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Unemployment, does it hurt future job interviews
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Hopefully it never happens to anyone but I have asked this from many people and nobody had a definite answer... and I am asking about the U.S.A and software developer positions:
Let's say your employer says you don't have enough skills, don't perform well, etc and fires you.
So does it show on your records when you go to interview and get a job with other companies? If you don't apply for unemployment benefits it won't show - if it does at all - ?
united-states employer employment-gaps
edited Jun 16 '14 at 12:27
O. Jones
13.6k24070
asked Jun 16 '14 at 1:18
EricFromSouthPark
26847
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Hopefully it never happens to anyone but I have asked this from many people and nobody had a definite answer... and I am asking about the U.S.A and software developer positions:
Let's say your employer says you don't have enough skills, don't perform well, etc and fires you.
So does it show on your records when you go to interview and get a job with other companies? If you don't apply for unemployment benefits it won't show - if it does at all - ?
united-states employer employment-gaps
edited Jun 16 '14 at 12:27
O. Jones
13.6k24070
asked Jun 16 '14 at 1:18
EricFromSouthPark
26847
3
There are no public "records" of your employment history like your official school records. Your employer only knows what you wrote on your resume. They may call your previous employer(s), though, if you give them as references on your resume.
– MGOwen
Jun 16 '14 at 4:48
1
@MGOwen - even at that, a manager that speaks unfavourably of a former report is opening the organisation up to libel/slander suits
– kolossus
Jun 16 '14 at 5:44
@kolossus a manager that doesn't speak unfavorably of a former report, when it is justified, may also open the organization up to lawsuits: fear of a lawsuit is no reason to not speak the truth. It is good to follow company policy, however.
– thursdaysgeek
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Hopefully it never happens to anyone but I have asked this from many people and nobody had a definite answer... and I am asking about the U.S.A and software developer positions:
Let's say your employer says you don't have enough skills, don't perform well, etc and fires you.
So does it show on your records when you go to interview and get a job with other companies? If you don't apply for unemployment benefits it won't show - if it does at all - ?
united-states employer employment-gaps
edited Jun 16 '14 at 12:27
O. Jones
13.6k24070
asked Jun 16 '14 at 1:18
EricFromSouthPark
26847
Hopefully it never happens to anyone but I have asked this from many people and nobody had a definite answer... and I am asking about the U.S.A and software developer positions:
Let's say your employer says you don't have enough skills, don't perform well, etc and fires you.
So does it show on your records when you go to interview and get a job with other companies? If you don't apply for unemployment benefits it won't show - if it does at all - ?
united-states employer employment-gaps
edited Jun 16 '14 at 12:27
O. Jones
13.6k24070
asked Jun 16 '14 at 1:18
EricFromSouthPark
26847
edited Jun 16 '14 at 12:27
O. Jones
13.6k24070
edited Jun 16 '14 at 12:27
O. Jones
13.6k24070
edited Jun 16 '14 at 12:27
O. Jones
13.6k24070
13.6k24070
asked Jun 16 '14 at 1:18
EricFromSouthPark
26847
asked Jun 16 '14 at 1:18
EricFromSouthPark
26847
asked Jun 16 '14 at 1:18
EricFromSouthPark
26847
26847
3
There are no public "records" of your employment history like your official school records. Your employer only knows what you wrote on your resume. They may call your previous employer(s), though, if you give them as references on your resume.
– MGOwen
Jun 16 '14 at 4:48
1
@MGOwen - even at that, a manager that speaks unfavourably of a former report is opening the organisation up to libel/slander suits
– kolossus
Jun 16 '14 at 5:44
@kolossus a manager that doesn't speak unfavorably of a former report, when it is justified, may also open the organization up to lawsuits: fear of a lawsuit is no reason to not speak the truth. It is good to follow company policy, however.
– thursdaysgeek
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
add a comment |Â
3
There are no public "records" of your employment history like your official school records. Your employer only knows what you wrote on your resume. They may call your previous employer(s), though, if you give them as references on your resume.
– MGOwen
Jun 16 '14 at 4:48
1
@MGOwen - even at that, a manager that speaks unfavourably of a former report is opening the organisation up to libel/slander suits
– kolossus
Jun 16 '14 at 5:44
@kolossus a manager that doesn't speak unfavorably of a former report, when it is justified, may also open the organization up to lawsuits: fear of a lawsuit is no reason to not speak the truth. It is good to follow company policy, however.
– thursdaysgeek
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
3
3
There are no public "records" of your employment history like your official school records. Your employer only knows what you wrote on your resume. They may call your previous employer(s), though, if you give them as references on your resume.
– MGOwen
Jun 16 '14 at 4:48
There are no public "records" of your employment history like your official school records. Your employer only knows what you wrote on your resume. They may call your previous employer(s), though, if you give them as references on your resume.
– MGOwen
Jun 16 '14 at 4:48
1
1
@MGOwen - even at that, a manager that speaks unfavourably of a former report is opening the organisation up to libel/slander suits
– kolossus
Jun 16 '14 at 5:44
@MGOwen - even at that, a manager that speaks unfavourably of a former report is opening the organisation up to libel/slander suits
– kolossus
Jun 16 '14 at 5:44
@kolossus a manager that doesn't speak unfavorably of a former report, when it is justified, may also open the organization up to lawsuits: fear of a lawsuit is no reason to not speak the truth. It is good to follow company policy, however.
– thursdaysgeek
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
@kolossus a manager that doesn't speak unfavorably of a former report, when it is justified, may also open the organization up to lawsuits: fear of a lawsuit is no reason to not speak the truth. It is good to follow company policy, however.
– thursdaysgeek
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
The reason for firing won't show on your records unless the prospective employer contacts the previous employer and they feel like answering. Claiming unemployment benefits likewise isn't visible to anyone, as far as I know.
However, a period of unemployment will be visible as a gap in your resume.
Being out of work for a short time happens to many people and isn't, by itself, a major problem. If you've got a good answer for the question of why you lost the previous job, and what you've been doing while unemployed (especially if you've been investing in improving your skills), it's unlikely to provoke much more than those questions.
If you've been out of work for an extended time, there's a certain amount of "why didn't anyone else hire this person before they interviewed with us?" that can settle in. So, yes, the longer you're out of work the harder it may become to get hired again. The best answer to that, as suggested above, is to be able to show that you've been using the break productively.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 2:17
keshlam
41.5k1267144
sually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
Depends on the economy, your industry and your specific job, and what you've been doing with yourself in the meantime. Three months is hardly surprising given current US financial conditions, almost independent of the other two factors.
– keshlam
Jun 18 '14 at 4:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Not having a current job is a immediate red flag when looking over prospects to hire. That is not to say there can't be good answer to this when asked, but it will be a issue that has to be answered, and the answer has to be satisfactory, for the hiring process to proceed.
For example, a good answer is that your company got bought, the new owner closed the plant, and you didn't want to move 1000 miles to where your job was now available. OK, that happens and is easy enough to verify. A bad answer is your company had a 15% layoff. That means you were dead wood they took the opportunity to get rid of, not the 85% they decided to keep. Unless your whole group got disbanded, or something similar, that's a long-lasting stain on your resume. That may seem unfair to you, but it isn't. After all, you were the dead wood they didn't want to keep. That's a solid warning to other employers they might run into the same situation with you.
The real problem is that while you may have a good explanation, you might not get the opportunity to present it. Think of someone low in the HR hierarchy that just got 100 resumes dumped on them and told to weed it down to a 10 or less. They probably don't really understand the position to be filled, and don't understand how to interpret details for that type of a position on a resume. They are looking for any excuse at all to toss one more resume in the circular bin to just get thru this task. Tossing the losers who don't currently have a job is a simple expedient. Sure, that may not be the best for the company, and yes it's unfair, but it is exactly what happens all too often.
Therefore if you're currently unemployed, explain in the cover letter exactly why you are no longer at the previous job. Of course this needs to be brief, no more than two sentences. One-paragraph cover letters will generaly get read. Anything more than that, and the low level HR lacky will think screw this to himself and your case will never be made.
Again though, it's always better to look for the next job while still having the current job.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 14:45
Olin Lathrop
4,14811218
1
In some industries (like, say, defense) it's become common practice to lay off entire teams (sometimes in the hundreds) when a project/govt contract/etc., ends. New projects are then staffed with new (cheap) hires.
– James Adam
Jun 16 '14 at 15:16
@James: As I said, your whole group getting disbanded is one of the legitimate answers. But this question still has to be answered, and you still have to get the answer in front of whoever is looking at the resume.
– Olin Lathrop
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Information about circumstances of losing a job can go from these separate sources:
HR department of your company
In most companies, HR (if requested in writing) will release only date of start and end of work, and your title. They do it for lawyer's reasons: not to be sued by former employee. You can bet that it happened.
Even if company considers hiring a certain person a mistake (and that person is marked "do not rehire"), they have no reason to share that information with other companies (because other company may save money by not repeating same mistake, but for original company releasing anything above dates has only downside: risk to be sued). So you have nothing to worry from HR.
Your manager
Manager, if he has time to talk to recruiters and HR of your new company, may release more information, but they are also trained to not to badmouth former employees. It is trivial to ask your friend to pretend to be a recruiter and call up your manager to ask about your job performance (and sue the company if you think you may win the case).
Your reference in the company
You pick references yourself. Do it wisely. Your reference from your former job can be someone who worked for you (and was happy with the work you did), even if your immediate manager was not. There is plenty of resources on exchange about managing (and not overusing their time) your references, reminding them what you did etc.
You
So it is back to you.
You need to be clear why you lost your job. Was it personality mismatch? Move following your spouse? Technology they used or switched to was not what you think about your career should be?
Every company thinks that their technology is better than others.
New company is very interested what you learned and what you plan to do so this time it will be different. Small teams fit better your personality? Big company has more resources for training and tuition reimbursement? Waterfall process in big company is too confusing, you want something more agile? Startup allows you to have more hands-on experience?
Make sure that new company can provide what you missed in previous position. (Ie don't expect tuition reimbursement from a startup.) They are as interested of hiring someone who will fit into new position and prosper in it, as you are interested in finding a job. Hiring process is costly, they want to avoid unnecessary costs.
But of course as others said, not having currently a job is red flag. Having any temporary project is better than none. But not having a job, and not knowing why you lost previous and how you plan to succeed in new job is deadly.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 23:28
P.M
1,691816
Very good info, thanks. Usually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
add a comment |Â
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
The reason for firing won't show on your records unless the prospective employer contacts the previous employer and they feel like answering. Claiming unemployment benefits likewise isn't visible to anyone, as far as I know.
However, a period of unemployment will be visible as a gap in your resume.
Being out of work for a short time happens to many people and isn't, by itself, a major problem. If you've got a good answer for the question of why you lost the previous job, and what you've been doing while unemployed (especially if you've been investing in improving your skills), it's unlikely to provoke much more than those questions.
If you've been out of work for an extended time, there's a certain amount of "why didn't anyone else hire this person before they interviewed with us?" that can settle in. So, yes, the longer you're out of work the harder it may become to get hired again. The best answer to that, as suggested above, is to be able to show that you've been using the break productively.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 2:17
keshlam
41.5k1267144
sually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
Depends on the economy, your industry and your specific job, and what you've been doing with yourself in the meantime. Three months is hardly surprising given current US financial conditions, almost independent of the other two factors.
– keshlam
Jun 18 '14 at 4:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
The reason for firing won't show on your records unless the prospective employer contacts the previous employer and they feel like answering. Claiming unemployment benefits likewise isn't visible to anyone, as far as I know.
However, a period of unemployment will be visible as a gap in your resume.
Being out of work for a short time happens to many people and isn't, by itself, a major problem. If you've got a good answer for the question of why you lost the previous job, and what you've been doing while unemployed (especially if you've been investing in improving your skills), it's unlikely to provoke much more than those questions.
If you've been out of work for an extended time, there's a certain amount of "why didn't anyone else hire this person before they interviewed with us?" that can settle in. So, yes, the longer you're out of work the harder it may become to get hired again. The best answer to that, as suggested above, is to be able to show that you've been using the break productively.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 2:17
keshlam
41.5k1267144
sually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
Depends on the economy, your industry and your specific job, and what you've been doing with yourself in the meantime. Three months is hardly surprising given current US financial conditions, almost independent of the other two factors.
– keshlam
Jun 18 '14 at 4:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
up vote
8
down vote
accepted
The reason for firing won't show on your records unless the prospective employer contacts the previous employer and they feel like answering. Claiming unemployment benefits likewise isn't visible to anyone, as far as I know.
However, a period of unemployment will be visible as a gap in your resume.
Being out of work for a short time happens to many people and isn't, by itself, a major problem. If you've got a good answer for the question of why you lost the previous job, and what you've been doing while unemployed (especially if you've been investing in improving your skills), it's unlikely to provoke much more than those questions.
If you've been out of work for an extended time, there's a certain amount of "why didn't anyone else hire this person before they interviewed with us?" that can settle in. So, yes, the longer you're out of work the harder it may become to get hired again. The best answer to that, as suggested above, is to be able to show that you've been using the break productively.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 2:17
keshlam
41.5k1267144
The reason for firing won't show on your records unless the prospective employer contacts the previous employer and they feel like answering. Claiming unemployment benefits likewise isn't visible to anyone, as far as I know.
However, a period of unemployment will be visible as a gap in your resume.
Being out of work for a short time happens to many people and isn't, by itself, a major problem. If you've got a good answer for the question of why you lost the previous job, and what you've been doing while unemployed (especially if you've been investing in improving your skills), it's unlikely to provoke much more than those questions.
If you've been out of work for an extended time, there's a certain amount of "why didn't anyone else hire this person before they interviewed with us?" that can settle in. So, yes, the longer you're out of work the harder it may become to get hired again. The best answer to that, as suggested above, is to be able to show that you've been using the break productively.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 2:17
keshlam
41.5k1267144
answered Jun 16 '14 at 2:17
keshlam
41.5k1267144
answered Jun 16 '14 at 2:17
keshlam
41.5k1267144
answered Jun 16 '14 at 2:17
keshlam
41.5k1267144
41.5k1267144
sually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
Depends on the economy, your industry and your specific job, and what you've been doing with yourself in the meantime. Three months is hardly surprising given current US financial conditions, almost independent of the other two factors.
– keshlam
Jun 18 '14 at 4:30
add a comment |Â
sually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
Depends on the economy, your industry and your specific job, and what you've been doing with yourself in the meantime. Three months is hardly surprising given current US financial conditions, almost independent of the other two factors.
– keshlam
Jun 18 '14 at 4:30
sually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
sually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
Depends on the economy, your industry and your specific job, and what you've been doing with yourself in the meantime. Three months is hardly surprising given current US financial conditions, almost independent of the other two factors.
– keshlam
Jun 18 '14 at 4:30
Depends on the economy, your industry and your specific job, and what you've been doing with yourself in the meantime. Three months is hardly surprising given current US financial conditions, almost independent of the other two factors.
– keshlam
Jun 18 '14 at 4:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Not having a current job is a immediate red flag when looking over prospects to hire. That is not to say there can't be good answer to this when asked, but it will be a issue that has to be answered, and the answer has to be satisfactory, for the hiring process to proceed.
For example, a good answer is that your company got bought, the new owner closed the plant, and you didn't want to move 1000 miles to where your job was now available. OK, that happens and is easy enough to verify. A bad answer is your company had a 15% layoff. That means you were dead wood they took the opportunity to get rid of, not the 85% they decided to keep. Unless your whole group got disbanded, or something similar, that's a long-lasting stain on your resume. That may seem unfair to you, but it isn't. After all, you were the dead wood they didn't want to keep. That's a solid warning to other employers they might run into the same situation with you.
The real problem is that while you may have a good explanation, you might not get the opportunity to present it. Think of someone low in the HR hierarchy that just got 100 resumes dumped on them and told to weed it down to a 10 or less. They probably don't really understand the position to be filled, and don't understand how to interpret details for that type of a position on a resume. They are looking for any excuse at all to toss one more resume in the circular bin to just get thru this task. Tossing the losers who don't currently have a job is a simple expedient. Sure, that may not be the best for the company, and yes it's unfair, but it is exactly what happens all too often.
Therefore if you're currently unemployed, explain in the cover letter exactly why you are no longer at the previous job. Of course this needs to be brief, no more than two sentences. One-paragraph cover letters will generaly get read. Anything more than that, and the low level HR lacky will think screw this to himself and your case will never be made.
Again though, it's always better to look for the next job while still having the current job.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 14:45
Olin Lathrop
4,14811218
1
In some industries (like, say, defense) it's become common practice to lay off entire teams (sometimes in the hundreds) when a project/govt contract/etc., ends. New projects are then staffed with new (cheap) hires.
– James Adam
Jun 16 '14 at 15:16
@James: As I said, your whole group getting disbanded is one of the legitimate answers. But this question still has to be answered, and you still have to get the answer in front of whoever is looking at the resume.
– Olin Lathrop
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Not having a current job is a immediate red flag when looking over prospects to hire. That is not to say there can't be good answer to this when asked, but it will be a issue that has to be answered, and the answer has to be satisfactory, for the hiring process to proceed.
For example, a good answer is that your company got bought, the new owner closed the plant, and you didn't want to move 1000 miles to where your job was now available. OK, that happens and is easy enough to verify. A bad answer is your company had a 15% layoff. That means you were dead wood they took the opportunity to get rid of, not the 85% they decided to keep. Unless your whole group got disbanded, or something similar, that's a long-lasting stain on your resume. That may seem unfair to you, but it isn't. After all, you were the dead wood they didn't want to keep. That's a solid warning to other employers they might run into the same situation with you.
The real problem is that while you may have a good explanation, you might not get the opportunity to present it. Think of someone low in the HR hierarchy that just got 100 resumes dumped on them and told to weed it down to a 10 or less. They probably don't really understand the position to be filled, and don't understand how to interpret details for that type of a position on a resume. They are looking for any excuse at all to toss one more resume in the circular bin to just get thru this task. Tossing the losers who don't currently have a job is a simple expedient. Sure, that may not be the best for the company, and yes it's unfair, but it is exactly what happens all too often.
Therefore if you're currently unemployed, explain in the cover letter exactly why you are no longer at the previous job. Of course this needs to be brief, no more than two sentences. One-paragraph cover letters will generaly get read. Anything more than that, and the low level HR lacky will think screw this to himself and your case will never be made.
Again though, it's always better to look for the next job while still having the current job.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 14:45
Olin Lathrop
4,14811218
1
In some industries (like, say, defense) it's become common practice to lay off entire teams (sometimes in the hundreds) when a project/govt contract/etc., ends. New projects are then staffed with new (cheap) hires.
– James Adam
Jun 16 '14 at 15:16
@James: As I said, your whole group getting disbanded is one of the legitimate answers. But this question still has to be answered, and you still have to get the answer in front of whoever is looking at the resume.
– Olin Lathrop
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Not having a current job is a immediate red flag when looking over prospects to hire. That is not to say there can't be good answer to this when asked, but it will be a issue that has to be answered, and the answer has to be satisfactory, for the hiring process to proceed.
For example, a good answer is that your company got bought, the new owner closed the plant, and you didn't want to move 1000 miles to where your job was now available. OK, that happens and is easy enough to verify. A bad answer is your company had a 15% layoff. That means you were dead wood they took the opportunity to get rid of, not the 85% they decided to keep. Unless your whole group got disbanded, or something similar, that's a long-lasting stain on your resume. That may seem unfair to you, but it isn't. After all, you were the dead wood they didn't want to keep. That's a solid warning to other employers they might run into the same situation with you.
The real problem is that while you may have a good explanation, you might not get the opportunity to present it. Think of someone low in the HR hierarchy that just got 100 resumes dumped on them and told to weed it down to a 10 or less. They probably don't really understand the position to be filled, and don't understand how to interpret details for that type of a position on a resume. They are looking for any excuse at all to toss one more resume in the circular bin to just get thru this task. Tossing the losers who don't currently have a job is a simple expedient. Sure, that may not be the best for the company, and yes it's unfair, but it is exactly what happens all too often.
Therefore if you're currently unemployed, explain in the cover letter exactly why you are no longer at the previous job. Of course this needs to be brief, no more than two sentences. One-paragraph cover letters will generaly get read. Anything more than that, and the low level HR lacky will think screw this to himself and your case will never be made.
Again though, it's always better to look for the next job while still having the current job.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 14:45
Olin Lathrop
4,14811218
Not having a current job is a immediate red flag when looking over prospects to hire. That is not to say there can't be good answer to this when asked, but it will be a issue that has to be answered, and the answer has to be satisfactory, for the hiring process to proceed.
For example, a good answer is that your company got bought, the new owner closed the plant, and you didn't want to move 1000 miles to where your job was now available. OK, that happens and is easy enough to verify. A bad answer is your company had a 15% layoff. That means you were dead wood they took the opportunity to get rid of, not the 85% they decided to keep. Unless your whole group got disbanded, or something similar, that's a long-lasting stain on your resume. That may seem unfair to you, but it isn't. After all, you were the dead wood they didn't want to keep. That's a solid warning to other employers they might run into the same situation with you.
The real problem is that while you may have a good explanation, you might not get the opportunity to present it. Think of someone low in the HR hierarchy that just got 100 resumes dumped on them and told to weed it down to a 10 or less. They probably don't really understand the position to be filled, and don't understand how to interpret details for that type of a position on a resume. They are looking for any excuse at all to toss one more resume in the circular bin to just get thru this task. Tossing the losers who don't currently have a job is a simple expedient. Sure, that may not be the best for the company, and yes it's unfair, but it is exactly what happens all too often.
Therefore if you're currently unemployed, explain in the cover letter exactly why you are no longer at the previous job. Of course this needs to be brief, no more than two sentences. One-paragraph cover letters will generaly get read. Anything more than that, and the low level HR lacky will think screw this to himself and your case will never be made.
Again though, it's always better to look for the next job while still having the current job.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 14:45
Olin Lathrop
4,14811218
answered Jun 16 '14 at 14:45
Olin Lathrop
4,14811218
answered Jun 16 '14 at 14:45
Olin Lathrop
4,14811218
answered Jun 16 '14 at 14:45
Olin Lathrop
4,14811218
4,14811218
1
In some industries (like, say, defense) it's become common practice to lay off entire teams (sometimes in the hundreds) when a project/govt contract/etc., ends. New projects are then staffed with new (cheap) hires.
– James Adam
Jun 16 '14 at 15:16
@James: As I said, your whole group getting disbanded is one of the legitimate answers. But this question still has to be answered, and you still have to get the answer in front of whoever is looking at the resume.
– Olin Lathrop
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
add a comment |Â
1
In some industries (like, say, defense) it's become common practice to lay off entire teams (sometimes in the hundreds) when a project/govt contract/etc., ends. New projects are then staffed with new (cheap) hires.
– James Adam
Jun 16 '14 at 15:16
@James: As I said, your whole group getting disbanded is one of the legitimate answers. But this question still has to be answered, and you still have to get the answer in front of whoever is looking at the resume.
– Olin Lathrop
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
1
1
In some industries (like, say, defense) it's become common practice to lay off entire teams (sometimes in the hundreds) when a project/govt contract/etc., ends. New projects are then staffed with new (cheap) hires.
– James Adam
Jun 16 '14 at 15:16
In some industries (like, say, defense) it's become common practice to lay off entire teams (sometimes in the hundreds) when a project/govt contract/etc., ends. New projects are then staffed with new (cheap) hires.
– James Adam
Jun 16 '14 at 15:16
@James: As I said, your whole group getting disbanded is one of the legitimate answers. But this question still has to be answered, and you still have to get the answer in front of whoever is looking at the resume.
– Olin Lathrop
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
@James: As I said, your whole group getting disbanded is one of the legitimate answers. But this question still has to be answered, and you still have to get the answer in front of whoever is looking at the resume.
– Olin Lathrop
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Information about circumstances of losing a job can go from these separate sources:
HR department of your company
In most companies, HR (if requested in writing) will release only date of start and end of work, and your title. They do it for lawyer's reasons: not to be sued by former employee. You can bet that it happened.
Even if company considers hiring a certain person a mistake (and that person is marked "do not rehire"), they have no reason to share that information with other companies (because other company may save money by not repeating same mistake, but for original company releasing anything above dates has only downside: risk to be sued). So you have nothing to worry from HR.
Your manager
Manager, if he has time to talk to recruiters and HR of your new company, may release more information, but they are also trained to not to badmouth former employees. It is trivial to ask your friend to pretend to be a recruiter and call up your manager to ask about your job performance (and sue the company if you think you may win the case).
Your reference in the company
You pick references yourself. Do it wisely. Your reference from your former job can be someone who worked for you (and was happy with the work you did), even if your immediate manager was not. There is plenty of resources on exchange about managing (and not overusing their time) your references, reminding them what you did etc.
You
So it is back to you.
You need to be clear why you lost your job. Was it personality mismatch? Move following your spouse? Technology they used or switched to was not what you think about your career should be?
Every company thinks that their technology is better than others.
New company is very interested what you learned and what you plan to do so this time it will be different. Small teams fit better your personality? Big company has more resources for training and tuition reimbursement? Waterfall process in big company is too confusing, you want something more agile? Startup allows you to have more hands-on experience?
Make sure that new company can provide what you missed in previous position. (Ie don't expect tuition reimbursement from a startup.) They are as interested of hiring someone who will fit into new position and prosper in it, as you are interested in finding a job. Hiring process is costly, they want to avoid unnecessary costs.
But of course as others said, not having currently a job is red flag. Having any temporary project is better than none. But not having a job, and not knowing why you lost previous and how you plan to succeed in new job is deadly.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 23:28
P.M
1,691816
Very good info, thanks. Usually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Information about circumstances of losing a job can go from these separate sources:
HR department of your company
In most companies, HR (if requested in writing) will release only date of start and end of work, and your title. They do it for lawyer's reasons: not to be sued by former employee. You can bet that it happened.
Even if company considers hiring a certain person a mistake (and that person is marked "do not rehire"), they have no reason to share that information with other companies (because other company may save money by not repeating same mistake, but for original company releasing anything above dates has only downside: risk to be sued). So you have nothing to worry from HR.
Your manager
Manager, if he has time to talk to recruiters and HR of your new company, may release more information, but they are also trained to not to badmouth former employees. It is trivial to ask your friend to pretend to be a recruiter and call up your manager to ask about your job performance (and sue the company if you think you may win the case).
Your reference in the company
You pick references yourself. Do it wisely. Your reference from your former job can be someone who worked for you (and was happy with the work you did), even if your immediate manager was not. There is plenty of resources on exchange about managing (and not overusing their time) your references, reminding them what you did etc.
You
So it is back to you.
You need to be clear why you lost your job. Was it personality mismatch? Move following your spouse? Technology they used or switched to was not what you think about your career should be?
Every company thinks that their technology is better than others.
New company is very interested what you learned and what you plan to do so this time it will be different. Small teams fit better your personality? Big company has more resources for training and tuition reimbursement? Waterfall process in big company is too confusing, you want something more agile? Startup allows you to have more hands-on experience?
Make sure that new company can provide what you missed in previous position. (Ie don't expect tuition reimbursement from a startup.) They are as interested of hiring someone who will fit into new position and prosper in it, as you are interested in finding a job. Hiring process is costly, they want to avoid unnecessary costs.
But of course as others said, not having currently a job is red flag. Having any temporary project is better than none. But not having a job, and not knowing why you lost previous and how you plan to succeed in new job is deadly.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 23:28
P.M
1,691816
Very good info, thanks. Usually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Information about circumstances of losing a job can go from these separate sources:
HR department of your company
In most companies, HR (if requested in writing) will release only date of start and end of work, and your title. They do it for lawyer's reasons: not to be sued by former employee. You can bet that it happened.
Even if company considers hiring a certain person a mistake (and that person is marked "do not rehire"), they have no reason to share that information with other companies (because other company may save money by not repeating same mistake, but for original company releasing anything above dates has only downside: risk to be sued). So you have nothing to worry from HR.
Your manager
Manager, if he has time to talk to recruiters and HR of your new company, may release more information, but they are also trained to not to badmouth former employees. It is trivial to ask your friend to pretend to be a recruiter and call up your manager to ask about your job performance (and sue the company if you think you may win the case).
Your reference in the company
You pick references yourself. Do it wisely. Your reference from your former job can be someone who worked for you (and was happy with the work you did), even if your immediate manager was not. There is plenty of resources on exchange about managing (and not overusing their time) your references, reminding them what you did etc.
You
So it is back to you.
You need to be clear why you lost your job. Was it personality mismatch? Move following your spouse? Technology they used or switched to was not what you think about your career should be?
Every company thinks that their technology is better than others.
New company is very interested what you learned and what you plan to do so this time it will be different. Small teams fit better your personality? Big company has more resources for training and tuition reimbursement? Waterfall process in big company is too confusing, you want something more agile? Startup allows you to have more hands-on experience?
Make sure that new company can provide what you missed in previous position. (Ie don't expect tuition reimbursement from a startup.) They are as interested of hiring someone who will fit into new position and prosper in it, as you are interested in finding a job. Hiring process is costly, they want to avoid unnecessary costs.
But of course as others said, not having currently a job is red flag. Having any temporary project is better than none. But not having a job, and not knowing why you lost previous and how you plan to succeed in new job is deadly.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 23:28
P.M
1,691816
Information about circumstances of losing a job can go from these separate sources:
HR department of your company
In most companies, HR (if requested in writing) will release only date of start and end of work, and your title. They do it for lawyer's reasons: not to be sued by former employee. You can bet that it happened.
Even if company considers hiring a certain person a mistake (and that person is marked "do not rehire"), they have no reason to share that information with other companies (because other company may save money by not repeating same mistake, but for original company releasing anything above dates has only downside: risk to be sued). So you have nothing to worry from HR.
Your manager
Manager, if he has time to talk to recruiters and HR of your new company, may release more information, but they are also trained to not to badmouth former employees. It is trivial to ask your friend to pretend to be a recruiter and call up your manager to ask about your job performance (and sue the company if you think you may win the case).
Your reference in the company
You pick references yourself. Do it wisely. Your reference from your former job can be someone who worked for you (and was happy with the work you did), even if your immediate manager was not. There is plenty of resources on exchange about managing (and not overusing their time) your references, reminding them what you did etc.
You
So it is back to you.
You need to be clear why you lost your job. Was it personality mismatch? Move following your spouse? Technology they used or switched to was not what you think about your career should be?
Every company thinks that their technology is better than others.
New company is very interested what you learned and what you plan to do so this time it will be different. Small teams fit better your personality? Big company has more resources for training and tuition reimbursement? Waterfall process in big company is too confusing, you want something more agile? Startup allows you to have more hands-on experience?
Make sure that new company can provide what you missed in previous position. (Ie don't expect tuition reimbursement from a startup.) They are as interested of hiring someone who will fit into new position and prosper in it, as you are interested in finding a job. Hiring process is costly, they want to avoid unnecessary costs.
But of course as others said, not having currently a job is red flag. Having any temporary project is better than none. But not having a job, and not knowing why you lost previous and how you plan to succeed in new job is deadly.
answered Jun 16 '14 at 23:28
P.M
1,691816
answered Jun 16 '14 at 23:28
P.M
1,691816
answered Jun 16 '14 at 23:28
P.M
1,691816
answered Jun 16 '14 at 23:28
P.M
1,691816
1,691816
Very good info, thanks. Usually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
add a comment |Â
Very good info, thanks. Usually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
Very good info, thanks. Usually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
Very good info, thanks. Usually how long not having a job is a red flag? Even less than three months?
– EricFromSouthPark
Jun 18 '14 at 2:10
add a comment |Â
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There are no public "records" of your employment history like your official school records. Your employer only knows what you wrote on your resume. They may call your previous employer(s), though, if you give them as references on your resume.
– MGOwen
Jun 16 '14 at 4:48
1
@MGOwen - even at that, a manager that speaks unfavourably of a former report is opening the organisation up to libel/slander suits
– kolossus
Jun 16 '14 at 5:44
@kolossus a manager that doesn't speak unfavorably of a former report, when it is justified, may also open the organization up to lawsuits: fear of a lawsuit is no reason to not speak the truth. It is good to follow company policy, however.
– thursdaysgeek
Jun 16 '14 at 15:27