I nailed it baby!!!!!!

[Odyssey]

We should never give up.

[Lauriebell82]

EXACTLY, LB. "Hmm, LB got a virus. What has she been looking at? Interesting site, this "Loveshack..." We should monitor where she's been going to make sure it doesn't happen again. (As time passes, they see you posting on LS...) Oh, well now... look at that! She's calling me an a-hole!!!"

 

Don't you see that??

 

That's not true, LB. You posted on LS during work hours all the time. I don't need to do a search to prove it to you, do I?

 

I said I didn't post on my work computer. I posted from my cell phone or my laptop when I was at home. You obviously don't believe me though...

 

Sorry to bump in, but I was curious about this.

 

Is a 40 hour week generally considered terrible in USA? Not being sarcastic, I really am interested in how working life is in various countries.

 

TBH, these sort of hours would be, like, my dream job. Early mornings two days a week only, and also two whole days off!

 

Then again, being an Asian Chinese probably skews my perception some.

 

I don't mind 40 hours a week, I didn't like the actual HOURS. I like working business hours, if I worked 4-midnight I would not see my fiance, as he works business hours. Also the turnover from Friday to Saturday would be rough. I have a medical condition and need a lot of sleep. So those hours just would not have worked for me. But for others I'm sure they would be great!

 

I admit I made some mistakes at my job, but I was a good counselor. And I stand by that. I spoke with fiance and we figured out something good to say to an employer about why I don't have a job. Similar to what Allina said about the computer virus. Hopefully somebody will give me a chance.

[Ms. Red]

I know this may be beating a dead horse but I'm just hoping to shed some light on how IT support works. Not only for LaurieBell but for others that read LS. I read way more than I post and I'm sure there are others like me.

 

Star Gazer is spot on. She has made herself very clear to me but it's obviously not very clear to all.

 

Never consider your work computer "private usage". Companies can and will track all your computer usage. With information storage getting smaller and smaller through the years, this is getting easier and easier for companies to do.

 

LB, they could have been tracking your computer usage (note: I say computer usage, NOT just Internet usage) from day one. Anything you have done on the computer could be pulled up for review. Once they believed you got a virus they could have whipped up all your computer usage and reviewed it.

 

I believe you said there is only one IT guy. Maybe on sight you saw one guy, but they could have outside sources to hire on an "as needed" bases. One has no clue what upper management does to protect the company. Especially when HIPAA is involved.

 

If one logs into a website just one time while at work that gives access to the company about your user name. Once they have that they can search and find everything you have posted. They can also request reports about your computer usage with a keyword.

 

One may think that they don't care or have enough time to think about "little 'ol me" but I can tell you that IT guys aren't always busy 100% of the time and they have time to search for things. They also have quick ways to access what they want to find.

 

"He didn't care"

If the IT guy is at your computer and accessing information and your history pops up and he doesn't say anything. It isn't because "he didn't care". It is NOT his job to advise you on what is right or wrong about your browsing history. His job is to report to his management and inform them of his findings they asked for or that he feels is a security threat to the company.

 

Personally, I have Internet access at work and I have time on my hands to browse when my duties are finished and I'm just waiting for walk-in patients. I visit LS to read only and have never once logged in while on the work computers. So, when my company pulls up my history they can see the pages I read on LS, but have no clue to what my user name is to bring up my posting history.

 

I hope that helps in a tiny way for those of us who have big brother watching our every page view while on our work computers.

 

LB, I have also been affected with my job situation. I've been with my company for 19 years and was close to being let go due to my health issues. They had every right to let me go based on my attendance. Instead they sent me to the companies recruiting office that is usually only for ppl that have a worker's comp. case. I lucked out and they were using it for ppl like me for a trial period. The job postings for our region had been slashed by about 1/3 due to the economy. I was fortunate enough to bid and win a position that is only guaranteed 12 hours a week. 12 hours a week!! But, I am thankful that I am keeping my 19 years of seniority with them.

 

It's a tough time in the job market. It is not a time to pick and choose what is desired. We must take whatever we can for the moment. I hope you interview well and get an offer soon. I wish you the best LaurieBell =^-^=

[SadandConfusedWA]

Having worked in IT, yes MissRed and SG are technically correct.

 

HOWEVER, I still think it is very unlikely that they have "spied" on LB usage and posting and read her posts where she calls her boss an a-hole. Let alone kept at it for months and fired her over it if she was otherwise and excellent employee.

 

We only know LB's side of the story. Maybe a patient of hers complained to her boss about her. Maybe her boss felt that she wasn't performing as well as other employees. Maybe, just maybe boss didn't like her and didn't get along with her and felt he/she would rather not work with her (it happens).

 

Saying that it was "for sure" her LS posts is kind of ridiculous.

[Ms. Red]

Having worked in IT, yes MissRed and SG are technically correct.

 

Saying that it was "for sure" her LS posts is kind of ridiculous.

 

Thanks for your support in my knowledge of IT support.

 

However, I never did say that the Internet usage was "for sure" her reason for being fired. I don't know where you got that idea from.

[SadandConfusedWA]

Thanks for your support in my knowledge of IT support.

 

However, I never did say that the Internet usage was "for sure" her reason for being fired. I don't know where you got that idea from.

 

I didn't mean you, I think StarGazer did.

 

BTW LB, if I were you I would call the former boss and try to get an explanation.

[Ms. Red]

Thanks for clarifying that about my post.

 

I agree that LB should call her former employer and ask for an explanation of her termination. What does she have to lose? Nothing! They are history. At least she will have a clue to why she was let go. (I say clue because they may BS the answer.)

[Lauriebell82]

Thanks for clarifying that about my post.

 

I agree that LB should call her former employer and ask for an explanation of her termination. What does she have to lose? Nothing! They are history. At least she will have a clue to why she was let go. (I say clue because they may BS the answer.)

 

Yeah, see that's exactly what I'm afraid of. They may give me some BS answer and it won't have made a difference.

 

My fiance is actually pushing me to do the same thing but honestly I just don't want to talk to him. And if he says something bad or something that pisses me off I will have just upset myself even more than I already am. What if the call goes bad? Then I may really be in trouble when future employers call for references!

 

I get what you guys are saying though.

[Star Gazer]

I didn't mean you, I think StarGazer did.

 

I said no such thing. I hate when people put words in my mouth.

 

I said that I'd bet good money that it had something to do with it, and most who posted afterward agreed with me. I didn't say it was THE reason.

[Star Gazer]

We only know LB's side of the story. Maybe a patient of hers complained to her boss about her. Maybe her boss felt that she wasn't performing as well as other employees. Maybe, just maybe boss didn't like her and didn't get along with her and felt he/she would rather not work with her (it happens).

 

Exactly. There are plenty of potential reasons, none of which make her bosses unethical or unprofessional.

[SadandConfusedWA]

Yeah, see that's exactly what I'm afraid of. They may give me some BS answer and it won't have made a difference.

 

My fiance is actually pushing me to do the same thing but honestly I just don't want to talk to him. And if he says something bad or something that pisses me off I will have just upset myself even more than I already am. What if the call goes bad? Then I may really be in trouble when future employers call for references!

 

I get what you guys are saying though.

 

LB so what if he tells you some BS reason? Yes, there is a chance of that but you will KNOW if his answer is plausible. I can understand that it must be hard for you emotionally to talk to him, but if you remain level headed and ask him the question rationally, I see no way how he can hold it against you. If you feel yourself getting pissed off, just end the call. I really think calling him would help you in the long run.

[Pink Cupcakes]

I really think you just need to leave the job off your resume and make it like you are just applying. Say you either 1. traveled to europe for a year and a half after your masters or 2. your sister was dying of cancer and you cared for her during her last 2 years of life, before you went on your job search.

I mean it's just omitting it, erasing it, like it never happened, and you just are looking after getting your masters.

[norajane]

But maybe I will start saying something about the internet virus for the reason that I left instead of just letting them think I quit.

LB, this could actually be your problem. If you are letting your prospective employers think you quit, when they check with your former employer, they will find out you did not. Then they know you lied to them. The lying is more of a problem than what you may have been let go for.

 

When they check with HR, they ask if you are "eligible for rehire". If an employee is merely laid off, HR will say yes, they are eligible for rehire. If your company says no or they won't disclose, then your prospective employer knows you were let go.

 

And if you aren't telling them you were let go as the reason you left your last job, they will know you are lying. And employers do not want to hire liars.

[sb129]

Please don't lie or omit things LB- in a field as narrow as yours it will definitely catch up with you.

[curiousnycgirl]

LB, this could actually be your problem. If you are letting your prospective employers think you quit, when they check with your former employer, they will find out you did not. Then they know you lied to them. The lying is more of a problem than what you may have been let go for.

 

When they check with HR, they ask if you are "eligible for rehire". If an employee is merely laid off, HR will say yes, they are eligible for rehire. If your company says no or they won't disclose, then your prospective employer knows you were let go.

 

And if you aren't telling them you were let go as the reason you left your last job, they will know you are lying. And employers do not want to hire liars.

 

WORD!

 

My company asks for all kinds of financial information, as well as professional, criminal record, etc and of course permission to do a background check. If you have had a bankruptcy, or defaulted on your credit cards, they don't care. But if you ommitted that from your application - you are not eligible to be hired. Even if you are the very best candidate for the job.

 

And btw I work at a very large organization (over 200K employees) - so it's not like we are worried about liars or personalities or whatever not getting along, it's a basic integrity thing.

 

 

 

The reality is that at the moment there certainly are vacant positions out there - however they are exponentially outnumbered by qualified applicants. You have to walk the straight and narrow - you have to meet the criteria and not come across as negative (or having a chip on your shoulder) and NOT LIE.

 

So LB you said you were handed a letter - may I ask what it said? At one point I thought you wrote that you had been laid off - if so, did you receive severance? If yes, then heck there is no shame in that. In this economy for

G-d's sake everyone has been touched by lay offs.

 

You feel some of us don't believe you well it's because sometimes what you write doesn't make sense. We have a wealth of experience in the workforce and know how these things work.

 

We understand you need a job (heck we all do), and we want to help - but we really cannot give helpful advice unless you are up front and honest and willing to take responsiblity. I am not saying you need to share your deepest darkest secrets - but clearly you are struggling with this question on every single interview, as you have seen here there are many ways you can respond to it - but as NoraJane pointed out - you must be honest in your response, and that is where we cannot help you - because we don't know the truth.

[Trialbyfire]

In Canada, we have a termination form that describes not only the length of employment but also, in a coded fashion, the reason for the cessation of employment.

 

If it's the same in the U.S., this should give you an idea of what kind of reference your previous employer is providing for you. If they don't stick to what they've filed with the government and their reference is negative, where the reason was lay off, then you might have legal grounds to go after their arse!

 

Feel free to share whatever you're willing to share. While I agree that it helps members to give better advice, sometimes LS member's advice is more detrimental than helpful, since personal negative feelings towards the confessing member, come into play.

 

You also have to be careful with what you reveal on LS, since your former employer is aware of your postings on LS. If you signed any hush documents, be very, very careful what you post on LS.

[Lauriebell82]

In Canada, we have a termination form that describes not only the length of employment but also, in a coded fashion, the reason for the cessation of employment.

 

If it's the same in the U.S., this should give you an idea of what kind of reference your previous employer is providing for you. If they don't stick to what they've filed with the government and their reference is negative, where the reason was lay off, then you might have legal grounds to go after their arse!

 

Feel free to share whatever you're willing to share. While I agree that it helps members to give better advice, sometimes LS member's advice is more detrimental than helpful, since personal negative feelings towards the confessing member, come into play.

 

You also have to be careful with what you reveal on LS, since your former employer is aware of your postings on LS. If you signed any hush documents, be very, very careful what you post on LS.

 

What's a hush document?

[MindoverMatter]

An agreement to not spread any information about the company, neither while being employed by them nor after.

[Lauriebell82]

An agreement to not spread any information about the company, neither while being employed by them nor after.

 

Oh okay, no I didn't sign anything like that.

 

Nobody will hire me if they know I've been fired..

[Lauriebell82]

I really think you just need to leave the job off your resume and make it like you are just applying. Say you either 1. traveled to europe for a year and a half after your masters or 2. your sister was dying of cancer and you cared for her during her last 2 years of life, before you went on your job search.

I mean it's just omitting it, erasing it, like it never happened, and you just are looking after getting your masters.

 

They do background checks though, I think they can find out my employment history through that. Then they will know that I worked there and see it as a red flag that I left it off my resume.

[anne1707]

LB

 

Leaving your job off your resume is absolutely the worst thing you can do. Apart from that, what kind of person would lie and say their sister had cancer . You're better than that.

[sb129]

Agreed with Anne, please don't do that LB. Lying will make things 100X worse, and may permanently close doors for you.

 

You WILL get another job.

You have experienced a setback which unfortunately happens to coincide with a time where the job market is also very very competitive.

 

Do you have any mentors from your grad programme/ university? What about the people you have as your referees on your resume- is there anyone there who you can tell the entire story in confidence and ask them to help you out with some advice on how to proceed from here?

 

I am still in contact with a few of my tutors from dental school, and I have drawn on their knowledge and experience repeatedly over my career.

 

I also pay a fair amount in insurance and have to belong to a professional body, and they both have a fantastic team of advisors who have given me some excellent professional advice on a few aspects of my career over the years too.

 

There must be someone you can turn to for some confidential, unbiased advice- do you have to be registered?

[Trialbyfire]

Did you sign anything, on your exit interview? This includes any document, like signing for your final cheque, etc.

 

Also, the employment agreement or contract you originally signed, will have terms and conditions that might or might not impact on this.

 

Just be careful what you post on the Internet, with reference to employers, since it can be viewed by everyone and anyone. If you notice, the Business forum is open for viewing to members and non-members.

[Lauriebell82]

Did you sign anything, on your exit interview? This includes any document, like signing for your final cheque, etc.

 

Also, the employment agreement or contract you originally signed, will have terms and conditions that might or might not impact on this.

 

Just be careful what you post on the Internet, with reference to employers, since it can be viewed by everyone and anyone. If you notice, the Business forum is open for viewing to members and non-members.

 

I didn't sign anything or have an exit interview. He handed me the letter and told me I had to leave...

[anne1707]

What about your contract when you started?