Navigating Job Interviews After Termination: Should I Share My Past Experience?

Hi, this is Navi.

I was previously working with one of the top banks in our country in a managerial role. I was recruited on-campus and worked with that organization for about 8 months. I was misled by some members into committing forgery, so I submitted a false transport claim. I was caught, and as a result, they terminated my employment. I never imagined that I would lose such a good job profile due to a mistake I made unintentionally.

Now, I am applying for a new job. I would like your advice on whether I should mention my previous work experience in interviews. I do not have a relieving letter due to being terminated. If I include my work experience, interviewers may question why I was terminated or why I left the job. Should I share the real story with the interviewer or avoid mentioning any past work experience? Additionally, since I do not have a work experience certificate, can I request a work certificate from my former bank?

Please provide me with some suggestions as soon as possible at my email address provided below.

With Regards,
Navi (name undisclosed)

Dear Navi,

I'm sorry to hear that. It's better if you don't showcase your previous experience. They may or may not believe what you say. Good luck.

I would suggest going to court. Is your misconduct so serious that you require to be terminated? Maybe imposition of a fine would take care of the matter. Bargain a bit; if they give you your experience certificate, well and good. Otherwise, threaten them with a legal notice. A lot will depend on the nature of your job. Consult a lawyer. All the best - take them on; organizations have become ruthless.

Pooja

Hi Navi,

Even though you were terminated due to your immature actions, what they did is right. This could happen in any MNC company or bank because one of my colleagues when I was in Dubai had the same experience. You can ask the previous company's HR department to give you an experience certificate that shows from and until when you were working there. However, there are still chances that the company may contact your previous company to confirm that you have been working there. So, think about the consequences, and then if you still want to mention the experience, you can include it in your CV. Good luck in your job hunt.

Regards,
Liz

Hi,

No organization would tolerate integrity issues. Even then, be honest in the interviews, and there could be someone to give you a second chance to correct your mistakes. It may take time to equip yourself.

All the best.

Dear navi7865,

Of course, you don't have to say anything about what happened. You just need to give them an explanation letter, and that's it. If anyone asks you why you changed your last job, simply say you were looking for a better offer.

GOOD LUCK

Hi Pooja,

I do not know your background or the organization you work for, but for many organizations, cheating, fraud, or misappropriation are misconducts that merit immediate termination. I sincerely believe no useful purpose would be served by taking on the company or "going to court." If I were in that organization, I would ensure that any such attempt would backfire on him more than the original fault! Instead of learning from his mistake and trying to move on, he would be trying to put the blame for his error on the organization. What a pity!!

Gerry

Dear Navi,

You have reached a situation which reminds me of the adage "Caught between the Devil and the Deep sea". What you did is a crime for which even people with 30 years of service have been dismissed or forced to resign. Hence, there is no point in taking on the company and then facing more hardship.

The next question is, do you hide the fact or publicize it? Even hiding the fact can be considered as misleading the firm and subject to severe action, including termination of employment (HR experts, please correct me if I am wrong). However, reflecting on the episode, showing remorse, and explaining what happened and what lesson you have learned, etc., may turn in your favor depending upon the propensity of the interviewer.

Thus, it is difficult to advise you. You have to see how it goes depending upon the situation. Sorry if I have not been of much use.

Best wishes,
Simhan
A retired academic in the UK

Sad to hear about it, but things don't happen in the same way (as mentioned here, asking you to go to court).

I have personally asked folks to leave due to integrity. However, considering your short tenure of just 8 months in the company, I would suggest avoiding highlighting any experiences during this period. Otherwise, the stigma may linger with you for an extended period.

Hello Navi!

My suggestion would be not to disclose your work experience. In case you tell them that you were with a certain bank and provide a reason for leaving the company, there are many possibilities for you to get caught during the background check. Nowadays, most companies conduct background checks on their employees before recruiting them. Therefore, my suggestion would be not to show your experience. Try to search for a new job as a fresher, with a fresh mindset.

It's just a minor setback. Since you were with a top-notch bank, you must have good potential in you. All the best.

Regards,
Lux

Hi Navi,

No organization is going to tolerate any kind of misconduct from the employees' end, especially when it comes to the integrity part. And don't even think of dragging the company to court. You might end up getting into messier situations. If your organization has provided you with any experience letter, then that's it; make the best use of it. Now you need to handle this situation with due diligence. And don't even try to repeat these actions again in your life. All the best.

Hi,

What has happened has happened, and there is no use in worrying about the same. You are not the first one to face this type of situation in the corporate world. You must move on.

If you want to be honest and show your previous experience in your resume and tell the truth to the interviewer, there are very few chances of getting a job because it's very rare that people understand, analyze, and give you another opportunity. My suggestion is not to show these 8 months of experience. Instead, give a reason for the break, such as enhancing your knowledge, helping a relative in a business, taking a break due to some commitments, or something else.

However, it's you who needs to face the truth, and it's you who needs to decide. Do not think negatively; feed your subconscious mind that you will get into a good company.

Good luck,

I believe you should tell the truth along with your realization. The lesson you learned. It's not very serious in a government context, but multinational corporations do consider it seriously. Hiding will invite more problems. You can't afford to hide your experience; just say you worked there and have no experience letter as it was terminated. Regret the incident in the interview. The credential inquiry will be there, so you should tell the truth. If the company considers your experience, they may give you a chance. But be sure, if they give you a chance, you are under scrutiny for some time for your earlier deeds.

Dear Navi,

You can ask for the work experience certificate from the bank. Let us hope that they do not write negatively about you for all the good work you had done there before. Depending on the contents of the letter, you may consider removing the experience from your CV.

Sincerely,
Prithvi Pal

Hey Navi,

Be honest as it deals with integrity issues. Let bygones be bygones, get a hold on your future, and move on. The interviewer might really offer you a chance if you are honest, as he/she might feel that if you weren't filled with remorse, you wouldn't have mentioned it. Go ahead with mentioning the experience and actually give away details as having been immature. Accept and repent; it's mature and beneficial for the company you wish or hope to be working with.

Regards,
Lesline Pinto

If you are applying in the same industry, you should show your experience. As on the field, someday someone will meet you with raised eyebrows.

Hi Navi,

I don't think that disclosing the reason for termination would help. Neither providing details of the previous company will help - because reference checks will lead to a bad experience. So, please do not mention the previous employer (this is also dangerous - because in case someone gets to know about this later - you will be in the bad books once again).

So, by completely depending on luck at this point, let's not disclose anything about your previous employer. If possible, try working out of a different location. Keep all the basics in your mind (not basics of what you have learned but what you have experienced). Never give in to any such temptations in the future. It's a common mistake for a common man... try coming out of such tendencies in the future.

I am sure you would never resort to such acts in the future.

And as I mentioned earlier, try moving out of your current city. Keep the reason for being jobless as - not having an opportunity relevant to your education, and the recession taking a cut on recruitments, you did not want to force yourself to push into "any job". Also, let the prospective employer know that you are pursuing extra crash courses side by side (please apply for one! - can be anything related to your education - be it even a web designing course that can enhance your presentation skills).

Give references from your college professors or people you know in your professional circle, who can give a good reference for you - make sure they are high-profile people.

Hey - great you admitted that you went wrong somewhere. Had I been in your place - I would have not had the guts to accept my mistake and seek help to come out of this.

The fear and guilt would have killed me.

Good luck!