Job application question?

[The Borgified Corpse]

I was just applying for a job online and I came across a multiple choice question: "Would all of your former employers be willing to hire you again?" or something to that effect. It gave me the options of "Yes," "No," & "I don't know." I'm not sure how honest I should be.

Technically, I suspect the answer is "No," so long as they're asking about ALL of my former employers. I've had 5 former jobs. Of those, I think 3 of them would totally be willing to hire me again. The only reason why I don't have any of those jobs is because...
- One of them was a college theatre job that doesn't employ non-students.
- One of them was an unpaid political internship.
- One of them was just a seasonal job at a textbook store.

That leaves 2 employers that would not rehire me. But of those, I have to qualify both of them:
One of them was a telemarketing job where I cold called university alumni and begged them for donations. I have no problem admitting that I was not good at that job. High-pressure, commission sales jobs do not go well with my skill set. I have too much empathy for people that don't have any money.

The other, which was my longest lasting job, was at a used bookstore. I worked there for 3 1/2 years before I was terminated. Unfortunately, there were changes in management. I had a great rapport with the book dept. manager, but when non-fiction sales declined, she was demoted and our department was taken over by the store manager. She & I didn't communicate well. Eventually, I was transferred to the customer service dept., which was supervised by the other manager at the store that I didn't get along with. And honestly, the customer service manager is such an ineffective delegator, she has no business managing anyone. A few months after that, I was fired. Now, I know that the current store manager would never agree to rehire me. I also have my doubts about the customer service manager & the assistant manager. But I also know that the cashier manager, the shift manager, the electronics manager, the music manager (probably), 75% of the general staff, and all of my former managers would love to have me back. My termination was due almost entirely to the 2 or 3 employees in the entire company that I didn't get along with, which just happened to be the 2 or 3 people whose opinions actually mattered.

So what should be my answer? Should I tell the truth and say, "No," not ALL of my former employers would be willing to rehire me? Should I create a positive lie and say, "Yes"? Or should I feign ignorance and say, "I don't know"?

 

[JiNX-01]

I'd suggest "I don't know" ... simply because you don't.

Circumstances change, people change, management changes, and just because things didn't work out for you last time ...

 

[Tora Ziyal]

This is a perfect example of why I hate on-line applications. And, especially, multiple-choice questionnaires -- sometimes NONE of the choices apply. Good luck w/ your job search.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Don't put "no". You should never have any negative language on a resume or application. "I don't know" is always a safe choice. Even if you were fired from a job if the one person who fired you isn't there anymore you aren't lying when you say the job itself might want you back.

 

[Finn]

"I don't know" is the obvious choice. Also, keep in mind just because you left an old job on good terms doesn't mean you'd be able to get it back if you tried, with new people, change of workplace climate and all that.

 

[auntiehill]

^Exactly. "I don't know" is really your only option.

I freakin' hate job applications.

 

[MetalPants]

^^^I don't hate the applications, I hate the interviews.

 

[AstroSmurf]

Having once been an HR... go with "don't know". Even if you know for sure, say "don't know". Personnel and managers change all the time at a place of business. The HR may call to check your employment and may get someone on the phone that doesn't even remember you. If you said yes, it might end up inadvertently looking negative.

And most people don't know this but a previous employer CAN NOT legally disclose personal information about an employee or a former employee unless the person in question has given them specific permission to do so. (If they do, it could mean a HUGE lawsuit for disclosing private information.) This includes why you left the company, your salary and benefit information. A previous employer can only confirm that you worked there, what your job was and how long you were employed. Any other information must be provided by you. The potential employer can't legally ask you if you were fired either. However, they can look into your unemployment benefit records and find out if you ever requested assistance and why. That information is public record. This is why references are so important, to you and to the person hiring. They are the true test.

And folks, if an application contains questions or requests information that would violate your privacy, they probably do and should NOT be on the application to begin with. Potential employers will sometimes ask questions they are not legally allowed to ask. And since most people don't know they don't have to answer the questions (and can't be forced to and not doing so can not effect their hiring), they do anyway. Any company doing this you wouldn't want to work for anyway so be careful and know your rights!

So three things when applying for a job: Answer questionnaires as positively but noncommittal as you can, be completely honest on your resume and have at least three excellent references.

Edit to add: DO NOT go into an interview and explain to the potential employer about how inefficient or inept a previous employer was. Always give a positive spin on that as well. If you are willing to spread their business failings around then you would be just as likely to do your potential employer the same way. It looks bad... very bad. Just because they fired you doesn't mean that you get to kick them around. You were let go due to "restructuring but you enjoyed working there" and leave it at that.

 

[Small White Car]

I'm the only one to vote 'yes' so far?

This is why you are all nerds on a sci-fi board and not successful lawyers. (Not that I'm criticizing, mind you...)

Look, you write down 'YES' and if they ask about it you say "If I were to go back and express a desire to work there then I see no reason why they wouldn't hire me."

Now, you've done two things there. First, you've qualified it with an "IF I expressed a desire to work there" which takes you 1 step away from reality (which is a good thing when dealing with this kind of nonsense.)

Secondly, you've said that YOU can't see a reason. Perhaps that employer would have a reason to say no, but it's sure as heck not your job to be a psychic and read their mind. You don't know what they'd think which means that you're free to think they'll hire you.

Which makes 'YES' a perfectly acceptable answer and totally not a lie!

Is my reasoning BS? Yeah, but so is the question. Come on people, you've gotta fight fire with fire.

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ But the person reading the application is probably not a lawyer. They would probably see it in a completely different way.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

I'm the only one to vote 'yes' so far?

This is why you are all nerds on a sci-fi board and not successful lawyers. (Not that I'm criticizing, mind you...)

Look, you write down 'YES' and if they ask about it you say "If I were to go back and express a desire to work there then I see no reason why they wouldn't hire me."

Now, you've done two things there. First, you've qualified it with an "IF I expressed a desire to work there" which takes you 1 step away from reality (which is a good thing when dealing with this kind of nonsense.)

Secondly, you've said that YOU can't see a reason. Perhaps that employer would have a reason to say no, but it's sure as heck not your job to be a psychic and read their mind. You don't know what they'd think which means that you're free to think they'll hire you.

Which makes 'YES' a perfectly acceptable answer and totally not a lie!

Is my reasoning BS? Yeah, but so is the question. Come on people, you've gotta fight fire with fire.

But if you have an obvious termination on your application it is a little presumptuous to just say yes and a potential employer might think you really aren't taking the applications seriously.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

^ But the person reading the application is probably not a lawyer. They would probably see it in a completely different way.

You're probably right. I'm answering "I don't know." That seems to be the consensus both here and with the people I've talked to IRL. But I'll keep Small White Car in mind when I apply to lawfirms (which I have been thinking of doing).

In fact, while I'm at it, Small White Car, I have been thinking of dipping my toe into the legal field to see how it feels. I don't have a law degree but I do have a B.A. in Political Science. What kind of positions would you recommend I seek out?

And folks, if an application contains questions or requests information that would violate your privacy, they probably do and should NOT be on the application to begin with. Potential employers will sometimes ask questions they are not legally allowed to ask. And since most people don't know they don't have to answer the questions (and can't be forced to and not doing so can not effect their hiring), they do anyway.

So, for example, the online application for FYE asks if I've ever been terminated from a job, and if so, to explain why. This is illegal for them to ask? (And might things be different in a Right to Work state like Arizona?)

This is a perfect example of why I hate on-line applications. And, especially, multiple-choice questionnaires -- sometimes NONE of the choices apply.

Agreed. I especially hate the ones that end with a long series of 70 or so personal statements and you have to choose between "Strongly agree," "Agree," "Disagree," & "Strongly disagree." Absolute statements like that deny that human beings are complex individuals who often have conflicting moods & desires. No one wants to be either alone or with a large group of people ALL the time.

And then there's the statement, "You do not fake being polite." What the hell does that mean?! Are they asking for my overall opinion on whether politeness can be faked? Do they mean that I'm rude to people when I don't feel like being genuinely polite? Unicru can suck it!