I was terminated in August.

Anonymous

March 24,2023 at 2:11PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

I was terminated in August.

I had already begun applying and interviewing for a new position outside this company, and I told many people in the company that I was doing so, including the intern in my department. The intern informed me that she was asking to be brought on full-time.

The following week I was terminated, ostensibly for my performance. I argued that I had never been given any feedback that my performance required improvement, aside from a PIP that had ended eight months prior.

I have no evidence, but I believe the intern (or someone else) told my boss I was looking for a new job, and she fired me so she could replace me with the intern.

I am having very little luck with my job search now. I have had my resume rewritten, made over my LI profile, and created a portfolio website. Even when I get through 3 rounds of interviews, I am not receiving offers.

I am worried my previous employer is saying bad things about me. How do I know what my previously employer is saying?

What's the best way to say 'I was terminated' without sounding like I'm either a terrible employee or that I am making unsubstantiated accusations at my old boss?

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

27 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

27 Comments

Join the conversation

Diane Frances Lesley-NeumanMarch 24,2023 at 2:23PM UTC
Never tell anyone that you are looking!
Balanced372207March 24,2023 at 3:04PM UTC
"Never tell anyone that you are looking!" Say it louder and longer for people in the back, and those who left their hearing aids at home.
Lisa MarieMarch 24,2023 at 2:44PM UTC
First, I'm sorry you haven't been having any luck receiving job offers. Keep pushing forward and be sure you are being positive if/when asked about your last job - some recruiters/employees can pick up on deception or masked negativity.
Second, please learn from this experience and never tell coworkers when you're exploring other opportunities. You'll never know who will truly be supportive of your move.
Third, generally, employers are limited to the information they can provid, which usually includes: dates of employment, job title, the basic responsibilities and expectations that came with a role, reason for leaving, would they rehire, and some states may allow salary to be disclosed as well, etc.
If you are so inclined, to find out what your previous employer may be saying about you, you can contact your previous HR department (not as yourself) to learn about the amount of information they may disclose if contacted. Just as state laws vary, employer policies will vary as well.
Good luck pushing forward and finding your next best opportunity.
AnonymousMarch 24,2023 at 6:19PM UTC
Thank you. When asked about why I left I say I was ready to grow in my career, and there simply wasn’t room in that company’s very small dept for me to grow — which is 100% the truth. No one has asked me beyond that.
my resume reads as if I’m currently employed even though it is a volunteer position; I feel duplicitous but I’ve always heard it’s easier to find a job if you have a job, and listing it as a FT job was suggested by the supervisor of the volunteer position.
AnonymousMarch 24,2023 at 2:48PM UTC
The first thing to do is file for unemployment. Your termination paperwork should have a reason other than "poor performance." Depending on your state, you will be granted a weekly check if they can't show "cause," meaning that the termination was the failure of a PIP or gross misconduct (such as an assault, theft, etc.). It might have been a "reduction in force" (i.e., lay-off) so that they could bring in someone at a much lower salary, which also happens.
As for why you left your last job, state that the position was inconsistent with your career goals. Then explain why the new company would be a better fit for you and you would be the best person for them.
AnonymousMarch 24,2023 at 6:24PM UTC
Hopefully you will take this as a lesson learned to not tell people at your current employer that you're looking elsewhere until you're actually ready to leave. That likely got back to your boss, and so they chose to make the change on their own timeline, instead of waiting for your resignation (especially because they had the intern who was enthusiastic about working for the company). The job market is wild right now, and many people are unexpectedly not receiving offers, even after multiple rounds. It's unlikely you'll find out what, if anything, your former employer is saying. You could attempt to find out by circling back to non-offers, and asking for feedback about your interview process, but doubtful they'll tell you if your reference check was negative.
AnonymousMarch 25,2023 at 12:28PM UTC
I did circle back with the latest company i interviewed with (it was for 2 different positions within 2 different divisions of a large corp). One recruiter responded and said the hiring managers had no negative feedback, just that someone else had more relevant experience. Never heard back from the role I had 3 interviews for though.
AnonymousMarch 26,2023 at 5:42PM UTC
Is it possible you are unintentionally giving off some bad vibes; that interviewing brings back feeling about why you are still looking, etc? Try developing a mantra such as “I am skilled, pleasant and a good team mate. This company is interesting and attractive. Today is a good day”. Sounds silly but conscious positive self talk works wonders. Lots of other good advice here. I’ve hired a lot of people and I don’t consider being fired for job-hunting a poor reflection on an applicant.
AnonymousMarch 25,2023 at 4:44PM UTC
I think this is a learning experience. Keep your job search to yourself and only share with your personal circle going forward. I will suggest as well that once you go on a PIP and then get off of it you can in future be fired without cause for any reason. In some states you can also be fired without cause at any time. That is called at-will. For your reference checking I would be sure that you have someone that you trust make a call into that former manager and give them a short list of questions that they would ask about you. See what they say through this 3rd party. If this is not possible, I would contact the manager directly and draft a letter to them letting them know that you have gotten some feedback that there might be negative information about you going out there from them (if you know this to be true) let them know that you would like to have them only share your dates of employment should they be asked.
Check your separation documents they might have in them a non-disparagement clause. Most employers make this a one way clause but if you have signed it or even have not do contact an employment attorney and revise it to be double sided. When asked about why you left best response is there was a difference in they direction of the company and how I want to progress my career goals and it was no longer a fit so we mutually decided to end the relationship.
AnonymousMarch 25,2023 at 5:04PM UTC
Lawyers Ryan (LawyerRyan might be his handle) and Paige Sparks are really awesome workplace lawyers on IG and they may have advice for wrongful termination, etc.
A great resource on moving forward with interviewing, general workplace politics, etc is WorkHap on IG as he worked as a recruiter and now helps people by demystifying HR, etc. He may have already addressed what you may want to say instead of "terminated".
This was a learning experience and now you know, no matter how awesome a workplace is there are things that one may benefit from keeping herself such as interviewing, leaving, etc. People can be outwardly supportive but inwardly not due to jealousy, feelings of being stuck, etc. Once things are official with a date, signed documents, etc is the time to announce not before, my dos pesos.
Good luck!
Liz MilneMarch 26,2023 at 2:44AM UTC
Ugh, hindsight being 20/20 and all, this isn't going to be useful, but never, ever tell anyone at your work that you're looking for something new just in case of this exact scenario.
I'm so sorry - best to accelerate your search as soon as you can; hope you find something soon. A painful lesson to learn the hard way :(
AnonymousMarch 26,2023 at 12:17PM UTC
Not handling that one question: "Why did you leave your company?" properly can end an interview process quickly. The interview is about projecting a good image, they develop their perception based on that. Example: I accomplished XYZ for them/I gained ABC skills there, however, I took the role as far as I could, and there were no opportunities for growth. I chose to leave. Their follow-up might be: "You left w/o securing a new role?" You: A quality job search is a full-time gig, looking on their time wouldn't have been fair. Alternatively: (use same first sentence as above, then) There was a change in my leadership, it was apparent they were building their own team and I chose to leave. Highly unlikely your old employer is saying anything about you. First, they only give hire/leave dates and job titles, nothing more. Second, it doesn't sound like you've ever reached the point where companies have made an offer pending a background check when an employer would actually be contacted. As others have mentioned, keep your personal business to yourself at work! Good luck to you!
AnonymousMarch 26,2023 at 2:11PM UTC
I love a lot of this. We can all benefit from what you’ve laid out here. Many thanks!
AnonymousMarch 26,2023 at 12:36PM UTC
NEVER tell anyone at your job your plans. Doesn't matter how close you are to them, just don't do it. You never know what someone is willing to do in order to put themselves in a better position at your expense. 9.9/10 it was thr intern.
That said you can say that the role no longer aligned with your goals. If you've been taking any courses or classes you can add that into your answer.
Best of luck
AnonymousMarch 26,2023 at 2:10PM UTC
It was someone internally. Well stated. No one needs to know your next steps. Let alone someone internal to the company. I’m so sorry this has happened. Is it pos to get into a new industry or if you can, take a month or 2 off work? If you can.
AbeMarch 26,2023 at 1:11PM UTC
It seems paradox
Nicole ColemanMarch 26,2023 at 1:34PM UTC
Reach out to friends or connections you’ve made over the years and ask if their companies have open positions. They may be able to refer you or give tips on the hiring process for their companies. If you’re applying for jobs online, use this website as a resource to help you with putting key words from the job description into your resume. https://www.jobscan.co Once you upload your resume and enter the job description, it will scan it for important key words that you have in your resume. Then it will give you suggestions for adding more or wording things differently so that you can get past the electronic screening that most companies use to review resumes. You need so many key words to get past that screening so that you have a better chance of being interviewed. Create an account on that website. It’s free.
AnonymousMarch 26,2023 at 2:15PM UTC
Telling “many people” that you are looking for a new job practically ensures the information was going to get to your boss. It doesn’t seem malicious— if you were taking no precautions to keep the information confidential, why would others? Lesson painfully learned: don’t tell anyone in the company you’re interviewing elsewhere until you have a signed offer and ready to give notice.
TheodoraApril 1,2023 at 9:33PM UTC
100% agree. Please take this as a major lesson learned.
DeborahORellMarch 26,2023 at 2:15PM UTC
No employer wants to be paying someone who doesn't want to work for them. For the future, NEVER tell anyone you want to leave until you are actually ready to do so. Because the 'wrong' people will find out.
Your employer is allowed to terminate you for any reason, no reason (only in Montana must they give one) or they can make up a lie. Yes, terminate you for soemthing you did not do. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter you can 'prove' anything.
The only thing to prove is if they broke a law. And basically the only law they can break is to violate your civil rights. To fire you or treat you differently 'because of' your age, race, gender, religion, pregnancy, etc. Then you might have a claim.
They also are not obligated to give notice of any kind (unless it is part of a big layoff), or no severance. essentially nothing. the laws generally protect the employer.
I'm sorry this happened to you.
I suggest following the wonderful suggestions others are giving in your job search.
DeBorah WalkerMarch 26,2023 at 2:34PM UTC
Wow you are in a pickle; lesson learned I'm sure... Former employers are not supposed to give out negative information on their former employees, they're just supposed to verify dates of employment. Albeit, I'm sure there are ways around that, and employers don't always follow that rule. I would find out more about that rule and I would send your former boss an email letting her know that you would appreciate it if she just substantiates your employment start to finish; and when your interviewing don't go into a long dissertation of why you were fired pip and all of that. You're no longer there you could say something that you made the mistake of mentioning that you were looking for another position and you believe this is why you were fired, leave it at that. You will have to have solid explanations though as to why you were looking why you wanted to leave and so forth. But don't get in to any big explaining anything. You know now that you should not have mentioned to current employees that you were looking for another position.
AnonymousMarch 26,2023 at 6:03PM UTC
Unfortunately employers bad mouth former employees all the time to prospective new employers. Many do not follow the rules per se'. It is very hard to prove they are doing this, if the interviewer actually happens to mention what was said (which is rare) it's hear say and still can't be proved. If you are in a close nit industry it's even harder. On the flip side the hiring company should not be asking the prior employer anything more than the very specific questions of how long you worked there etc. They should not be asking why are they leaving, or why were they let go? ... but they do and this opens the gates for a conversation that should never happen.
Unless you can find someone to back up they are talking badly about you, get it on tape or in writing from one of the hiring companies you are between a rock and hard place.
Keep your head up there are good companies out there that will listen to and understand your situation, no matter what the employer might be saying.
KathrynMarch 26,2023 at 4:41PM UTC
If you are in the USA you can say do not contact my current employer. Then in references have someone you know from that job. I did three months unemployed. It is hard but you will find something
DeborahORellMarch 26,2023 at 6:34PM UTC
another suggestion. there is a reference checking company we use for clients who believe their former employers are in violation of a settlement agreement. you have to get proof they are bad-mouthing you. or i give it out to people who just want to know what their employer is saying when potential employers call. $79 they will verify your reference. They provide a detailed document letting you know how many times they had to call, what was said. etc. And they act as very aggressive reference checkers. which is what you want. $79 might give you peace of mind as well. allisontaylor.com. i have no affiliation. they're just a great service.
AnonymousMarch 26,2023 at 6:36PM UTC
Ask a friend to call your former employer's HR department to check your references. Then you'll know what they're saying.
LYNDA LyleMarch 27,2023 at 12:16AM UTC
I am a Chief Human Resources Officer and have a 30 years career in HR, I only reference this to say I am speaking with qualified knowledge.
im not certain what industry or position you are interviewing for but typically for every posted position, other than a healthcare employee or a minimum wage position an employer receives a hundred to a thousand applicants in todays world of easy online applications. If you are getting interviews then I would believe your resume and online profile are working for you, so that’s good. Employers interview multiple candidates for a position typically, if you are moving on to the second or third round of interviews it leads me to believe that your interviewing style is good. With every round of interviewing candidates are eliminated and unfortunately it comes to a time when you have to pick only one person out of all of those applicants. Every interview you do you are strengthening your interviewing skills and eventually the right opportunity will open up for you so don’t let it get you down!! Make sure if you haven’t done so yet that you salary requirements are inline with the positions that you are interviewing for.
Employers don’t typically check references until after an offer is made. Offers are made pending background and drug testing. In order for an employer to check or to give a reference on you they require your consent. After receiving your consent reference checks are usually not given via a phone call and all that is given are your position and dates of hire. If you are applying for management positions then you will usually be asked to give the names, phone number and email address of references (people you have reported to and people who have reported to you. It would be extremely unlikely for an employer to risk a potential lawsuit over providing disparaging comments.
Im sure you’ve probably figured this out by now by be careful not to overshare personal information with coworkers and never ever apply for or interview for another job while you are on the click or your work computer.
Hang in there, every interview is just moving you a step closer to a great new position!! I wish you the best of luck!!!
AnonymousMarch 20,2024 at 11:40AM UTC
I am a year late in responding to this post, but never, EVER give anyone any information that he or she isn't privy to.
That being said, "Our professional relationship ended due to my desire to find an organization that was more aligned with my personal and professional growth" is one way to frame the "reasons for leaving" answer.