To ask how to avoid mention I've been sacked in job interview today?

[ineedthisjob]

Posting here for traffic, sorry I just need advice!

I have worked as a receptionist/administrator my entire working life and a few months ago decided I wanted a change, I applied for and got a job as an estate agent.

I absolutely hated every second of it, the manager was horrid, the hours were too much, I only got 1 day off a week which was different to my partners so I never saw him. I got hit by pneumonia and had two weeks signed off by doctor and was full of fear to go back. I did, and they failed my probation for too much sick leave and not having the 'right kind of personality' for a sales role.

I have a job interview today at 5pm for another reception role, at a great place and I really want the job. I also need it as they ended my probation immediately meaning I've been unemployed for the past fortnight.

The CV I applied with for this role didn't have the estate agency role on, but obviously I need to mention in my interview when I finished at my last reception role as I left the end date blank and they would use them as a reference so would need dates. I just don't know how to explain what I've been doing for the past 2 months in a way that a) doesn't make me look utterly shit and 2) doesn't put them off hiring me for a reception role after trying to move away from it

Help

Tell them that you really didn’t enjoy the role and that your employer also felt you were not suited to sales so it was agreed that you would be better off elsewhere

Did you part on good terms? Will they give you a positive reference? Can you call and ask them?

Could you say you travelled or something for a couple of months to visit family abroad?

If they ask about the gap, say "I was very briefly employed as an estate agent but we both agreed quite early on that it wasn't really the right role for me and I'm much more suited to reception work than sales. I love working in an administrative/customer service role and feel this is where my strengths lie". Turn it into a positive, you tried something different and it made you realise what you're really good at.

I tried à changé of career but it didn't suit me so we ended it by mutual consent. (if it comes out... Well technically the employer terminated it but it was mutual)
It made me realise how much I enjoy being a receptionist

It definitely won't be possible to use them as a reference. I have good solid references for three employers in relevant jobs for years at a time which I'd much rather use than a 2 month job that I wasn't good at, had 2 weeks sick leave and got sacked from. Or do you think I need to use most recent?

My first thought was to lie and say I travelled, but it's a small world especially in this area and being caught out would be mortifying.

Can you speak to the estate agents and ask them to agree to say you left through choice to enable you to get another position? Most companies agree to do this in this sort of scenario,

You then say at interview you're more suited to reception work and resigned.

Agree, turn it into a positive. How you wanted a change to try new things but after a short period of time realised you enjoyed and valued reception work, so you and your employer mutually decided the role wasn't for you.

Don't lie. As a PP said, mention it but put a positive spin on it and bring it back around to why you are right for THIS job.

Thank you for all the advice I will mention it and turn it into a positive and hopefully it'll all go ok

If they ask be honest. Don't make excuses (even if they are true) but talk about it as a learning experience.

Tell them that you thought the challenge seemed appealing and you worked for them briefly but that you realised you prefer x and x and x about reptionionist roles and feel your skill y and y and y are used brilliantly as a receptionist. Say you worked there a little while but you and your manager agreed it wasn't the best use of your skills. Tell them you learnt a lot about yourself in that brief period such as you like as a and a and a and that you are really looking forward to b and b and b which this new job has loads of. Reiterate that you've received excellent feedback as a receptionist at your previous roles.

Good luck!

PS were you sacked or did you jyst not pass your probationary period? Two different things.

I don't think you were sacked, you just didn't pass your probation period which I think is quite common nowadays

I would advise a candidate (I'm a Recruiter) to use what PP have said:

"I decided to try something new however I didn't enjoy it as I was expecting and the employer felt that the role didn t play to my strengths."

I work in recruitment and honestly for 2 months I wouldn't put it down. Just say you were taking a break.

Most interviews don't even ask about your CV these days because they have to ask everyone the same questions.

Please be totally honest. It will count much more in your favour. Experienced interviews are very good a spotting evasiveness. I was sacked from a job because I spoke out of turn to a Director.

When the inevitable question came up about, what did you learn from your last job, I answered “circumspection”.they laughed and I got the job.

Nomorechickens

I tried à changé of career but it didn't suit me so we ended it by mutual consent. (if it comes out... Well technically the employer terminated it but it was mutual)
It made me realise how much I enjoy being a receptionist

I'd go with this. You've got nothing to hide. You tried a change and it didn't work out for you. It happens all the time. You've been called for an interview, so you obviously suit the job spec. You've got a solid employment history and, therefore, nothing to worry about.

Good luck

Two months is not a huge gap. They may well not even ask about it.

If they do ask, tell the truth but with a positive spin, i.e. don't say you were 'sacked' or even that you 'failed' probation. Say something along the lines of while you enjoyed some aspects of the role such as meeting people (or whatever positive point you can think of), a sales role turned out not be the right fit for you. Maybe even that it's helped you clarify what your strengths are and what you want out of your career.

Good luck, and don't over-think it!

I think failing probation is not being sacked, more just not being retained.

Say something along the lines of while you enjoyed some aspects of the role such as meeting people (or whatever positive point you can think of), a sales role turned out not be the right fit for you. Maybe even that it's helped you clarify what your strengths are and what you want out of your career

^^ This.

You’ve always enjoyed the people-facing aspect of reception and thought estate agent would be a good fit, but you discovered you didn’t enjoy X aspect and left after your probation period by mutual agreement.

I agree that failing probation is not being sacked, and it sounds as if it was a mutual agreement, really, since you didn't feel you were suited to it either, so no shame there at all.
Good luck for this afternoon!

Did you have to declare your application was true and did it ask about previous terminations/disciplinary? You must be honest at interview otherwise you could be dimissed from this role for lying/misleading/fraud if they find out at a later date. If you are up front that you tried a change of career but it wasn't right for you and unfortunately you had a bad run of illness and left within your probation many employers will be sympathetic - especially if your other references are goid.

I do agree with a previous poster that it may be worth contacting the previous employer and negotiating what they will say in terms of a reference if you can.

I read your other thread. RE definitely wasn’t for you!

You’ll be fine. Just say you thought you would enjoy a change in career, tried out the RE job, but it really wasn’t for you and it has just confirmed where your skills & job satisfaction truly are.

2 months is nothing, you don’t even have to mention it if you don’t want to.

Just be honest, just say you tried a career change and it wasn't the right move for you. This job is what you are good at and enjoy doing, any reasonable employer will understand that

I wouldn't mention the illness unless it really comes up and it's either talk about it or lie. It's not necessary.

As others have said, say you filled in for an estate agent role for a short term but it wasn't suited to your skills long term, so you are keen to get back into receptionist role which is where your skill set is, and you have X number of references for your past receptionist roles which you would be delighted to supply.

I wouldn't use the word sacked (ever) and don't talk about how the hours didn't match your partner's and you didn't get a day off and the sick leave and all of that, (not that you were going to but it's amazing what spills out inadvertently during an interview!) They don't need to know all that and they might also think the same might happen with you in their role. Just focus on the skills not being the right fit for that role change from receptionist to estate agent, they are very different roles altogether.

Good luck!