Am I unhirable?

41 Comments

1. AnonymousAugust 31,2023 at 9:11PM UTC

   How long were you there? If it was less than a year, then don't include this place of business on your resume.

2. AnonymousAugust 31,2023 at 9:24PM UTC

   I was there for almost two years and gained a lot of valuable experience in my desired field.

3. AnonymousSeptember 1,2023 at 3:22AM UTC

   Does your desired field offer any contract positions? That may be an alternative, and even if you need benefits, it could fill in the gap while you locate a direct hire position. Some fields have specialty agencies, and I recently found a job (just passed my one-year anniversary) working from home at a good salary related to my latest position 20 years ago. I did apply to agencies, but what worked for me was posting my resume on "the usual suspects" (Careerbuilder, Indeed, etc.) and then a recruiter contacted me with a position that was aligned with the latest position on my resume. This did take several months, so was not instant, and was not the first response I received, but ended up working for me. These boards have a real variety of positions now, so hopefully, your desired field would be included. On these job boards, I noticed openings for everything from forklift driver to orthodontist, and a lot in between!

4. AnonymousAugust 31,2023 at 9:34PM UTC

   Wow you remained 2 years?

   I guess you just keep explaining how you had to leave based on safety.

5. AnonymousAugust 31,2023 at 9:50PM UTC

   It wasn't always this bad, just when I got moved to a certain department and poor planning on the part of management meant a new machine was installed in a less than ideal place. The side effects of this machine being run put people at risk, but it was bearable while the machine was only being run on certain shifts for a few days out of the week. When they changed that to run the machine 24/7, conditions became unbearable.

6. AnonymousSeptember 1,2023 at 1:07PM UTC

   I have to ask, anonymous commenter, why are you on here? In case you were not aware of why FGB was created, people are looking for support and assistance, not a snarky reply that implies an OP’s experience is invalid. Many of us stay at toxic workplaces much longer than we should. If you cannot be supportive, don’t reply at all.

7. AnonymousAugust 31,2023 at 9:43PM UTC

   Were you aware that you could have reported them to OSHA as a hazardous workplace, and as a whistle-blower, they couldn't retaliate? I'm not sure there is anything you could do there now but for future reference.

   As for your dilemma, I don't think you are "unhireable," as people who are not eligible for rehire could have been in a position where they were not a good fit. It happens all the time. I have hired people who could not return to previous employers before, but they interviewed well and had a resume well adapted to the position I was seeking.

   Your first thing is to start believing in yourself. You tend to live into how you feel others are seeing you. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Talk to a career coach, or if you can't afford one, go to your local Department of Labor office, as they have people there to help you with your resume. They also have job boards to use for job searches. I doubt you are eligible for unemployment since you voluntarily resigned, so you must find resources to help you get back on your feet. There should be state and non-profit resources in your community you could find.

8. AnonymousAugust 31,2023 at 9:48PM UTC

   OSHA's regulations surrounding the specific safety issues we were dealing with are a bit lax or vague. The company did the bare minimum to fulfill the OSHA guidelines that were present for this issue, but in practice it did little to actually help the situation. I've been afraid to report it to OSHA in case that it would be determined that my report was false and I would face fines or prison time.

   Thank you for your advice though, I will go see about heading to the Department of Labor office.

9. AnonymousAugust 31,2023 at 10:42PM UTC

   I'm not following part of your post. How does you last employer know where you're applying for new jobs? Are potential employers asking for references? If so, it might be time to reexamine your list of references.

10. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 1,2023 at 2:15AM UTC

    Just because you're on their not eligible for rehire list doesn't mean it has anything to do with your candidacy at other companies.

    Have you received job offers and had the offers pulled because you didn't pass the background check?

    Not that many companies check references any longer. And most companies don't ask if you're eligible for rehire.

    They just do employment verification - the dates you worked there and your title.

11. AnonymousSeptember 1,2023 at 12:10PM UTC

    Companies share dates of work, position, and sometimes if you gave notice, that should be it. Any hiring company can take that info for what it's worth, YOU need to have a small explanation for the abrupt departure, but keep it simple. "the outdated equipment at my last employer was not being maintained to required safety levels and resulted in 2 hospitalizations recently. Due to having to work with this equipment on a daily basis I decided to put my safety as a priority and left the position without the notice I would have liked to have given."

12. GirlBossanova934974September 1,2023 at 1:04PM UTC

    Unless you live in a very small city/town, how would your past employers be able to tell enough companies in the local area about you so they could affect the OVERALL odds of your future employment? And even if they did tell a few companies, what would they say? So and so left and gave no notice. Upon hearing that, my FIRST question would be, OK! Why did she leave? Need to know more. I am NOT NOT taking the "gospel truth" from a competitor company or some outfit I never heard of. The next question that goes through my mind as another employer is why the heck are these guys telling me this? Huh? Maybe, these guys got something to hide!! More than likely! So I would NOT worry too much here.

13. AnonymousSeptember 2,2023 at 2:21AM UTC

    Exactly!

14. Valentina Huang, MBA, SHRM-CPSeptember 1,2023 at 1:45PM UTC

    The re-hire list would be applicable to the company you just left so it should not affect your job application to any other organizations. Now, if they do a call for verification /references and they speak negatively, that's something different; and most hiring companies will not ask information outside of work period.

    I would stay positive and do prepare your elevator pitch in terms of why you left your last job. It doesn't need to be specific other than it was not a safe environment. And if the working conditions or environment are not safe, then it should be reported to OSHA to prevent any other people from getting injured.

15. AnonymousSeptember 1,2023 at 3:04PM UTC

    we do NOT accept trolling here, first of all you say i dont want to have to go back to work where i was and you are on their DO NOT HIRE list !! read that again. people leave without notice all the time. and mc donalds hires ANYONE , so does wal mart or tim hortons or any such job. these jobs do not CHECK references. they are just happy to hire because theyr are really understsaffed.

16. AnonymousSeptember 1,2023 at 3:07PM UTC

    I'm sorry this happened to you. I would highly encourage you to list that employer as a DO NOT CONTACT on your resume or application. When interviewing do your best not to focus on that negative experience. I am a recruiter and I'm not a fan of someone spending the interview sharing negativity about a previous employer. I'd rather hear why you would be a good fit for my job. If they ask why you left you can say it wasn't a good fit or it was a toxic environment and leave it at that. Also, remind yourself of your great qualities, and before entering an interview tell yourself how good you are. If you go in thinking you are not going to get a job, you probably won't.

17. AnonymousSeptember 1,2023 at 3:51PM UTC

    This maybe a little creative but maybe leave the toxic company off your resume and list consulting. Also I wouldn't bring them up during the interview process.
    If a new company is planning to do a Federal investigation of your background, do you want to work there anyway? Many organizations don't do this and would be glad to have a dedicated employee during this challenging recruiting climate.

18. AnonymousSeptember 1,2023 at 4:08PM UTC

    Have you contacted the EEOC and let them know that this former employer is defaming you? You might try that and then send a cease and desist letter to their legal dept ( with the help of an attorney) request that they seal your personnel file and only provide dates of employment and that is all. This is solvable you just need a bit of legal help.

19. Audrey KirschSeptember 1,2023 at 4:16PM UTC

    You need to have someone look over your resume so you can represent yourself in the best light. And you need to make sure your attitude is positive when applying. Don’t let your old job ruin your future by dwelling on the negative. One thing though. You didn’t say what accommodation you requested that your ex-employer denied. That may be what is blocking you from getting hired. You need to apply for jobs where this won’t be an issue.

20. tiffany birchSeptember 1,2023 at 5:42PM UTC

    Looks like you need legal counsel to contact their legal department for defamation. Agree with the smart words Anonymous provided. You are lucky to be separating from this negativity that impacts you mentally and physically. Much success in attracting a positive new job respecting and appreciating you. See yourself moving ahead and in alignment with what you want.

21. AnonymousSeptember 1,2023 at 5:45PM UTC

    I am unsure what state you live in, but employers that do detriment to your ability to get work can be sued. Unless you were fired for cause, HR can only confirm that you worked there and for how long, nothing else, or you have a lawsuit you can go after.

22. EMILY KIKUE FRANKSeptember 1,2023 at 8:29PM UTC

    If you can't afford an attorney, check with your local law schools. They usually have free events in which the attorneys-in-training hold clinics (with supervision) and can answer questions of this nature.

23. AnonymousSeptember 1,2023 at 8:39PM UTC

    "Hospitalized due to dangerous working conditions" sounds like a good reason to call OSHA (assuming you're in the US).

    Outline what kind of conditions, injuries, etc. and report them.

    In the meantime, many employment forms give the option of not contacting your former employer.

    If you have the misfortune of living in a small town, though, you may have to move elsewhere. The good thing about this is that even if that place owns your town, the employers in the next town over are not gonna give a darn.

24. Maggie StoneSeptember 2,2023 at 11:06AM UTC

    First, I am glad you are out of an unsafe environment. I understand that long searches can lead to some really dark and despondent thinking; I have been there. But every time I thought I was unhirable, that didn’t turn out to be true. Doesn’t mean it was an easy road. Just curious, how do you know they are telling other potential employers not to hire you or that they wouldn’t hire you back? If you are actually listing someone there as a reference, I might rethink that. Keep in mind that unless specified otherwise, you can use references from other jobs, volunteer opportunities, non-managers, or even anyone who is a non family member in a pinch. Keep putting in applications. Keep in mind that you may even lose out on a job at McDonald’s if they think you’re overqualified, or you’re competing with someone who has retail or food service industry experience, or they don’t know why you would want the job, Look for jobs outside your field that have a similar skill set (e.g. if you are an executive assistant or IT person, you can do that in any field) and network, network, network. This might also be a good time to go back to school or get certified in something else. That is how I fixed being unhirable; it was a reset button. Good luck and take care of yourself.

25. Frances BoardmanSeptember 2,2023 at 12:14PM UTC

    A bad work experience really knocks your confidence to pieces and it’s tough to get a job at the best of times. I would suggest that you do some volunteering to develop skills and have another source of a reference. Have a look at online training to develop new skills. Have you had interviews? Generally referencing isn’t done until you are at the job offer stage? If you have a job interview it’s important that you do not say anything negative about your previous role or manager. Be enthusiastic about what you can offer so the conversation focuses on that.

26. AnonymousSeptember 2,2023 at 1:10PM UTC

    I would advise you to seek legal advice.

27. AnonymousSeptember 2,2023 at 1:40PM UTC

    I can't believe that in 2023, almost 24 we are still nail biting about getting a job. I would as another has said build skills and then use them to work for myself. You can collect unemployment after a certain amount of time, and they have (or recently had) a program that will allow you to take entrepreneurial training instead of begging for a job. Try it and you might realize your employment worth and create your own.

28. KathySeptember 2,2023 at 2:07PM UTC

    Most companies only provide the dates of employment when providing a reference. In the 1980's I worked for a company that fired someone for operating their own company during working hours.

    Subsequently this person sued the company for slander when the company provided a negative reference to a potential employer of the fired employee.

    After that my employer sent out information to all the employees to only provide dates of employment when potential employers called to verify employment a past employee.

    A lesson can be taken from this story. You may need to find a legal remedy. Good luck!

29. AnonymousSeptember 2,2023 at 2:36PM UTC

    A company can provide a negative reference as long as it's truthful. Slander only occurs if there is an intentional lie.

    Telling a potential employer that you would not rehire an individual is perfectly legal and reasonable. No explanation needed. A simple, "He/she is not eligible for rehire," will suffice.

    The lesson to learn here is not to quit a job without at least some minimal notice. Or at least be able to show you were looking for a job and trying to find something else long before you screwed your previous employer.

    Also, be careful you aren't saying negative things about past employers during interviews. It only reflects badly on you. If a candidate told me the story as related above, the first thoughts in my mind would be, "What did you do to solve the problem?" "Did you report unsafe working conditions?" "The workplace was probably toxic long before you left. How long were you looking for a job, so you could get out of there appropriately?"

    The problem here isn't the reference.

30. KathySeptember 2,2023 at 6:18PM UTC

    I'm telling what happened at my previous place of employment. I don't know who said what. What you're saying about slander is true. I do know the person sued the company for slander. I don't know the outcome.

    Do not hire is a form of a reference.

31. AnonymousSeptember 2,2023 at 11:44PM UTC

    I see a lot of victim-blaming here. Truth is in the eye of the beholder. Getting sued for slander costs the company money (legal fees) regardless of the suit's outcome. Rehire eligibility is not a reference (even a bad one) because it does not explain, and companies do not offer explanations because of slander, which requires proof of the allegation. I feel for the OP because a company can fire us and walk us out the door without allowing us to collect our belongings except for our wallet, car, and house keys. Then, if we leave without notice, they are free to tag us as "not eligible for rehire" and tell everyone who calls for employment verification. That's messed up.

    By the way, I have hired people classified as "not eligible for rehire" at other companies and worked for a company with a policy of tagging every person who resigned as "not eligible for rehire." Very few employees retired from that company. "Not eligible for rehire" is not a "death sentence" when it comes to hiring decisions, nor should it be. If it is, you don't want to work there.

32. AnonymousSeptember 3,2023 at 5:24PM UTC

    What a shitty move to have a bad reference. Making people homeless and hungry must be fun for you.

33. Rebecca RuettigerSeptember 2,2023 at 4:49PM UTC

    Say you had medical issues or you left to Take care of your ill parent.
    It is illegal for them to do this but you have to prove it. I would have a friend or colleague that work there be your reference for that job.

34. Bradford McCormickSeptember 2,2023 at 5:53PM UTC

    I am sure yo are getting a lot of good advice here. M<y only thought is to be up front with it since you can't hide it anyway.

    Dd you do something materially wrong such as embezzlement or asssaulting somebody? f no, why is this company trying to hurt you? Because they don't want the truth about themselves being public? Have you seen a lawyer? Were you doing at leaat satisfactory work?

    My feeling is just say it straight that you left a job that was ruining your health because of dangerous working onitions and other problems beyond your comtrol. That you were doing good work but conditions beyond your control made it impossible for you to continue to do oo. State clearly what you WANT TO DO ***FOR*** YOUR NEXT EMPLOYER.

    It sounds like they have "cornered" you so you have nothing to lose, do you? Oh, yes, be scrupulously polite, never raise your voice, never express your real feelings about these bad people. Just stick to the facts and keep your feelings to yourself, even if a potential employer seems "sympathetic" -- it migh be a trick

    The business of business is business and you want to contribute to the business to the best of your ability and circumstances. "Just the facts, Ma'am" (Sgt. Joe Friday, Dragnet)

35. AnonymousSeptember 2,2023 at 10:43PM UTC

    If you know you want to leave an organization and have not yet notified them, there is nothing wrong with seeking reference letter prior to you leaving. Really at anytime and from any one you choose.

    My unofficial answer to your question, since the company is acting unethically, is to enlist the help of a friend with this. List your friend's details on applications moving forward and she will act as the organization.

    Is this morally correct? No. Do you want to get hired so you can sustain yourself? Yes. Then do with that information what you will. . . .

36. Rosa E HearnSeptember 3,2023 at 1:20PM UTC

    What proof do you have, that they are black listing you? I mean so many people on here have been job searching for over 6 months or more and it has nothing to do their employer black listing them.

37. AnonymousSeptember 3,2023 at 4:21PM UTC

    a similar situation happened to me. If companies ask why I left I just say I got sick and had to leave to take care of myself. I don't volunteer the information but if asked I will answer. I have 1 solid reference from that place who has my back (no one else did) so it hasn't been a huge problem for me.

38. AnonymousSeptember 5,2023 at 9:18PM UTC

    Is there someone you worked with that you can use for a reference instead of your manager? I was forced to resign, instead of being fired, from a job when I had a horrible manager. I knew that manager would never give me a good reference so I asked someone I worked with if they would mind acting as a reference. This hasn't been a problem and I have been able to get jobs after that one.

39. AnonymousSeptember 6,2023 at 3:36PM UTC

    That's illegal. Past employers are only allowed to give dates of employment. Call their HR/managers and inform them of this and report them to the EEOC or OSHA or Dept of Labor Relations or whoever.

    You should also check the box saying do not contact this employer. Alternatively, and somewhat deceptively, you can tell them you do not want them not to contact your current employer (which is technically true since you don't have one) and let them assume you are still employed there.

40. Kim Paulson KeiserApril 23,2024 at 5:47PM UTC

    It is legal to ask if the person is eligible for rehire. You cannot elaborate on that, just a yes or no answer.

41. Farah BajwaSeptember 7,2023 at 9:46PM UTC

    Make new connections with people at places you want to work and have them send employee referrals on your behalf. Having a network always helps increase one's chances and this way you'll have someone to speak for you on the inside if questions come up. Good luck!