DD18 got fired

[ElChapo]

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?

Sorry OP I'm just reading that again, late most days for a month?! She really needs to get her act together or find a flexible job

It’s mindset. Not just being “easy to get to”. She needs to commit to being on time every day single day.

Also, just to add, my advice would be for her to look for a job closer to home or with easier travel options if she's using public transport.

Call center work can be tough and it does take a huge amount of effort, especially as your first job, to stay in that enviornment anyways, even for an adult. Can she apply for some retail work? It's pretty easy to get into and maintain a working relationship that can offer a wider range if skills than a call center does.

If she's unlikely to want to do call centre work as a career I wouldn't bother. At 18 she's best just starting fresh.

I agree she can find something else.

Call centre work can lead to other jobs. It’s a foot in the door of big companies

It really isn't for everyone though.

Is she going to make the effort to be on time for her next job?
She’s in the wrong here. She needs a bit of a strong talking to about responsibilities and that she can’t go through her work life being late.

Just put it on CV as a temporary job. She will have learned some skills and hopefully also that being late is unacceptable!

I agree, but in this case she's probably just better leaving it off her CV, she wasn't there for long and got fired. Probably do more damage than good having it on there.

Why was she late every day? Sounds like she needs to get her arse into gear. Your comment about it ‘only being 10 minutes’ won’t help as it sounds like you’re excusing her.

A lot of places wouldn’t expect that an 18 year old had even been employed yet. Could she just leave it off her CV and make out like she’s never had a job? I had a bit of a disastrous career change about 9 years ago so, when I changed jobs two years ago, I extended one previous job end date and changed the start date of the next previous job to match it (and cover the disaster)

The place had actually closed so there was no-one to check anyway so it was easier to get away with 🤷‍♀️ Plus, the company I left and the company I joined were actually the same one 😝 No regrets 😝

A lot of companies only give the minimal reference these days- x worked here from y to z.
At such a young age this can be a real learning point for her-
if she hates commuting what kind of job is she prepared to do locally?
if she was bored is she now prepare to get qualifications part time to improve her job potential
is it worth going back to college if you can afford this

‘Only 10 mins or so’ every day is poor timekeeping
so what if it’s minimum wage, don’t like the work, have ‘had’ to get a job
its still a job that someone is relying on her to do

I’m seeing where your daughter gets her lax attitude from. Unless your responses here are very different to the conversations you’re having with her?

Imagine being broken down by the side of the motorway in morning rush hour and not being able to get through to the breakdown company you pay a fortune for because their staff think it’s acceptable to saunter into work whenever?

If she’s old enough to work, she’s old enough to take responsibility for getting herself to work on time. I’m surprised they didn’t sack her after a week of lateness.

Aside from the fact that she deserved to lose her job being 10 mins late every day for a month, I would also put it down on her CV as a temporary position. Highly doubt a new employer will ask for a reference based on a historic temporary call centre job. I also think any reference would be "worked here from x to x".

Hopefully it's a lesson learned.

she was probably late every day in the last month or so by 10 mins or so

That is absolutely appalling OP!!! Does she realise that is unacceptable? Does she have any SEN which mean timekeeping is difficult? How does she plan to improve if she gets another job?

some of us really struggle with time keeping, myself included!

10 mins late every day is a lot

Don't minimise this or blame the employer. I'd say it's a good learning experience

Kindly OP 10 minutes late every day is totally unacceptable. Do it twice in a week in our place and you’d be pulled in.

many unhelpful comments here
the question wasn't regarding her time keeping, it was regarding using them as a reference

Apprenticeships are extremely difficult to get into and most require at last 4 GCSE's of grade 4 or above. My ds19 and his friends all struggled to get onto an apprenticeship.

OP, call centres are known for treating staff especially the younger ones, like crap.

Would your dd be interested in going back to her local college or institute? They can help her with her GCSE's (dd17 is currently re-sitting her Maths) and she may find a course there that interests her.

And you wonder why she was sacked? 🤦‍♂️

I wouldnt want an employee who takes the piss arriving late EVERY DAY for a fucking month!

This experience for your daughter is only valuable if she learns from it.

Based on your posts about her, I dont think this will be the first or only job she'll be fired from with her attitude towards punctuality.

how is that helpful @HelplessSoul

Don’t advise her to lie on her CV. If it came out later, the new job could fire her.