Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do. Forum

[cslee5090]

Im a 2016 grad who worked a small firm in a major market since my 2L year (almost 3 years with this firm). I managed to score an offer with a midsize firm. I signed the offersheet, but as a reference check the new firm called my employer (despite me indicating not to do so). Needless to say, the offer was pulled and I was let go for searching for employment without telling my employer.

As of tomorrow I will be unemployed. I feel like im pretty screwed given that no one will want to hire someone who has been let go for whatever reason. So much for severance time. How can I bounce back from this? I graduated from a T14 school around median.

The help is really appreciated. Its a pretty bleak time for me at the moment.

C

[lolwat]

I'm not entirely sure what to say other than you need to really hustle... and start yesterday. You scored an offer twice already (once at the small firm, once at the midsized firm) -- you have the ability to do it again.

The one thing that jumps out is why the midsize firm pulled the offer. Seems odd.

[cslee5090]

OP here. They wouldnt exactly disclose why. But given the timeline of events, i'm almost positive it is because they spoke with my current employment at the time.

Thanks for your input, I genuinely appreciate your time in reading my post. I think the only difference between those offers and now is that I will have the disadvantage of being unemployed while searching for a job...

[Hand]

well besides having to find a job while being unemployed, I'd also be concerned about what your old employer will tell to future possible employers, given that whatever they said apparently was sufficient to get your offer rescinded

anyway good luck

[Ohiobumpkin]

Sue former employer for interference of contract.

[cslee5090]

As hand has stated... that is a great concern. it is the only legal position i've held since law school.

[kellyfrost]

Sue former employer for interference of contract.

+1.

[tyroneslothrop1]

Amazing that your former employer gave you a shit reference and fired you. Vindictive stuff. In what universe is looking for a job without telling your current employer frowned upon, let alone a fireable offense.

[cslee5090]

I would have to prove that they did in fact speak with the HR of the new firm. Its just speculation given the timeline of it all.

Im more concerned about just getting a job really..

[Anonymous User]

Amazing that your former employer gave you a shit reference and fired you. Vindictive stuff. In what universe is looking for a job without telling your current employer frowned upon, let alone a fireable offense.

Boss said he felt I couldnt be trusted for this act.

[lolwat]

well besides having to find a job while being unemployed, I'd also be concerned about what your old employer will tell to future possible employers, given that whatever they said apparently was sufficient to get your offer rescinded

anyway good luck

Yeah -- this strikes as very odd and concerning. Your small firm employer was happy to keep employing you for 3 years and suddenly apparently tanks your career (not only fires you but causes your offer to be rescinded) because you were about to go to another firm? I wouldn't even know how to start dealing with that part. It's not that they fired you (no reason to keep an employee who clearly wants out), it's that they fucked your offer at the new firm that is the problem.

[Anonymous User]

well besides having to find a job while being unemployed, I'd also be concerned about what your old employer will tell to future possible employers, given that whatever they said apparently was sufficient to get your offer rescinded

anyway good luck

Yeah -- this strikes as very odd and concerning. Your small firm employer was happy to keep employing you for 3 years and suddenly apparently tanks your career (not only fires you but causes your offer to be rescinded) because you were about to go to another firm? I wouldn't even know how to start dealing with that part. It's not that they fired you (no reason to keep an employee who clearly wants out), it's that they fucked your offer at the new firm that is the problem.

Yeah.. thanks for feeling my frustration. It was a really crappy weekend to say the least. The swing of events is pretty nuts.. Trying to bounce back from this and not let it get to me too much. The support here is really great.

[Damage Over Time]

Man, the idea of suing actually sounds reasonable

[Anonymous User]

Man, the idea of suing actually sounds reasonable

To note, I live in an at will employment state.

[tyroneslothrop1]

Very unfortunate that the prospective firm could not be persuaded to disregard the bad recommendation. As noted above, you were at the former firm for three years. Obviously, your boss didn't think you were THAT bad of an employee. What a fucking dick. I would have gone off on that guy. I might sue him.

[Anonymous User]

When I was a L&E attorney in private practice, we defednded (and settled) a number of tortious interference cases where a client of ours had given a bad reference and caused a former employmee their job because of the bad reference. Because of that, it was our practice to tell clients to only verify dates of employment and position held.

[Anonymous User]

Very unfortunate that the prospective firm could not be persuaded to disregard the bad recommendation. As noted above, you were at the former firm for three years. Obviously, your boss didn't think you were THAT bad of an employee. What a fucking dick. I would have gone off on that guy. I might sue him.

I wish I could have. But the HR person who delivered the news stated they would not disclose the reason behind the revocation. I was really looking forward to that job too, the individuals, practice area, location, pay.

[Anonymous User]

When I was a L&E attorney in private practice, we defednded (and settled) a number of tortious interference cases where a client of ours had given a bad reference and caused a former employmee their job because of the bad reference. Because of that, it was our practice to tell clients to only verify dates of employment and position held.

Maybe it is viable that I sue... would it be a bad look to future employers? I will look into LE attorneys

[rpupkin]

Man, the idea of suing actually sounds reasonable

To note, I live in an at will employment state.

Folks aren't suggesting that you sue because you were terminated; they're suggesting you sue because your employer was shit-talking you on reference calls, which may or may not be legal depending on the laws in your state (and, of course, depending on the actual facts here).

I strongly suggest talking to an attorney with knowledge of employment law. At an absolute minimum, you could send a threatening letter to your (now former) boss telling him to stop with the bad references.

[Anonymous User]

Man, the idea of suing actually sounds reasonable

To note, I live in an at will employment state.

Folks aren't suggesting that you sue because you were terminated; they're suggesting you sue because your employer was shit-talking you on reference calls, which may or may not be legal depending on the laws in your state (and, of course, depending on the actual facts here).

I strongly suggest talking to an attorney with knowledge of employment law. At an absolute minimum, you could send a threatening letter to your (now former) boss telling him to stop with the bad references.

Makes sense. I will make some calls tomorrow to get a consult. Thanks for your input.

[Anonymous User]

Very unfortunate that the prospective firm could not be persuaded to disregard the bad recommendation. As noted above, you were at the former firm for three years. Obviously, your boss didn't think you were THAT bad of an employee. What a fucking dick. I would have gone off on that guy. I might sue him.

i really wanted to. but im thinking about how not to hurt my future career prospects and how to maximize my chance of being gainfully employed soon.

Any other input on how I might go about this given the circumstances?

Thanks everyone.

[lolwat]

I think your path forward is two things:

1. Start applying & networking and
2. Do what rpupkin suggested

You pretty much need to land a job, any (legal) job, before you have too much of a gap on your resume. So start mass mailing & applying to firms, start setting up networking coffee/lunches, start going around to local bar events and introducing yourself to people and talking to them, etc.

[Anonymous User]

I think your path forward is two things:

1. Start applying & networking and
2. Do what rpupkin suggested

You pretty much need to land a job, any (legal) job, before you have too much of a gap on your resume. So start mass mailing & applying to firms, start setting up networking coffee/lunches, start going around to local bar events and introducing yourself to people and talking to them, etc.

I have a family friend who owns a small firm I was thinking of just volunteering at to make sure I have no gap. it works out for him since its a free attorney and helps me because I can say I have been working.

Is this a bad idea?

Also, has anyone not mentioned they have not been fired? for instance, if i get an interview for next week to just omit from saying that. (i imagine this is a touchy/ethical situation I should err on the side of disclosure)

[BaiAilian2013]

Does the mid-sized firm know you got fired? It might be worth a calm call to them to say hey, I know you can't tell me why you revoked the offer, but contemporaneously with talking to you, my existing employer actually fired me saying that he could no longer trust me because I had looked for a new job, so obviously that's a little crazypants and not standard HR practice, and it made me wonder if he might also have lied when he spoke to you guys, since evidently he's both angry and vindictive. So in case it's something he said that triggered the revocation, I just wanted to give you that context and let you know there's a high chance he painted a false picture in order to torpedo the offer - he had been perfectly happy with me previously as evidenced by me working there 3 years, so there's really nothing true he could have said that would have been so negative.

I don't know employment law at all and this is not a law-based strategy, but people in recruiting departments are human and you might get lucky and have them reconsider. Maybe one of them has been lied about by a boss before - it happens.

[Thesaurus]

Well you were terminated, but depending on how the question is worded, I don't think you were fired for cause (though I'm interested in hearing if others disagree). I just don't think there's anything wrong in most cases with looking for a new job without telling your current boss.