I was fired 2 months in the firm. Can I say I left because I don't like the firm?

Hi there,

The background check is usually checking back with your prior employers that you actually did worked there. From my experience, usually the background check happens after you accept the offer. But there typically would be a clause in the contract saying that if you don't pass the background check then the contract would no longer be valid (or similar terms).

If asked, you can say you don't like the firm, but you also need to have a very solid reason of what is the specific thing that you don't like and why. Make sure that the reason you give doesn't backfire as you apply to the new firms (e.g. cannot be you don't like the long hours obviously).

Application aside, I think it would be helpful to do some reflection on your 2 months experience - why you got fired, is there anything you learn from the 2 months, and how can you apply the learning to the next job.

Best,

Emily

Hi,

Everything happens for a reason. The question is if you are willing to observe what happened to you with neutraility and see the big picture. If you do so, you will learn something very valuable about yourself. Face your fears and improve that element of yourself that needs polishing. Then, explain very clearly to your prospective employee that you identified an important weakness in yourself that sadly was outside of that company´s employee developments plans. Explain very clearly what steps you have taken to work on your weakness.

Do not ever be fearful or fear will follow you.

Best,

Ruben

Hi A,

Fisrt, I would propose you to reflect on what went wrong in order to turn this situation into your experience.

Next what you could do is:

- Apply to another firm without mentioning this experience

or

- Apply for a new job from the position that you're still woking at your previous firm with argumentation why you waht to change it

Best,

André

Hello,

How long ago did this happen?
It's not really common to do background check, especially for junior position, but it could sound weird that you went away without having a plan B. If it wasn't too much time ago, I would try to say that there you didn't fit with the previous company and that you decided to exit in order to have time to prepare your interviews.

Best,
Luca

Hi there,

I would avoid to do so. If people see a 2-month experience and hear that you left without a backup option because you didn’t like the company, they will probably think you were fired and don’t want to say why.

I believe the best options are:

• Apply without having the experience in your CV
• If you already applied and they ask: say the truth, recognize the improvement you had to make and say how you are working on that

Best,

Francesco

I would remove it from your CV. Two months will not make a big difference anyway. Regarding the background check, I believe firms only share that you worked there and not how or why you left.

Hello

Sorry to hear that.

Could you be more specific regarding the type of firm you were working for and the ones you now want to integrate ?

Best

David

Hello!

There are two different things here:

• If you get asked in an interview: my advise is to be honest, since as an experienced interviewer it´s very easy to see when someone is lying to you. Prepare well this answer, since 2 months is very little time, so you need a good reason of why you did not match.
• The background check is aimed at verifying you have not lied in your CV regarding the places where you have worked in the past. Hence, you can:
  • Not put this job at all in your CV, if you think it´s not relevant and it´s only going to lead you to uncomfortable questions
  • Put it in your CV with the right dates. In this case, they won´t ask the employer their version of the story, they will only verify the dates.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Hi, they usually do the background check after you got the offer. However, they can only ask if you worked there or not, for privacy policy - theoretically - they are not allowed to ask for your performance.

Best

Antonello