Those of you who have been fired.

[Tiggerlover91]

Please don't flame me, I'm at my wits end.

I've filled out NUMEROUS applications for new employment....current job isn't working.

I've got 21 years of serving behind me and the majority of my apps have been in the restaurant industry. NOT ONE PHONE CALL. When asked about previous employment, I put that I was fired,(last job, Ruby Tuesday) because of final write up and then I explain the situation...lost my temper in the kitchen, manager misunderstood, etc. etc. It also shows my commitment to one place for nearly 12 years. I'm available for work all day Sunday and Mon-Thur nights from 4 until. Cannot work Fridays and Saturdays because of my faith. It CAN'T be my availability...right? Most restaurants are happy to find someone only available nights. I think it's my reason for being fired and the fact that I've only been out of the industry for about 3 months is the reason. SO....I've decided I'm not putting that on the app anymore. I have to test it and see. What do I put, I left because restaurant was going in a bad direction. That in itself is true...the direction it was going with the then current manager wasn't good. There's a different one now.

So for those of you who have been fired, did you ALWAYS tell the truth to the possible new employer, or did you chance it til you got that new job. I've been going at this for nearly a month now and I'm at my wits end!!! I'm making minimum wage, only working about 12 hours a week and the bills aren't getting paid and we are eating through hubby's paycheck! Retail just doesn't do it. With a 17 month old son, I NEED the quick, fast, money that serving brings.

PLEASE, I can use any and all advice.

Thank you so much.

 

[Angelhalo]

If I were an employer in the food industry I'd pass you by because you can't work Fridays or Saturdays. Those are two of the biggest days of the week. The firing thing would just be the icing on the cake.

I'd leave the firing off the app and only mention what happened if you get an interview and they ask you about it.

Good luck!

 

[Mrs.Reese]

If your going to waitress, you have to give them at least one friday or saturday night. I think that's more your issue than the firing.

 

[Darcy03231]

While I don't work in the food service industry anymore, I used to. I wouldn't hire you based on the not being available on the two busiest days of the week - Friday and Saturday.

 

[jen0610]

I would have to agree that it's the no fridays or saturdays - ever that is the killer.

I know when I worked food service, our biggest days were Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. You HAD to work either Tue or Wed and for Sunday, you had to either work the lunch or dinner shift. Luckily for me, there were enough other empolyees that wanted the Sunday lunch shift, that it didn't interfer with my going to church Sunday morning. But if I had to be scheduled for the lunch shift, I was sure god wasn't going to be upset that I was trying to provide for myself and family.

 

[DizBelle]

I would also guess that the not being available on Friday and Saturday is the deal breaker rather than being previously fired.

I do think that you should be honest about why you left your last job at some point before they actually hire you. I don't think the fib/lack or detail to get the interview is a horrible thing - although it is not preferable.

But I am interested in what your test reveals so please report back.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I'm sure someone needs to you work around the hours you have available. If they are busy on the days you need off, they also need to allow THOSE people who do work those days time off, right?

Never offer up you were fired. On your resume, you put down the start date and end date for each job, where you worked, and a summary of your duties. Never put a down reason for leaving. It looks suspect no matter what the reasons are for each job.

In the interview, where you have a time and a place to be personable, you can explain when asked why each job ended.

You can even let them know (when asked) that you were fired without using the word. You can just say that there was a misunderstanding that led to your unemployment with them. Only go into detail if they ask and even then, don't tell them you lost your temper. You can say that you'd rather not bad-mouth your former manager simply because it clearly was a misunderstanding.

 

[C.Ann]

All you need to state is "personal reasons".. Even your former employer can not state that you were "fired" - unless you had done something illegal and they pressed charges.. The only thing they can give your potential new employer is the length of time they employed you.. If you think that is the problem, change it to "personal reasons" and see what happens..

Good luck!

 

[princesspiglet]

Having worked in the service industry for 12 years, your main negative is that you can't work Friday and Saturday nights. When I was the hiring manager for my parent's catering business, the first question I asked was if they were able to work weekend nights. If they said no, they were automatically crossed off the list. I didn't care if they were fired from previous jobs. My main concern was their availability.

 

[Nie0214]

Everyone else has already pointed out the Fri/Sat availability (where I live, if you aren't available fully on weekends, you can kiss retail/restaurant goodbye).

The second issue I see is that you are waiting for a call back. In this economy, you cannot wait for someone to call you. You need to be active and call them. Drop off the application/resume and ask if a manager is available to speak with right then and there. If nobody is, ask when a manager is available.

 

[Youarehere]

I also think it is your availability. Saying you "lost your temper" doesn't help either- I would word that differently.

When I reviewed apps, anyone without at least 2 of the three weekend days available went straight to the filing cabinet.

 

[NotUrsula]

The alternate availability that is normally desirable from those who cannot work weekend nights is being there to work the breakfast-lunch shift on weekdays, which most younger part-timers cannot do because of school commitments.

You've essentially shut yourself out completely by limiting yourself to Sundays and weekday-evenings only. With the economy the way it is right now, many restaurants are losing money on those nights; some of them are only serving dinner on weekends as a way to keep costs down.

If you can, try applying to places that cater to the senior citizen crowd; they have more traffic on weeknights, but they shut down early. The gotcha is that old folks are NOTORIOUSLY bad tippers. If you need the tip income to bridge the gap, that strategy won't do it.

Banquet serving at hotels is heavy on Sunday work because of brunches, but IME you won't get those slots if you are not also available for wedding work on Friday and Saturday.

 

[TaraPA]

I do most of the interviewing & hiring for my company. Honestly, your availability would put your app on the bottom of the pile, whether it's for religious reasons or not.

I would also not disclose that you were fired. I do the references for past employees & we cannot disclose why a person is no longer employed, even if the prospective employer asks the reaosn for leaving. I can only confirm dates of employment. I'm sure many companies are the same way. I do, however, give character references & tell about work habits, personality issues, adherence to work schedules, etc. etc. For that reason I wouldn't use the name of the boss that fired you as the direct reference on your app. Use the name of someone else at that company that you had a better working relationship with.

I wouldn't wait around for calls. I'd make one quick polite phone call to see if the position has been filled, and if not, let them know that you are still interested.

We get at least 2-3 apps a day, and have zero positions available. The stack is getting bigger & bigger, there's just no work out there right now!

Hang in there!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

All you need to state is "personal reasons".. Even your former employer can not state that you were "fired" - unless you had done something illegal and they pressed charges.. The only thing they can give your potential new employer is the length of time they employed you.. If you think that is the problem, change it to "personal reasons" and see what happens..

Good luck!

The above info is not true! We can say a former employee has been fired. However, whatever you say as a reference has to be TRUE and verifiable.

Some employers are afraid of being sued and refuse to give out any info on past employees.

 

[kafitty]

i have yet to encounter a restaurant that doesn't require at least one Friday or Saturday shift.

 

[DMickey28]

Denise - I am sorry you are having a hard time with this. I would take the firing off your resume for sure. Just don't put reason for leaving for any of the jobs. There is no real reason for putting it anyway.

You have been in the industry for YEARS and your faith and availablity haven't been an issue before. If it's an issue now, it's most likely due to the economy and the vast number of applicants they are getting. You can't do anything about your availability, I know, so I would take the firing off the apps and hopefully that will get you infront of someone for an interview.

When I was a restaurant manager, I would love to have someone that could work Sundays and week nights but not fight for the Friday and Saturday that EVERYONE wanted. I always had more people than I needed for Friday and Saturday. The lack of weekday daytime hours is probably holding you back some as well. Can you find ANYONE to watch Mo for one or two days a week to at least open those up as an option?

Good Luck.

 

[HighClass]

Take off the firing
Simply list places of employment-never reason for leaving any of them-look up professional resume's online

Question (just curious) -what Faith prevents working Fri & Sat?

 

[Chicago526]

I've worked retail and restaurant, and not being available both Fri and Sat is what is killing your chances. Why would I hire someone with those kind of restrictions when I've got a stack and a half of applicants that are available full weekends and maybe even seven days a week? If you were available one of the two days, you might have a shot, but really, if you aren't available for both, they are just going to reject your application before they even make it to where you state you were fired.

And I agree, leave off all reasons for leaving previous jobs, and only talk about it if asked.

But at the end of the day, if you simply cannot work Friday and Saturdays, you'll need to find work in more of a M-F/9-5 gig. Customer service of any kind simply won't work, because that's when most people shop and eat.

 

[LilyWDW]

You have been in the industry for YEARS and your faith and availablity haven't been an issue before. If it's an issue now, it's most likely due to the economy and the vast number of applicants they are getting.

I don't work in the restaurant industry, but I do look at applications for my store in retail. We get close to 4-5 applications a DAY. We have so many that we can get super picky and only look at the ones with fully open availability. It is most likely the same case here. Why should they hire someone who can't work 2 specific days when they most likely have enough applicants with open availability? ESPECIALLY Friday and Saturday night, which around here are when the restaurants are the most packed (those and Sunday lunch since I live in the bible belt). To be blunt, in today's job market, your availability MUST be better to compete.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Oh Denise, I am sorry, I can only offer hugs and prayers for you. I thinks your availability looks great, seems like that is when they would most need you, but since I have never worked in the Food Industry, I can't say for sure.

I can say not to put that you were fired on the application. In GA, all the former employer can do it tell the new employer is that you worked there, it is illegal to tell that you were fired (I remember a doctor calling my doctor about a former employee and she was restricted in what she could tell and she should have been able to warn this other doctor about this person, because she was bad).

Good Luck

BTW, that Mo sure is a handsome young man

Suzanne