so long story short, that was one year ago.

Since then I have remained unemployed. I am not sure if I want to go back to that business or find new work. In either case I am trying to put together a resume. I am not sure how to handle the last job on the resume. I have had my Real Estate. License. I worked in a bank many years ago. I went the Medical Assistant School right out of high school. I have been a group leader in a women's group. I have attended a self-help seminar.

I am stumped as to how to begin. I have knowledge of Quickbooks, as I keep the family business organized that way.

Thanks for your advice

Answer
by Garla Smith, co-owner of Smart Moms and Part-Time Employment Specialist

Dear Mom of Teenagers,
It is a challenge to determine how to address a position where you were let go. I am always encouraging moms to be honest but don’t give away too much information too soon. For instance, sharing that you were let go can be introduced during the application stage. Having references lined up that can speak on your behalf would be counteractive to the negative perception of being let go. Perhaps another supervisor or peer from that job site could be introduced as a reference to speak about your work ethics or attention to detail, etc. There is a time to share the reasoning as to why you left but it should be brief and with a humble attitude.

As for determining your next step, I think you have quite a few options.

With your real estate. license you could continue with that or consider a new career as an R.E. Virtual Assistant. These assistants make $35- $50/hr depending on the job function. If you have detailed experience in Real Estate Marketing, this skill set is a great asset to any realtor and you can charge on the higher side. Visit the International Real Estate Assistant Association (IREA) for details about this field. If launching your own VA business is overwhelming, start out small with just your area network. Putting a simple ad on Craig’s List for your area, a small local paper or even networking within your local networking groups may bring several great clients. You only need four or five steady clients to create a steady income.

If you are not sure about real estate or any of the other careers that you have had in the past, you may want to consider doing some online career assessments. Visit Smart Moms to start a free preliminary career assessment. The results from this assessment may yield ideas about a new career that you have not thought of.

Finally, your Quickbooks skills are more valuable than you think. You can validate this premise by simply using Google and searching for “Quickbooks and jobs”. You will see that there are many jobs (part-time and full-time) that require Quickbooks skills. I encourage you to complete a certification program that can validate your Quickbooks and Accounting skills. Visit this page on Smart Moms for more information about classes and online programs. Any employer will respect 2+ years of experience, related references and certifications in your field.

I hope this information helps. If not please repost questions or send directly to me at garla@smart-moms.net.

Garla Smith is co-owner of Smart Moms. Her expertise lies in matching flexible, part-time jobs with qualified professional candidates.

Fired for “Porn” Site Browsing

Question
My wife is being terminated from her job of 13 years due to her accessing Myspace and Hoverspot during her lunch hour. Although she is permitted to use the Internet for personal use during her lunch hour, her company considers Myspace and Hoverspot "porn sites" due to explicit photos that may be on these sites.

Porn sites are actually blocked from access at her work, and there is no warning about these two sites being considered porn when you access them - or in the company's policy. She is a union employee, and her union is going to take the case to arbitration, but does she have a case? They've offered her 13 weeks severance pay and 6 months of benefits if she goes away quietly. I personally think she should fight it.

Any direction would be greatly appreciated.
---Matt

Answer
by Ronnie Ann, Work Coach

Hi Matt!
Boy this makes me mad! I really feel for your wife and you.

Assuming there is no other pertinent information, let’s look at the facts as stated:

• Internet browsing during lunch is OK.
• Certain sites that are not OK are blocked.
• The employer says Myspace and Hoverspot are not OK, yet they are NOT blocked.
• Your wife is being terminated without written notice of these sites being off limit.
• Your wife is also being terminated without any prior warning, usually necessary in union shops.

I’m not a lawyer - although I did consult with top management in a union shop – and what I say is only my opinion. That said, something is wrong with this picture. By all means, consider arbitration. But first, talk to the union and find out whether you think this union is strong enough to stand up to the employer. Ask them about similar cases and how they were resolved. Assuming they’ve won before (most union arbitration of this sort is to the employee’s benefit), I say go for it.

My instinct tells me there’s more going on here than just the Internet access, since there are many legitimate online-community/social-access sites like Myspace and Hoverspot. While these sites do allow people to post what they want - even things considered porn - the majority of users are basically nice folks just looking to meet interesting people with similar interests.

Have others in the company been warned away from these types of sites and/or been terminated for such access? Hard to believe your wife is the only one who ever went to one of these hugely popular sites. If you’re curious, I found a list of the Top 20 Social Networking Sites on Blog Blocker: The Blog - A Guide to the Hazards of Blog and Social Networking Websites. While caution is needed when using any social sites – especially for kids – these sites are not considered porn sites per se. Your wife would have had no reason to even think that way – and hence, no warning.

Considering how bizarre this all seems, I can’t help wondering whether the company was actually looking for a way to terminate your wife and this may simply have given them a convenient reason. The fact that she has 13 years raises some possible flags. Not sure if it applies in her case, but sometimes long-term employees are terminated before they get close to tenure points or because they are making a lot of money for their positions or simply because they are getting older. None of this is fair, but it happens. If any of this is at play, the union will not only bring it up…they will run with it!

In no way should your wife be punished for innocent access to something her employer never banned officially. What helps her case a lot is that they do have officially banned sites and the union can show that the two in question could easily have been added by the employer if they consider them dangerous. Otherwise, it’s a close cousin to entrapment, considering the popularity of these sites.

Assuming the union has been reasonably successful in such cases, I’d be sure to take advantage of arbitration. Even though there’s a chance the company would withdraw their offer should she lose, odds are they wouldn’t have made such a good offer if they had an airtight case. And given her years and union status, I would guess she is entitled to a decent package anyway. Not much downside here, and a lot to gain should she win. At the very least, she deserves to be cleansed of the parting image of “porn browser.” How dare they!

As I see it, she deserves her day in court – or in this case arbitration. I say go to the mat, Matt!

Good luck!


Learn about Hispanic Recruiting at LatPro.com.

Two-Month Job on Resume

Question
I attended college last year to become a medical assistant. I am currently employed in a job (Job #1) that is not medical related. I work at second job (Job #2) as a part-time medical assistant.

A few months ago, I worked at a third company as a medical assistant (Job #3) almost full-time, and quit because it involved a lot of travel. I left Employer #3 on the best of terms; I know they would hire me back.

All three jobs overlap each other with no time lapses on my resumes. None of the jobs are full time. Why so many jobs? Because nobody would offer full-time work to someone with such little experience. I need to build experience and I'm 40 years old.

Here’s my question: I got hired about 2 months ago as a medical assistant (Job #4). I worked for the company for about 2 months and made under $1,000. I received education but only about 1 day of hands-on training. I believe they over hired! Before the 90-days probation period was up, they let me go, stating my performance was the issue. They said I could give my 2-week notice, which I did.

Job #4 was not the right match. I needed more training in a new facility. Imagine working at a new job with nobody showing you where to find equipment or supplies, and using a new computer system for the first time. That would slow anybody down!

Question, should I bother to list Job #4 on my resume and applications? If I don't list them, what if an employer runs a verification check? I have discussed this with my Employer #4 and they said if someone calls they will only give employment dates.

Answer
Joyce Lain Kennedy, Syndicated Columnist, Tribune Media Services

Hi Medical Assistant on Her Way to Job #5,

What you really want to know is whether or not you'll be found out if you omit the two-month job on your resume. Probably not. Even if a potential employer runs a background check, which may include a credit report, unless you opened a new charge account during that time connecting yourself with job #4 data, your short term in your last job is unlikely to be reported.

(But note that one of the newer ways employers are finding out stuff you'd rather they not know opens up when individuals blab way too much on such social networking sites as MySpace and Facebook.)

You say you parted on good terms and that employer #4 will disclose only the dates of your employment. Taking the company at its manager's word, there's a better way to handle your dilemma: Go ahead and put down the dates of job #4 and mark that stint as a "Temporary job." As things turned out, that's what it was. If pressed, briefly reply that #4 was a good learning experience but you are moving on to fill a better fit in a full-time permanent position.

Do yourself a favor: Find out exactly what performance issues precipitated your early departure from Job #4. Go back and ask your former manager; people like to give advice to appreciative individuals. Once informed, make sure that you don't repeat those early mistakes, even if it means seeking additional formal training before you look for a job that you hope will be a keeper.

If you have further questions about preparing your best resume, I recommend you pick up a copy of Susan Ireland's outstanding book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Perfect Resumes," 4th Edition.

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
In her post, Job Surfing’s a Risk, Susan Strayer says:

Job hopping is common--and it's not always bad. But the problem really is twofold. First, people job hop to overcompensate for a bad factor at their old job. They correct that in the new role. but are in such a hurry to hop, they don't assess that new job thoroughly. And before you know it, it's job search time again.

Susan’s post has good advice for how to know when you’re a perpetual job hopper and how you can look at the pattern to turn it around.

Surprise Job Termination

Question
I was fired two months ago from my job of seven years. The day it happened my supervisor walked up to my desk and told me I was being let go. I was very surprised, so I just packed up and left without asking for a specific reason for my termination. I'm really frustrated with trying to explain why I've been fired when I go on interviews. This is what I have been saying:

“I was let go. The reason on my discharge paperwork stated ‘company terminate.’ I believe the reason was that there was a difference of opinion between my supervisor and me. I felt telephone customers were being put on hold for too long when they didn't want to leave a message for the person they were waiting to speak to. I understand some calls take longer than others to take care of, but it seemed this was a continuing issue with one of the departments I transferred calls to. My supervisor felt differently and I feel that is why I was let go. I take responsibility for my part in the way things turned out, and I won't make the same mistake again. Now I am ready to move on with a new perspective.”

Is this response making me look like a difficult employee? Should I even say that much since I am assuming why I was fired? Should I attempt to contact my previous supervisor and ask for a more specific reason? I'm not sure how he will react to me calling after two months has gone by already.
Thanks,
WH

Answer
by Marc Effron, VP, Talent Management, Avon Products

Hi WH
Less is more in this situation. While your response isn’t necessarily making you look difficult, it isn’t helping your case. You are providing more detail than is needed and it could sound defensive to an interviewer. And, no, don’t attempt to contact your former supervisor since it’s very unlikely they’ll answer your question.

When you’re asked about your termination, your response should emphasize the positive aspects of your performance. Were you a top performer? Were there any performance measures used at that company on which you scored high? Any company training courses you did well in? Any positive customer feedback?

Take any positive feedback, summarize it in 30 seconds and then use that as the lead in to your answer. For example, “I was employed at XYZ company for seven years and consistently scored in the top half of all customer service representatives in customer evaluations. Twice I was praised by my supervisor for outstanding performance in handling calls. So I was surprised that I was let go without being provided a reason. I can assure you that there was no illegal or unethical conduct on my part.”

If you can’t emphasize any positive aspects of your performance, it would be best to simply say that you were let go without any notice or information about the reason. Again, reassure the prospective employer that you weren’t doing anything illegal or unethical. If this type of dismissal was common at your company, that would be very helpful for your interviewer to know.

Make sure you are exceptionally well prepared to describe all of the benefits you can deliver to your prospective employer. It might help to review the interview questions section of The Job Lounge.

Hope that helps!

Marc Effron is Vice President, Talent Management for Avon Products. He has authored two books (including Leading the Way) and numerous articles about leadership. He is a frequent speaker at industry events.

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
You’ll find more advice in line with Marc’s at How to Do a Job Interview After Being Fired from Your Last Job.

Wrongful Termination

Question
I was wrongfully terminated from my job this week. Just more than a year ago, I started to work for this company and my manager was racist, harassing and threatening me to get me to quit the job while I was on probation. The intention was to offer a full-time position to another person, whom he hired after me on a contract.

I complained to HR. They investigated and let him go.

A new manager came who is the best friend of my ex-manager. Initially, she promoted me and within three months of the promotion, today she fired me without giving any cause in writing. She verbally informed me that she is firing me because I have not followed her instructions. I do not know what to do.

I was shocked and said so but the result remains the same...I am terminated from the job, at first without any reason. But now they have changed the story and fired me based on these grounds: According to her instructions, we were to log any issue on the server if she or the other person in charge was not present. I worked on the server while in contact online with the other person in charge, and my log is also available in a saved file in the company's records. Unfortunately, I have no proof of the saved file as I do not have access to the server now that I am terminated. Any help?
Thanks.
--Bakul

Answer
by John West Hadley, Career Search & Career Enhancement Counselor, “Helping Job Seekers Who Are Frustrated With Their Search”

Bakul:
Think carefully about what you would really like to have happen next. Do you want to try to get your job back, or get another job at that company? Or do you want to just minimize the impact, and try to keep from having a blot on your record as you look for a new job? Given the situation, you have to ask yourself what your future at that company would look like, even if you were successful in getting them to reinstate you.

I would suggest talking this through with an employment attorney. Look for one who is very well-versed in these issues. If the case is as blatant as you’ve said, the attorney may be able to help you reach some form of relatively amicable settlement in which you get a severance benefit to help bridge you through to your next job, and a change in the official record to remove any indication that you were terminated for cause. You might even be able to secure a positive recommendation, given the recent promotion.

You are angry about your unfair treatment, and rightly so. You’re going to need to get past this to be able to move forward effectively in your career search and your career in general. Talk through your feelings about this with trusted advisors (your spouse, close friends, even a counselor), trying to put the whole situation behind you as best you can.

Explore what, if anything, you might have done differently. Think both about whether there is anything you might have done that contributed to the situation negatively, and whether there is anything you could have done differently that might have affected the outcome. This reflection will be very helpful in dealing with difficult situations as you go forward in your career. For example:

- When you first encountered the harassment, etc., how did you react? Is there anything you could have done differently?
- What steps did you take before you went to HR? Were there other steps you could have taken, and might this have affected the outcome?
- Did you talk about it with your manager, and your manager’s manager? How exactly did you approach them? What did you say the meeting was about, and how did you frame the discussion? What sort of things did you say, how did you say them, and how did they react?
- Did you document what happened in writing, and create a file of exactly what was said and done? Were there other forms of evidence you could have secured?
- How did you conduct the meeting with HR? What did you say to them and how, and what exactly did HR say to you? Is there another level of HR you could have gone to?
- Did you talk about any of this with any other employees at the company? Is it possible this would have gotten back to your managers or HR, and how might this have impacted the situation?

Be brutally honest with yourself in exploring all of this, and how you might have reacted differently to create a more positive response, if that was at all possible. You may want to talk through this with a trusted advisor to help you see it from a third party perspective. The key is to uncover any blind spot that could haunt you in the future, and to make sure that you are better prepared to deal with any future situations.

Now make sure that you are able to move forward, presenting yourself as a true professional, who is able to talk about difficult situations without criticizing past employers. You can’t afford to have networking contacts and potential hiring managers see the anger you currently feel, as it will interfere with making the strong connections you need to get to a great next job. If they see you as angry or saying bad things about a past employer, even if you appear to have good reasons, they will become hesitant about connecting you to possible opportunities or influential referrals, or they may do so with great caution.

For further help on your search, I invite you to check out the articles available on my website. You might also be interested in my Career Tips email newsletter… you can check out the contents of past issues.

Good luck!

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
Wrongful Termination: Justifiably Claiming Wrongful Termination explains what issues are considered wrongful termination in the United States. This might help in figuring out how to proceed if you live and work in the U.S. If you are from another country, perhaps you can find similar guidelines online for your country.

Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email (joblounge@aol.com) it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.

Terminated and Moving On

Question
I was terminated from my job, nearly a year ago, because I decided to take a stand. There were some very questionable things going on within management. Since it affected the employees and the company in a very negative way, I started a petition within my department regarding the issues and more than half of the employees signed it. I submitted a letter, along with the petition to the compliance department, which got remarkable attention - resulting in a visit from the President of the company that included a one-on-one interview with everyone in the department. In the end, half of management was terminated along with myself.

I imagine they were uncomfortable with me staying there considering what I knew. The much needed change that was due to that particular department was granted because of my actions, so I am very happy that the employees have a better place to work, some of them had no positive outlet, including no high school diplomas. They had no way out.

I recently began seeking employment as a legal assistant and have gotten several call backs for interviews. How do I explain my termination without scrutinizing the company?
--Zandria

Answer
by Ronnie Ann, Work Coach
Hi Zandria!
First let me congratulate you on taking action that sounds like it wound up helping many employees. This is a tough thing to do and most people would have been afraid to take a stand like this, so I applaud you for wanting to make a difference. Sadly, it resulted in your departure – most companies just don’t feel comfortable keeping people who have taken such action, even if in the end the company benefits. I’m sorry about that for your sake, but I hope your next job will make up for all of it.

That said…there is no reason to mention any of the specific circumstances in your interviews. Nowadays, because of possible legal implications, most companies will not reveal details like this when contacted for references. Also, I would assume the company would rather not have its dirty laundry discussed in public. So I would guess they are hoping you don’t mention it either. (In the slim event they do talk about it as part of a reference, then you might want to have a talk with your former employer to explain that you are not discussing the details and would appreciate the same courtesy.)

Your best bet is to emphasize the good things and simply explain that there was a reorganization in which a layer of management was let go (or some such explanation). Be casual about the whole thing and keep your answer to this question short and sweet. The less mentioned about it the better. Main thing is to show only good will toward your former employer. Interviewers know that one day you might be leaving them and they like to hire people who won’t tell dirt!

Although your termination was part of a reorganization, CVTips.com has some thoughts that apply to any termination that wasn’t of one’s own choice. In their post, Answering the Interview Question: Why Were You Fired?, they emphasize being open in your answers:

“While trying to give a pleasant-to-hear answer do not hide the real reasons, i.e. if the company was going through financial problems, or if they were downsizing and found your position expendable, do not feel ashamed to say so. Emphasize how much you learnt from the past experience in the job and how much you look forward to move on. This will establish you as a mature person.”

Now that doesn’t mean you need to tell them the whole story. Just be open and direct about the fact that a reorganization happened and you were let go as part of the process. It’s such a common story nowadays, unless you make it into a big deal, a simple answer and a comfortable smile will suffice. The main thing is to emphasize you are looking forward to starting a new job in a company like this one. (It doesn’t hurt to have a few reasons why you are especially excited about this particular company.)

The bigger question for me is “What have you been doing in the last year since you were let go?” There is a one-year gap that, when coupled with a termination, could raise an eyebrow or two. Make sure you have a good answer that a new employer will be comfortable with. If you’ve done any volunteer work in that time or taken time to help a family member, be prepared to talk a little about that in a way that emphasizes your good qualities. (It never hurts to rehearse in front of a mirror or with a friend just to get comfortable with all the details of what you want to say. Just make sure you can still sound natural, as an employer is more interested in seeing the real you than hearing a “perfect” canned answer!)

The fact that you already have some interviews is a very good sign. You might even consider looking for a job within a union or labor law firm since you seem to have the spirit.

Just know that these things happen to most of us. Simply focus on what you have to tell that makes you a great hire and a good fit for the company. Leave the rest in the past where it belongs!

Good luck, Zandria. I wish you all the best in your new job.

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email (joblounge@aol.com) it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.

Recent Grad Can’t Get New Job… Bad Reference

Question
Since I graduated a year ago, I've had two different jobs. The first one I left due to the strain of the hours and the second one I was dismissed from. Ever since I was dismissed from my last job, I've had tons of trouble trying to find a job. In the last 3 months, I've applied for tons of jobs and even gotten several interviews. However, I still haven't received a job offer. Today, I found out that a job I really had my hopes set on had passed me by. When I called, I was told that I had received a bad reference from my previous employer.

I don't know what to do anymore!! I'm totally crushed and no one is willing to give me a second chance. I know I'm a great employee who always performs above and beyond expectations and I have several great references but because I've been terminated from a job and they give me a bad reference, no one will take me on!! I fear I'll be stuck in a dead-end low-paying job for the rest of my life!!
-- Totally crushed

Answer
by Honey Smith, Professional Life Coach

Dear Totally Crushed,
You wrote that "No one" is willing to give you a "second chance" at a job. You also wrote that you "graduated a year ago." These hard knocks early in the game might make you feel like this is how it will be for the rest of your life.

Rest easy. It doesn't have to be that way at all.

You can turn these disappointments to your advantage. To do so, it's vital that you look honestly at what's happened to you. Start by considering these questions:

o Why was I dismissed? What do the circumstances around my dismissal tell me about myself, the particular job or boss and the working world in general?

o What would make a prospective employer weigh one bad experience against all the positive references I provide?

o Do I need to mention the job I was dismissed from on my resume or in interviews? If so, how will it serve me to do so, and what will it take to present it from my own perspective?

o How are my interviewing skills? You wrote that one interviewer claimed your bad reference was the reason you didn't get the job, but what about the others? Did you ask the other interviewers why you were not hired? If so, did you see a pattern emerge of your strengths and weaknesses? If those interviewers weren't forthcoming, who might you ask for some honest feedback on your interviewing skills? Could you practice improving those skills?

Lastly, you may want to consider if you're targeting the jobs that are the best fit for you.

Honey Smith, Ed.M. is a Professional Life Coach who helps job seekers fast forward their careers, master life transitions and fulfill their potential.

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
Totally Crushed, you are at the beginning of your career, which in many ways is like being a freshman in college again. (They don’t call life the “school of hard rocks” for nothin’.) Don’t be discouraged. My guess is you just have some things to learn about yourself and the world of work.

I suggest you meet with a career coach –- maybe a counselor through your former college career center or a professional from the private sector -- who can explore what went “wrong” on your last job and see what skills you need to hone or maybe what mindset you can shift to help in your career future.

About job references: in Ask the Experts: Letter of Reference Unavailable Because Employer is Out of Business Carol Anderson has a way around the typical reference-from-the-former-employer:

If you are a recent college graduate or have kept in touch with your professors, you can also call on them for letters of recommendation and use one of them as a substitute for a recommendation from an employer.

Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email (joblounge@aol.com) it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.

Fired for Personal Use of Internet

Question
I was recently fired from my job for using the internet for non-work related activities, after being warned more than once. When I go to look for another job, do I include my firing on my resume, and how do I disclose this to the potential employer in an interview?
--Fired and Off-line

Answer
by Dan Schawbel, Personal Branding Spokesman

Interviews are times when individuals are viewed on set criteria. A hiring manager’s perception of a candidate is either their ticket to a position or to a failed attempt at one. Candidates are judged today based on their Personal Brand, which by definition means “an individual’s total perceived value, relative to competitors, as viewed by their audience.” Basically, employers are looking for a complete package (i.e., Personal Brand) and compare one candidate’s Personal Brand to the Personal Brands of others who are applying for the same position.

Saying this, I believe that any direct mention of something negative impacting a Personal Brand will devalue the candidate and lower his or her total perceived value compared to others competing for the same job. After an interview, when a negative instance is revealed, such as in the scenario in the question above, the hiring manager will always think of this negative aspect when they think or view the candidate associated with the instance.

If you don’t reveal that you were fired for using the internet for non-work related activities, the company you are interviewing with could find the details out if or when they call for a reference from your previous employer. The only way around this is to either be upfront or just plain lucky!

If you’re upfront, you will tell the hiring manager directly that you were let go from your last position because of your conduct and the prospective employer will either take you out of the applicant pool or keep you in because he or she values your honesty. Most likely you will be taken out of the pool because competition is steep, and it’s very easy for them to find a replacement.

However, if you don’t tell them about this negative circumstance and you’re lucky, they won’t call your last employer for a reference. Or, if they do call your former employer, he or she will not divulge the details of why you were fired.

My advice would be the latter. Do not put on your resume the reason your job was terminated and only explain in the interview what happened if the question, “Why did you decide to switch jobs?” is raised. No matter what you decide, your Personal Brand has been tarnished and you must seek new ways to rebuild it.

Building a Personal Brand can be as challenging as building a corporate brand. I have been one of the pioneers of this concept for quite some time now, helping individuals discover, create and maintain their brands over time. Gain a Competitive Edge by Establishing a Personal Brand and Personal Branding, The Future of Recruitment are two articles I wrote that might help you recover from this incident.

It’s all about storytelling. After getting fired from a previous position, try doing some community service or some other community building activity to raise your morale and others’ perception of you. You want to focus on activities that will help balance your misfortune, so that if you are asked about why you left your previous job, you can explain what happened and then move on in the conversation to talk about constructive activities you’ve been doing since that time.

My final recommendation is to start brainstorming and strategizing how you can strengthen your brand and how you can communicate your redesigned brand to your audience (hiring managers).

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
Fired and Off-line, you’re not alone. Non-work related Internet use on the job is prevalent, as indicated by the following statistics found in Who’s Reading Your Email by Paul H.

• Non-work related Internet surfing results in up to a 40% loss in productivity each year at American businesses. (Gartner Group)
• 85.6% of employees use office e-mail for personal reasons. (NFO Worldwide)
• 70% of all web traffic to Internet pornography sites occurs during the work hours of 9am-5pm. (Sex Tracker)
• 92% of online stock trading occurs from the workplace during work hours. (Business Week)
• 30 to 40% of Internet use in the workplace is not related to business. (IDC Research)
• 24% of American workers admit to shopping online while at work. (IDC Research)

It’s clear that employers don’t like personal Internet use on the job so I’m afraid employees need to resist the temptation. I wish you success in this area on your next job.

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email (joblounge@aol.com) it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.

Creating a Fresh Start for Your Work Life

Question
After working for a local company here in Los Angeles County for over 10 years I was forced out. I was told I made too many mistakes, and was possibly a company spy. This was a shock to me, since I was a loyal company person. The human resources person told me if I could go one year without making a mistake, the company would give me a raise and promote me into management. I knew going one year without making mistakes would be impossible.

My family suggested I should quit, so I did. However, since I wanted my 401(k) I was told I would not get a good reference. Plus, I would not receive one anyway because of my poor work performance. I spent over 10 years at this company, and received more than once bonuses for my great work. What changed? I was told by human resources they would see to it I would never work in the corporate world again. This is the fifth time I was let go from a company, and the fifth time I was told I would never work again in an office.

Am I choosing the wrong career? Am I really a poor employee who does not see her mistakes, or did they just want to get rid of me?

I have not worked in seven years. I chose to return to college to pursue my graduate degree in Arts and Letters. I am now finding out my mistakes have followed me into the program. I did well when I took some lower division classes at the local community college. The classes included mostly theatre and some astronomy classes. At the university, as long as l was taking undergrad classes or independent grad classes I did great. I hold overall a 3.52 gpa.

Now I need to find work in order to pay back my credit cards. The cards were used to register and take classes at the university. I am part of a living trust, and part owner of rental property so I have some income, but not enough. Plus I am afraid when my mom dies I will once again make those mistakes I do not seem to be able to recognize, and cause our business to fail.
Help!
Diane

Answer
by Ronnie Ann, Work Coach
Hi Diane!
Wow! My heart goes out to you. This is a lot to try to figure out all by yourself. So I congratulate you on taking a great first step – reaching out to others for some help and perspective. No one should have to resolve all this without some input from the outside world – since that’s exactly where you’ll need to go to make a fresh start anyway and you’d sure like to understand what they’re thinking!

So…where to start?

Clearly you can’t undo whatever happened in the past – that’s behind you now. Regrets belong there too. In fact, in A Dude’s Journal – 60 Toughest Interview Questions we’re advised to stay away from all that and focus on what we can do well now.

“Some unprepared candidates, flustered by this question, unburden themselves of guilt from their personal life or career, perhaps expressing regrets regarding a parent, spouse, child, etc. All such answers can be disastrous. As with faults and weaknesses, never confess a regret. But don’t seem as if you’re stonewalling either. Say you harbor no regrets, then add a principle or habit you practice regularly for healthy human relations.”

Although Chandan (the Dude) is talking about interviews, this is good advice in general. We can’t undo the past, but we sure can resolve from this day forward to choose a fresh start!

Your job is to figure out what your strengths are now and build from there. But it might also help you to find out about some of those things you say you aren’t aware of. Once you know more about what’s going on, then you can take charge of helping to fix things for yourself. In this case knowledge can be power!

So…first and foremost, it might help for you to get some feedback from people whom know you – especially in a professional capacity. If you aren’t in touch with any former co-workers for feedback, perhaps you can go to one of your professors for some constructive tips about what to work on to improve your chances of getting a job. Maybe they’ll even know of a job that might be right for you. You never know until you ask!

Also, the State of California has some good resources (see below) for people going back into the work world. I remember taking advantage of that when I lived in California and I know they offered skill-enhancement as well as employment counseling. I think this could be helpful for you, especially since the resources are free for state residents. One-on-one sessions with a professional work coach could also be useful, but since you say you have lots of debt, this might not be the best idea for you right now - unless of course you feel you can afford it. But hopefully the State will offer similar guidance. Also there may be some career guidance services at your current school and even the community college you went to.

I don’t know what jobs you’ve had, but sometimes a person re-entering the job market has to be open to learning new work skills (if needed) and, of course, approaching the whole venture with a fresh positive “I can do it” attitude. And in your particular situation, a fresh start might include taking almost any job offered at first (I’ve done that myself) - and then doing your very best to build a new work history for yourself. You can even use the new job to focus on improving your work skills right where you are – giving your boss the best you have to offer while also preparing yourself for even better opportunities - there or elsewhere - in the future.

Thinking about it some more…starting out part-time with a low-pressure job might be a really good way to help you ease back slowly into working again – and also a great way to build up your skills and confidence. I hope one of the places I mentioned can point you in that direction. If not, there are always temp agencies. And, once you’re working again, you can take advantage of the outside feedback you got to help you start off on the best foot possible.

As for the real estate business you speak about…while I don’t know the details, I do have one thought: If managing the business turns out not to be your strength, maybe you can hire someone who knows the business to help you when the sad time comes? Meanwhile you can concentrate on your new career. And if you do want to eventually run the business, there are always small business consultants who can help you get things in order in the beginning and then advise you along the way for a fee. (See below for link to free initial counseling services by retired business executives.)

So please don’t worry about all that right now. Your main job is figuring out how to get yourself back into the work world while also brushing up on skills that can help you do things a little differently this time. And I applaud you for wanting to do that!

Oh…about those college expenses on your credit cards: I’m glad to see you’re looking to pay them off so you can stop supporting those banks! And if your rates are high and you haven’t already done this, please consider getting some credit counseling assistance (see below) to help rework the debt if at all possible.

This is a lot to think about, I know. But you only need to start with one step at a time.

Good luck, Diane!

Los Angeles, California Resources:
Employment Development Department
One-Stop Centers by County – employment assistance
By Design Solutions – non-profit credit counseling service
CORE Los Angeles – non-profit counseling for small business