Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do. Forum
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Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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
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
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.
The one thing that jumps out is why the midsize firm pulled the offer. Seems odd.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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...
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...
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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
anyway good luck
- Ohiobumpkin
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
Sue former employer for interference of contract.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
As hand has stated... that is a great concern. it is the only legal position i've held since law school.
- kellyfrost
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
+1.Ohiobumpkin wrote:Sue former employer for interference of contract.
Last edited by kellyfrost on Sat Jan 27, 2018 12:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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..
Im more concerned about just getting a job really..
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
Boss said he felt I couldnt be trusted for this act.tyroneslothrop1 wrote: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.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.Hand wrote: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
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.lolwat wrote: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.Hand wrote: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
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
Man, the idea of suing actually sounds reasonable
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
To note, I live in an at will employment state.Damage Over Time wrote:Man, the idea of suing actually sounds reasonable
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.tyroneslothrop1 wrote: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.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
Maybe it is viable that I sue... would it be a bad look to future employers? I will look into LE attorneysAnonymous User wrote: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.
- rpupkin
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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).Anonymous User wrote:To note, I live in an at will employment state.Damage Over Time wrote:Man, the idea of suing actually sounds reasonable
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.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
Makes sense. I will make some calls tomorrow to get a consult. Thanks for your input.rpupkin wrote: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).Anonymous User wrote:To note, I live in an at will employment state.Damage Over Time wrote:Man, the idea of suing actually sounds reasonable
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.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.tyroneslothrop1 wrote: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.
Any other input on how I might go about this given the circumstances?
Thanks everyone.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.
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.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.lolwat wrote: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.
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
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.
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.
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Re: Fired bc employer found out I was applying elsewhere. What to do.
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.
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