what next after job termination

[zynnnie]

I lost my job today because i slept during night shift. I have an interview next week with a hospital and i know they will ask about my previous job. what should i say? should i use my previous job as reference? I am applying for a day shift now.

[NurseCard, ADN]

You will have to list this job on the application, and under "reason for leaving", you will have to be honest and say that.. well, you can say "discharged" or "position terminated"... Sounds better than "I was fired"... Though it's all the same....

Anyway, if you worked at the position for a while, several months or years, than it is valuable experience and I would list it on your resume.

I just would not, say, use your former boss as a reference. A new job will contact any former job that you list, unless you specifically ask them not to. HR at your former job are, by law, not allowed to disclose anything other than the fact that you did work there, and whether or not you are elligible for rehire.

Under "references", that's where you list former supervisors, co-workers, etc, that you know will have great things to say about you. Always let them know that you are using them as reference.

Good luck. You'll find another job... though you might have to work somewhere other than a hospital, to get some good experience and earn your good name back. Most nursing homes are always in pretty desperate need of good techs.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

HR at your former job are, by law, not allowed to disclose anything other than the fact that you did work there, and whether or not you are elligible for rehire.

That is NOT TRUE.

[cyc0sys]

That's a tough one. Sorry to hear that. I was fired from a job due to a personality conflict with my boss so I know what you're going through. There are several things to consider when approaching this.

You could omit the job from your resume and applications if it's less than a year. Otherwise you'll have a gap in employment which will look suspect. Many applications will ask if you've ever been discharged from a job so that's no always an option.

You could disclose the information and list the things you've done to remedy the situation. Be prepared to back it up with some good professional references. May be a coworker at the former facility could write you a recommendation.

Lastly, I'd have a friend call the facility you where terminated from posing as a perspective employer. You may be a able to garner some information regarding what is being said about your termination to belay some of your concerns.