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Original poster

DD18 got fired

192 replies

ElChapo · 17/04/2025 20:12

So DD didn’t do very well at her GCSE’s. Got a couple at grade 4 one being maths but essentially didn’t get English despite taking it twice. After applying for around 200 jobs she got a position in what is effectively a call centre. Not cold calling but answering calls for a breakdown company. It was quite a distance from
where we live and the travel really got her down and started being late. Just before she’d complete 6 months there they called her in and fired her on the spot so is now jobless. My question is does she have to be completely honest with a prospective new employer that she got fired and if so is there a way to word it that doesn’t come across so badly?

OP posts:
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 17/04/2025 20:15

When you say 'she started being late', how often and how late?

MissWishaw · 17/04/2025 20:20

She should ask the hr team what kind of reference they provide new employers.

If only tombstone then it's worked here from x to y date

SparrowFeet · 17/04/2025 20:24

Sounds like she didn't pass probation rather than specifically being sacked so this should be less of an issue. references are usually factual on dates rather than reason for leaving. She can say the travel became a problem so it didn't work out.

healthybychristmas · 17/04/2025 22:39

Personally I would say on my CV that it was a temporary job.

Darkclothes · 17/04/2025 22:45

Did she have any warnings or a probation review? How often was she late?

Original poster
ElChapo · 18/04/2025 08:47

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 17/04/2025 20:15

When you say 'she started being late', how often and how late?

I think in the last month it was probably most days but only by about 10 mins or so I believe

OP posts:
Original poster
ElChapo · 18/04/2025 08:53

MissWishaw · 17/04/2025 20:20

She should ask the hr team what kind of reference they provide new employers.

If only tombstone then it's worked here from x to y date

It was HR that called her into the meeting and sacked her. She said they weren’t particularly nice about it so not sure how they’d react to a phone call from her

OP posts:
Original poster
ElChapo · 18/04/2025 08:54

SparrowFeet · 17/04/2025 20:24

Sounds like she didn't pass probation rather than specifically being sacked so this should be less of an issue. references are usually factual on dates rather than reason for leaving. She can say the travel became a problem so it didn't work out.

Yeah that was my suggestion. DH reckons not to mention it at all but then surely some experience is better than none 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
ElChapo · 18/04/2025 08:55

healthybychristmas · 17/04/2025 22:39

Personally I would say on my CV that it was a temporary job.

That’s an idea but what about references? Would a prospective employer not phone and check?

OP posts:
Dueanamechange2025 · 18/04/2025 08:56

ElChapo · 18/04/2025 08:47

I think in the last month it was probably most days but only by about 10 mins or so I believe

Show quote history

In a call centre environment, every minute is tracked. 10 mins late more than once would be seen as very poor performance. Even time at the toilet is counted!

The most important thing she needs to know is what they will put on her reference. Hopefully just the dates and the she can put it was a 6 month temp contract.

ScaryM0nster · 18/04/2025 08:57

Realistically, she’ll need to contact her previous employer and ask about references.

Lots just do dates.

If asked, I’d suggest sticking to it was a long journey and the travel logistics really weren’t working. Technically true.

Original poster
ElChapo · 18/04/2025 08:57

Darkclothes · 17/04/2025 22:45

Did she have any warnings or a probation review? How often was she late?

No, no warnings but as she’d not been there for long they can just get rid for any reason can’t they? she was probably late every day in the last month or so by 10 mins or so

OP posts:
Anywherebuthere · 18/04/2025 09:01

Thats a lot of lates. It may be 'only' be 10 to you but time is money and punctuality is important. Punctuality can effect their stats.

Often they are happy with dates started and dates left. But if she wants a reference then she will need to be honest about it when asked. She can be truthful and explain how the distance/travel was difficult.

Bjorkdidit · 18/04/2025 09:02

She needs to realise that timekeeping is important in many jobs and you need to stop minimising it as 'only 10 mins or so'.

If she's supposed to be logged in and ready to work by a certain time period, she needs to do whatever is necessary to achieve that, should she manage to get another job in that industry.

She can give a reason for leaving the job as travel difficulties but a reference is never going to be that complementary when she persistently failed to meet one of the main expectations of call centre work - being ready to start work on time.

InALonelyWorld · 18/04/2025 09:07

@ElChapo i had similar with my first ever job. It was doing inbound calls for product recalls and initially it was a 6 month contract but the option to be kept on permanently by switching to permanent campaigns. I lived over an hour away and depending on my shift it took 1 or (mostly) 2 buses to get there and back home. Buses were a nightmare and very hit and miss, it would take me almost 3 hours of waiting and travelling to actually get home after my shift.

I got "sacked" and it hasn't affected any jobs I've applied for or stopped me getting other work. On my CV, I've just stuck to saying the position was temporary, because that's what I was originally contracted for and it's never been questioned or proven otherwise. So I don't think your DD will have any issues moving forward apart from possibly not being able to go back to that specific place.

Coffeeishot · 18/04/2025 09:08

One of my children started working life like this a few frankly iffy jobs and let go because of x y z, they just used to say it didn't work out and had an alternative reference. I think she will be fine call centres are notorious for sacking people and teenagers are easy targets, I think she can get away with saying it was a dodgy call centre.

rubyslippers · 18/04/2025 09:10

ElChapo · 18/04/2025 08:57

No, no warnings but as she’d not been there for long they can just get rid for any reason can’t they? she was probably late every day in the last month or so by 10 mins or so

Show quote history

She was late to work every day?
that’s poor and I’m assuming must be a contributory factor as she was unreliable and hopefully she won’t do the same in another job
however she’s had six months working - put it on the CV as temp and it will be fine - at a young age people move a lot and try different things

HelenWheels · 18/04/2025 09:10

Can I suggest she joins an agency and hopefully finds other work and can write this off as a temporary position.

HelenWheels · 18/04/2025 09:11

i got the sack after one year, or just before, i signed on with a temp agency and had no problems at all afterwards. although i did ask for an example of my reference

Tbrh · 18/04/2025 09:11

ElChapo · 18/04/2025 08:47

I think in the last month it was probably most days but only by about 10 mins or so I believe

Show quote history

You shouldn't dismiss it lightly by saying 10 or so minutes. If you work in a call centre you need to be on time, in fact for a first job I'd be telling my DC to make sure they are 10 minutes early. Respect is earned. I say this from personal experience as in my second job I assumed I could just come in as I felt and learnt the heard way that the world doesn't work that way, I didn't last long there

Coffeeishot · 18/04/2025 09:12

Has she looked into modern apprentiships ? Might be worth seeing what's on offer.

HelenWheels · 18/04/2025 09:12

has she done an Adult skills for life for her english?
very small classes

Nevermindthebuzzard · 18/04/2025 09:13

Call centre work is not for her if she can't be arsed to get there on time. Every minute is tracked. Time is money.

I can't think of many jobs that would allow her to consistently be late, tbh. She needs to get her act together or she will get fired from the next one too.

HelenWheels · 18/04/2025 09:14

hopefully her next job will be easier to get to

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 18/04/2025 09:16

10 mins late every day for a month?! So for the last 23 working days? So she owes them 230 mins? The best part of 4 hours?

I’m amazed they didn’t sack her earlier