So...I've been fired. What do I do now? Completely lost.

[blas]

Don't hit me, but manufacturing is always an option if you want to avoid customers face to face.

[gunsage]

You still need to be obvious, obviously. Here's how I handled it. I would write down terminated, have an outstanding cover letter, follow up with a phone call, etc. When they'd ask why I was fired, the situation would always revolve like this...

Me: "Well, as you know, I was working the highest level of technical support for the corporation that residential customers come into contact with."
Interviewer: "Yes."
Me: "I was fired for transferring billing calls to the billing department."
Interviewer: "...Um, what?"
Me: "Exactly."

At this point, very professionally I would explain the details without sounding accusing. I still haven't gotten a job yet either, but it kept the conversation moving forward without feeling awkward and without me feeling trapped under the whole terminated thing.

[XCashier]

May I recommend a libel suit against "Andrea"???

I can sympathise with this idea. It really sucks that a good, hardworking employee got thrown under the bus on the word of one self-centered, entitlement-minded bitch and an incompetent manager. I suspect that too much time may have passed (is there a statute of limitations?); besides, it'd be difficult to prove.

Imprl59 had some very good ideas, as did teh_blumchenkinder and Seshat. I wish you the best of luck!

[Talon]

I second what Imprl59 said, no one needs to know you were fired.
I was also fired from my last job, though I'm not bitter about it. They wanted sales, I couldn't hack it. They gave me time to improve, I couldn't, they let me go. No hard feelings.
As far as interviewers are concerned, I wasn't fired, I wanted to return to school. And since I did go back to school 3 months after being not-fired, perfect cover.
As far as I can tell, these interviewers are just begging to be lied to. So why not oblige them?

[Whiskey]

As far as interviewers are concerned, I wasn't fired, I wanted to return to school. And since I did go back to school 3 months after being not-fired, perfect cover.
As far as I can tell, these interviewers are just begging to be lied to. So why not oblige them?

I phrase it a bit differently. I tell them I am a college student and I try to be accommodating as possible with my school schedule, however my place of employment wanted me to work during times I would be in class and I couldn't do that. I told them I would work any time that I wasn't in class, however they insisted on scheduling me during class.

It should match up with your availability (i cant work before 11:30AM M-Th because I'm in class). The job I just got said they completely understood and were more than willing to accommodate my schedule.

[MercenaryMuffin]

What about saying I was fired due to a scheduling conflict, or something similar? It's still the truth.

[tropicsgoddess]

Though it sucks to get fired, I'm glad unemployment went to your favor. Times like that you can use to your advantage to learn new skills by going back to school or working in a different field. Temp agencies are good get your feet wet in a new field or to get a stepping stone type of job. Some agencies are permanent as opposed to outright temporary or temp-perm. My first job was through a temp agency when I was 19 (this was in the early 2000's). Though I didn't make the temp-perm cut, the experience has helped me out since I did leave on good terms.

[trailerparkmedic]

This isn't for everyone, but I've never seen a town that didn't have openings for CNAs (nurse's aides) at nursing homes. If you're willing to work with old people, don't mind physical labor and can handle body fluids, a CNA course can be done in as little as 3 weeks (if you go all day) and it pays above minimum wage. You might also be able to find a job with a home health care agency, where you would go to people's houses and help them with things like bathing.

I agree with the people who have said that you shouldn't say you were fired but that new management kicked everyone out. It's the truth and doesn't reflect poorly on you.

[Der Cute]

Call the "new management kicked everyone out" a reorganization.

That's it. When the field of "why did you leave" put that in there. It's neutral, won't be a negative impact, and it gets the point across. But when the people ask you, "what kind of a reorg?" you have to be neutral here too. "A new boss was appointed to our store. Most of the original crew left/transferred to other stores." That's a quick enough answer to where you're not saying "I got canned" or "The manager hated my guts and I like ya know hate him and like totally he's a dickwad" you answered it, short, sweet and turned the question around a bit.

So, keep your head up, and look @ craigslist. That's where I go after job loss.

[XCashier]

So, keep your head up, and look @ craigslist. That's where I go after job loss.

Be very wary of Craigslist! Unless they've changed their policies lately, a lot of those job offers are scams to get you onto spam mailing lists, or worse.

[Der Cute]

Be very wary of Craigslist! Unless they've changed their policies lately, a lot of those job offers are scams to get you onto spam mailing lists, or worse.

Hm. Well, maybe the stuff I'm looking at is different, because the tech section usually has real jobs I can find in other search engines. Yes, be careful, but not super paranoid. I'm usually able to figure out who's scamming and who's legit.

[morgana]

Never, never, never, never, ever say you were fired.

Use the reorganization story; after all, it's closer to the truth than that BS your manager was spouting.

[RavenStarr]

First of all *Hugs*. Being thrown under the bus and getting fired is a horrific thing.

Secondly, you know that you don't have to put down every single place you were ever employed. You could just leave that place out.

Also correct me if I'm wrong. But isn't it illegal for former employers to speak of thier former employers in a bad way?

[Rapscallion]

Also correct me if I'm wrong. But isn't it illegal for former employers to speak of thier former employers in a bad way?

My understanding is that it's not illegal if it can be proven, and if it can't then it's a civil case. Your mileage may vary based on me being wrong or jurisdiction.

Fear of being sued for mega-wonga is what keeps many HR departments very cautious in what they say.

Rapscallion

[MercenaryMuffin]

Well considering that leaving out my previous job would mean a three year employment gap....yeah, that's not a good idea