Do you think I have a chance at this career move

Question

So I got fired from this Certified nursing Assistant job, I don't care cause it was a stressful job anyway. I graduate in Dec. in Criminal Justice Administration. I applied for this Correctional office position. Do you think that the other job i got fired from will hurt me? I hope not. I go take the state test Monday.

Any advice will be helpful.

Answer 1

People get fired from jobs for all sorts of reasons.  It isn't necessary to volunteer the information that you were fired.  If you were careful to fill out your application truthfully, you included the previous job without going into any negative details about the circumstances under which you left.  If you are asked at the interview why you left the nursing assistant job, it is perfectly acceptable to say that you always wanted to work in a service profession, but you felt that your talents were more suited to law enforcement than health care.  They may ask your permission to contact your previous employers, and the decision about whether or not to allow it can be a tough one.  If you ask them not to contact a previous employer, it raises a red flag.  But you can always tell them that personality conflicts arose at your previous position, but you stand by the quality of your work, and look forward to the opportunity to contribute in a new field.  All job hunting is stressful and taxing, but if this job is right for you and you are right for it, you'll be the one chosen.  Good luck.

Answer 2

I have two friends who applied for CO positions...I remember receiving a packet with a questionarre when they were under consideration for hire. Obviously they used my name as reference. With your prior job I know that in many states a new employer can only ask your prior employer if you worked there or not. The CO program may be able to delve a little deeper but, I doubt it.  Hopefully, when you quit your last job you were nice about it and didn't throw a chair on the way out.

Answer 3

When they ask, word your reply cleverly, like "end of mandate" "contract terminated", anyhow, I'd be surprised they'd call your old employer. Don't worry about it until you have succeeded your tests, the interviews come after in gvnmnt jobs, you'll have time to formulate your replies. However, make sure your criminal record is clean!