DEAR J.T. & DALE: I'm trying to find an appropriate way of explaining why I was fired from my last job. The reason given is that in a four-month period, I sent 11 personal emails. The company has a rather vague policy about using company email for private use, but says it's OK if it's infrequent and done during breaks. My 11 emails average out to less than one a week, and all were done on my breaks. I have reason to believe that the real reason I was fired was because I filed a workplace violence complaint. Another fact I should add is that I was replaced by a personal friend of the manager who had been laid off from another job. - Teri
J.T.: When interviewing, I'd suggest that you admit to being fired and explain about the 11 emails, adding: "My mistake was interpreting the company's email policy incorrectly. It said that occasional use was acceptable, and I thought that fewer than one a week would be OK. But it wasn't. It taught me how important it is to adhere to all policies, and when in doubt, get clarification. Now I just want to land a job and get back to contributing. I know I'm a better employee for the experience." Notice that this doesn't mention the lawsuit. That's because it isn't the "on the record" reason for your termination, so there's no reason to hoist a potential red flag.
DALE: Well said, but here's the problem: Teri doesn't believe the emails were why she got fired. You don't believe it. I don't believe it. Hiring managers won't believe it. The email story leaves imaginations free to roam, wondering, "What was the REAL reason?" Because they don't know, they will trade a doubt for a certainty and hire someone else. So, does that mean you bring up the lawsuit? No. However, there is still one explanation left, and it's a gem: You just add, "To be candid, I don't think those emails were the real reason." Picture the hiring manager leaning forward, eager to hear the REAL story. "One of the manager's pals had been laid off, and he brought the guy in to replace me." With that, the hiring manager leans back as suspicions turn to sympathy.
Playing politics
Dear J.T. & DALE: I have been "on loan" to another department within my company. I enthusiastically accepted the assignment, and when I found out that the manager had put in a proposal to bring me onto the team, I was thrilled. I'm a salary grade of four, and the job I'm working is a grade six.
While waiting for upper management to approve the proposal, a grade five position was posted. I wanted to apply, but my manager told me to "sit tight."
In the meantime, another candidate accepted the grade five. When I asked her about it, she said she had no control over the posting, that the grade six proposal was turned down and that I would be returning to my original position. What did I do wrong? - C.M.
J.T.: In hindsight, you can see that applying for the grade five job would have covered your bases. However, it's odd that you weren't approached about it formally as an alternative to not getting the grade six position.
DALE: Whenever things get odd, the explanation usually comes down to company politics. Your boss may have discouraged you from applying because she knew she would be hiring someone else. Perhaps someone more influential in the company asked her to add that person, perhaps she spotted someone with unique talents, or maybe your old manager came to her and declared, "I want C.M. back." You'll probably never know the real reason. Nevertheless, every event in your career is an opportunity to get better. Forget the job you didn't get, and start work on the next possibility. Invite your temporary boss out to lunch and ask her for advice on how you could improve. Keep getting better, and so will your assignments ... IF you accept that part of getting better is becoming more skilled at office politics.
JEANINE "J.T." TANNER O'DONNELL is a professional development specialist. DALE DAUTEN resolves employment and other business disputes as a mediator. Please visit them at jtanddale.com, where you can send questions via email, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019.