Being held back by employment history

[One dog]

Hello
I am currently on ESA but coming to the end of that (I hope). I have been applying for jobs as I would really like to get back into work. I get job interviews in my sector (health / NHS).

The thing that seems to be a sticking point is that recruiters always want to know why I left my last job. The truth is quite simple; My employer (limited company) was not paying my correct salary, but making unlawful deductions (this was happening to all the other workers too, one of whom left because of it). I raised the issue with the business director, who did not agree that anything unlawful had taken place. I left because of management harassment which ensued.

I took the employer (the business) to a tribunal after I left. The management fabricated false allegations of misconduct, in defence of the case. The tribunal judge dismissed these as not pertinent to the claim. I won. The employer paid what I calculated had been unlawfully deducted.

Interviewers always ask why I left my job. When I tell them (in much less detail than here), it is like I have killed my chances stone dead. It raises suspicion among interviewers and never fails to attract further questions. It is like they think I am a risk (I am not a risk to any law abiding employer).

Recruiters always want to know what 'happened' to the 'employer'. I have been asked "was he struck off (the medical register)?" and / or "Is he still working there?" They seem ignorant to the fact that my 'employer' was a business and not a person, so there are no personal consequences for any managerial staff of the business. When I explain this, it is like they think my story is an elaborate ruse.

I would prefer not to even mention this in any job interview, but that leaves me without a plausible answer when the interviewer asks why I left. I have tried different strategies such as explaining in full, keeping it vague, saying 'I left for personal reasons', saying 'I left because of a bad atmosphere following a payroll issue' or that 'I left because of a difference of opinion'. No answer that I give, is ever satisfactory and I end up not getting the job - the usual explanation is 'lack of experience' (that old chestnut ). My experience is always good enough for them to invite me to an interview and yet not sufficient once they have met me.

I would appreciate any practical strategies for tackling this obstacle.

Cheers

 

[spanglechick]

You left to care for an elderly parent. End of story.

 

[Pickman's model]

Or just put "contract ended", end of

I have never been asked why I've left a job, not sure they should be asking that in an interview

 

[Sirena]

Yes, but the new employer will always go for a reference so it's best to find a way to be honest up front

 

[Pickman's model]

Hello
I am currently on ESA but coming to the end of that (I hope). I have been applying for jobs as I would really like to get back into work. I get job interviews in my sector (health / NHS).

The thing that seems to be a sticking point is that recruiters always want to know why I left my last job. The truth is quite simple; My employer (limited company) was not paying my correct salary, but making unlawful deductions (this was happening to all the other workers too, one of whom left because of it). I raised the issue with the business director, who did not agree that anything unlawful had taken place. I left because of management harassment which ensued.

I took the employer (the business) to a tribunal after I left. The management fabricated false allegations of misconduct, in defence of the case. The tribunal judge dismissed these as not pertinent to the claim. I won. The employer paid what I calculated had been unlawfully deducted.

Interviewers always ask why I left my job. When I tell them (in much less detail than here), it is like I have killed my chances stone dead. It raises suspicion among interviewers and never fails to attract further questions. It is like they think I am a risk (I am not a risk to any law abiding employer).

Recruiters always want to know what 'happened' to the 'employer'. I have been asked "was he struck off (the medical register)?" and / or "Is he still working there?" They seem ignorant to the fact that my 'employer' was a business and not a person, so there are no personal consequences for any managerial staff of the business. When I explain this, it is like they think my story is an elaborate ruse.

I would prefer not to even mention this in any job interview, but that leaves me without a plausible answer when the interviewer asks why I left. I have tried different strategies such as explaining in full, keeping it vague, saying 'I left for personal reasons', saying 'I left because of a bad atmosphere following a payroll issue' or that 'I left because of a difference of opinion'. No answer that I give, is ever satisfactory and I end up not getting the job - the usual explanation is 'lack of experience' (that old chestnut ). My experience is always good enough for them to invite me to an interview and yet not sufficient once they have met me.

I would appreciate any practical strategies for tackling this obstacle.

Cheers

When you left this job, was part of the agreement a decent reference?

 

[spanglechick]

Or just put "contract ended", end of

I have never been asked why I've left a job, not sure they should be asking that in an interview

It's on lots of application forms.

 

[One dog]

Thank you both for your two great replies

 

[spanglechick]

Yes, but the new employer will always go for a reference so it's best to find a way to be honest up front

If it comes up later (and most references these days are more about confirming dates and days off etc) all the fraught stuff was after the initial choice the OP made to leave. Incidental.

 

[One dog]

When you left this job, was part of the agreement a decent reference?

Nothing was actually mentioned. I was on a zero hours contract and as a result of the harassment, I just declined any further work. I started my ACAS case shortly after that.

 

[Pickman's model]

It's on lots of application forms.

Yeh, just deal with it there

 

[One dog]

NHS website applications have a space for gaps in employment. They want to know everything. I tend to just leave that part blank.

 

[Pickman's model]

Nothing was actually mentioned. I was on a zero hours contract and as a result of the harassment, I just declined any further work. I started my ACAS case shortly after that.

Ok, contract ended, left to seek regular work, looked after a relative... Deal with it on the application form so it doesn't arise in the interview, plus they should be asking all the candidates the same question and not asking you - apart from supplementaries - anything different.

 

[Pickman's model]

NHS website applications have a space for gaps in employment. They want to know everything. I tend to just leave that part blank.

Oh, I've put 'on the dole' in those bits.

 

[One dog]

Thanks anyway. You have both given me some great ideas about how to handle this in future

 

[One dog]

I was on the dole actually. I presume you are joking about putting it on the form.

 

[Pickman's model]

I was on the dole actually. I presume you are joking about putting it on the form.

No. But I've been working continuously since 2005. Before that I was four years on the rock.

 

[One dog]

I suspect that all candidates are asked why they left their last job.

 

[One dog]

I was under the impression that employers have a downer on people who have 'gaps' in their work history. That is why I try to disguise any. This gap is 2 years now. Before that I was working since 2010.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

broadly speaking, it's much the same as going on a first date and saying what a ratbag your ex is. saying bad things about past employer at an interview is kinda "not the done thing"

you need to account for gaps in employment history - not perhaps as informally as "on the dole" but yes, something like "registered unemployed x date to y date" (think i have done an application where they even wanted to know what dole office you were registered at)

leaving a casual job isn't a big issue, but if you go in to that much detail, it may be.

the longer ago anything was, the less detail most employers want. a "various casual work including these sort of jobs" can cover a bit of a gap.

lack of a recent reference may put some employers off - is it worth thinking about a bit of volunteering?

and / or if there are any local adult education courses left where you are - potentially a positive sign to an employer, and may be able to get a reference from the tutor.

you would need to see what the position would be for your benefits if you did either, though.

don't let the bastards grind you down

 

[One dog]

Thanks Puddy Tat
I would never mention the dole to any employer, because I don't want the dole interfering in my other endeavours. I have had a few issues with the dole (Maladministration, attempts at sanction - overturned by me - far too much to mention in this post).

I have references from a previous job and also a colleague from the last one, so there are names to put on the app' - no issues there.

I have thought about education but in my area of work (I am a therapist) employers are interested in continued professional development and would not be so impressed by adult education, although that is not to say I have not done any as I am quite busy with that side of things and currently involved in home study.

I do voluntary work already - I volunteer in a foodbank and I am involved in a few other ad hoc activities.

The bastards have not ground me down yet, not through lack of trying.

 

[Gromit]

I had a dispute with my former employer, it went to tribunal, I won.

The time this took to resolve has led to a gap in employment.

No I would not like to provide further details as I respect the privacy of my previous employer even if we did disagree on this one matter.

 

[One dog]

broadly speaking, it's much the same as going on a first date and saying what a ratbag your ex is. saying bad things about past employer at an interview is kinda "not the done thing"

Yes, I had actually cottoned on to that. That is why it says in my original post that I would prefer not to mention it in job interviews. Sort of the whole point of this thread actually

 

[One dog]

No I would not like to provide further details as I respect the privacy of my previous employer even if we did disagree on this one matter.

I have not asked you for any details. What is your point please?

 

[Gromit]

I have not asked you for any details. What is your point please?

The whole post is my suggested response at interview.

It's how I once answered about my resignation from a job over 'ethical and legal differences of opinion' with the owner.

I didn't get the job but he did tell me in the email that I interviewed exceptionally well and wanted to keep my name for future roles.

 

[RubyToogood]

I have references from a previous job and also a colleague from the last one, so there are names to put on the app' - no issues there.

Yes, put a senior colleague down as your ref from that job. I had to do this when a company I worked for went bust without paying any of our wages and there were subsequent threats of legal action by the former staff etc etc. I suppose the director might have given me a reference but I didn't want to go to them. I put down instead the woman who had hired me although she was not my manager, but she was senior to me.

 

[Pickman's model]

The whole post is my suggested response at interview.

It's how I once answered about my resignation from a job over 'differences of opinion' with the owner.

and what happened?

 

[One dog]

The whole post is my suggested response at interview.

It's how I once answered about my resignation from a job over 'differences of opinion' with the owner.

I didn't get the job but he did tell me in the email that I interviewed exceptionally well and wanted to keep my name for future roles.

I apologise Gromit
I had not understood that you meant that was your response. I see now.

No offence intended. It is a good response and I may well use it.

 

[One dog]

I didn't get the job but he did tell me in the email that I interviewed exceptionally well and wanted to keep my name for future roles.

But to be fair, they all say that; it is a sort of pleasantry.

 

[Gromit]

But to be fair, they all say that; it is a sort of pleasantry.

No normally they say how very high the standard of all candidates was, difficult decision but better luck next time.

 

[One dog]

No normally they say how very high the standard of all candidates was, difficult decision but better luck next time.

yes, that is another thing they say