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Original poster

Arrgh!! About to have my employment 'terminated'. How do I spin this in interviews?

46 replies

slug · 07/04/2008 08:08

A long story. I've been in a new job for 3 months. It's a very specialised skill set (in the IT industry) and I came in as a trainee. Now you would think, being as it is not a skill that is taught in universities, and one where there are very few people who posess it, that the company would take every opportunity to make sure their trainees got the appropriate training. That, unfortunately, is not what happened to me. I was plonked in a corner for a month, given a few things to read and told to get on with it. I struggled with what I had to do, not just because it is complex, but because I was given very little to actually do. I was reduced to hovering over people's shoulders watching what they did.

A week ago my boss called me into his office and told me he was going to terminate my contract at the end of the three month period because I did not know enough. Not surprising really, he hadn't gone out of his way to make sure I had been taught, and every time I mentioned it (at least once a day) it just got brushed off with a 'You'll get the hang of it' type comment. So on Friday I had a meeting with the boss and HR. He had obviously told her I was miserable and did not like my job. I had printed off the training documents from the intranet and pointed out to HR that I had recieved less than half the training I should have recieved in the first month, let alone in three months. I argued my case and have won a weeks extension.

Now I accept that no matter what I do, my contract will be terminated at the end of this week. My boss has made it very clear to me, out of earshot of HR, that this is the case. I've been displaying symptoms of depression and, to be honest, it's not worth the stress. If it wasn't for the fact that DH hasn't got a job, I would have left then and there. My question, for those of you who have managed to read this far, is how do I explain this in subsequent interviews without sounding whiney? I don't want to mention that my boss was a classic bully with a firm belief in telepathy, and nor do I want to make it look like I just couldn't cope. When taught how to do something I was fine, I just was not taught how to do most of the job.

OP posts:

Pennies · 07/04/2008 08:12

First off, poor you. Sorry they've been like this. I was once in a very similiar situation and I just said I was on a temporary contract with them. I never had to provide them as references.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 07/04/2008 08:13

Pennies has beaten me to it.

ScienceTeacher · 07/04/2008 08:15

What stage are you at in your career? Was this your first professional job?

If it was a three month contract, your contract ended. I'm sure in the IT industry it is very common for employees to be on short-term contracts. Whatever you say about this job, keep it all positive - what you did learn rather than what you didn't, what you enjoyed, how you liked being part of a team etc.

bitofadramaqueen · 07/04/2008 08:22

Firstly, I would speak to your HR person to find out who does references and what information they tend to give out (you dont want to say something to your next job and find out that your reference contradicts everything).

You could let future employees know that it was a trainee role and you discovered very quickly that the training fell short of expectations for the role.

Have you actually been given notice that your contract will end at the end of this so called extension period? If not, you could always resign. Then you could in all honesty tell prospective employers that you resigned.

Good luck with it.

Original poster

slug · 07/04/2008 08:24

Gosh, thanks for the swift response. I guess after a string of first class degrees and a long career as a teacher where I was good at what I did and mentored new staff I just expected better treatment than this. The financial aspects aren't helping. I've been trying to evict DH from his comfortable life as a SAHD for some time now. I would love to go back to mummying for a few months, lick my wounds and carry on.

OP posts:

Original poster

slug · 07/04/2008 08:35

I was given a set of tasks that I had to perform successfully in order to stay on. However, my boss made it very clear that I would not be able to complete them. I think he was very annoyed that I showed him up in front of HR. For example, one of the things I have to do is close out a set number of calls. He's done two things here, firstly he's made sure, by distributing the calls to other team members, that I won't have enough to qualify, and secondly, much of what I do has to be QR'd. He has done the QRing of my work and closed the calls himself, so they do not end up in my statistics.

I would resign immediatley if it wasn't for the money worries. If I resign can I then claim benefits, having made myself intentially out of work?

OP posts:

flowerybeanbag · 07/04/2008 08:39

If it's only been literally 3 months do you have to even include it at all?

If you do, definitely ask HR what will go on referencesas dramaqueen says. All very well saying it was a temp contract but if a reference says what kind of contract it was that won't help you. If new employers send some kind of reference form to fill in it may ask what contract type, and you would need to ensure someone would lie in those circumstances, or would say it's not policy to fill in forms or whatever.

Casserole · 07/04/2008 08:46

Resign resign resign, and do it quickly.

I don't know about benefits, but even if you end up temping for a couple of months to make ends meet that's better than spending months and months getting to the "taking up references" stage and having job offers fall apart.

Original poster

slug · 07/04/2008 08:48

I did ask HR to note my concerns about the lack of training at the meeting. I didn't see any notes being taken and I've not received a copy after the meeting so I can't be sure what was noted, if anything. I did take into the meeting the list of training from the intranet with copies of what I had done and emails I had sent my boss asking about when further training would be given. He denied all knowledge of any of it.

I feel I've been put in a bit of an impossible situation. I'm angry that I haven't been given even half the training I should have. I'm angry that I will have to suffer financial consequences because of it and I'm angry that my boss simply refuses to accept any responsibility for this. I'm also aware that if I do manage to hang on he will make life very difficult for me. He's doing that already. If it wasn't for the spectre of the benefit queue I would have gone long ago.

OP posts:

ShinyPinkShoes · 07/04/2008 08:57

Resign and just put down your last employer as a referee.

Can't you just say you took 3 months out to be a SAHM?

Original poster

slug · 07/04/2008 08:58

Casserole, I'm inclined to agree with you. DH is the one who is resisting it.

Does anyone know about the benefits situation? Or should I ask in Legal/money matters?

OP posts:

VanillaPumpkin · 07/04/2008 09:10

You can't get jobseekers if you resign I don't think. Sorry. And you have to be actively seeking work, but they don't expect you to take any old thing if you have qualifications, just to show you are looking (ie registered with employment agencies, looked in the papers etc). At least that is how it was when I graduated. Good Luck. It sounds like a perfectly horrid situation .

Twiglett · 07/04/2008 09:14

you say "I did a trial period of xx at yy but it didn't suit me so I am looking for a position where my skills and interest are engaged more thoroughly. I am particularly attracted to xxx company (company of interview) because of bullshit, bullshit, bullshit"

to why didn't it suit me

Original poster

slug · 07/04/2008 09:24

Oh I'm looking. I have an interview on Thursday. Is this enough for benefits?

OP posts:

VanillaPumpkin · 07/04/2008 09:58

You can't voluntarily make yourself unemployed and get benefits though I don't think.....Interview is great though. Hopefully you will get it and all your worries will go away and you can tell them to stick their job and their bad attitude....
I am not an expert though. Perhaps post in legal/money matter about the benefits bit. Someone will know a lot more than me .

BecauseImWorthIt · 07/04/2008 10:05

From a point of view of personal pride/satisfaction, have you put this in writing? It sounds odd that HR didn't give you notes from the meeting, but I would make sure that everything that you have already documented goes to them. You never know, it might make them deal with your boss in future/when it happens again.

Good luck for Thursday!

Original poster

slug · 07/04/2008 10:05

Ahh, the plot thickens. A new bloke has appeared, friend it seems of boss (who isn't in today), and one of the team leaders. There's been some muttered discussion of a desk not being avaliable at the moment for him, he'll have to be temporarily placed until next week. Now given that the office was rearranged two weeks ago, you would have thought there would have been a spot made avaliable for the new bloke, especially as the discussions about layout took weeks.

Maybe it's paranoia, but I think I was replaced without them bothering to tell me.

OP posts:

VanillaPumpkin · 07/04/2008 10:21

. Arseholes .

flowerybeanbag · 07/04/2008 10:21

Do you know what? I wouldn't even waste your time worrying about what has or hasn't happened about why you're going, training you didn't get, replacements who may or may not be coming. You've only been there 3 months and it sounds as though it's not somewhere you'd be happy anyway.

Focus on trying to get something better, (good luck with the interview), and on what you will do about this job. If you can get away with not mentioning it at all, which I think you should be able to after such a short period of time, then great. If not you need to be careful about references in terms of contract type and also reason for leaving.

If you feel you need to mention it you should probably resign and say what Twiglett said. There's no shame in realising so soon that something isn't right for you and doing something about it. Better than staying for 6 months or something I think.

Original poster

slug · 07/04/2008 10:23

Thanks flowery, the voice of reason as always.

OP posts:

VanillaPumpkin · 07/04/2008 11:29

Flowery is right! Good advice there!

horseshoe · 07/04/2008 11:34

Hi... I have posted on your Legal thread too but firstly...They CANNOT replace you until you have officially lost your job. SECONDLY any meeting with your boss and HR that is to be placed on file MUST be seen and signed by you.

If you prove you have not been given appropriate training then they should extend your probationary period by another 3 months and provide that training.

This is constructive dismissal if you choose to leave.

I think you need to write to HR and your BOSS and get the facts stated in writing. If nothing else you have your letter to them. You really need to corner them. Find out why exactly you are being dismissed. They CANNOT use the argument that you dont know enough if they have not provided the appropriate training. They would have to give a better reason than that.

Pennies · 07/04/2008 11:41

Horsehoe - she's not been there long enough for CD to apply.

Better of out of there, slug - it sounds like a hideous place to work. In fact I'd lay money on it being where I was!

horseshoe · 07/04/2008 12:08

Pennies - I believe the year rule applies to "Unfair Dismissal" .

In any case.......they have to follow the 3 procedures

1)send you a written statement, telling you why they want to dismiss or discipline you
2)hold a meeting with you to discuss the matter
3)hold an appeal meeting with you, if you want to appeal against your employer's decision

They cant just pull you in and say see you later if they have only told you verbally that they will not be making you a permanat member of staff

horseshoe · 07/04/2008 12:09

"permenant"

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