I made a dumb mistake and left with no notice. what can i say to not turn off future employers?

Question

well i was working at my last job for over a year and was putting in other applications elsewhere. I got a call from one place and went to an interview and got the job. Oh and by the way that "new" job i messed up my job for didn't work out at all. I am currently unemployed so yeah i'm really smart, huh? The new job was really pushing me to hurry and quit and come work for them like right then and there. Well i finally said fine, i'll give my job a 2 day notice. (they require 2 weeks) I went to work that day and told my supervisor and he went the main supervisor. She called me in her office and was telling me i was burning bridges (i was aware of that already) and that i was putting them in a bind (i was the only one who knew the job besides my old supervisor who moved to a different dept) and asked me when i'd be getting my credit memos done (it was the end of the month and i had a lot to do) and i told her that day and she got an attitude said that wasn't good enough they needed to be done then and there. she was really talking down to me and i said well u know what i'm not staying i'm gone. She finally convinced me to stay that day (because otherwise the cm wouldn't have gotten done) and worked out the day and felt like it was in my best interest not to go back. I had an on the phone interview and they pretty much said not giving notice wasn't good and didn't think anyone would want to hire at that company. I didn't really say what had happened in her office. just that i didn't give the required 2 week notice. now i have an interview friday and i'm so worried about it. i want to get that job, but i'm afraid that the last job will haunt me. i had that job on my resume i sent over so i can't really not talk about it. I got a lot of experience there and don't want to leave it off. i've worked at 2 other jobs 1 of them for over 2 years and the other 1 year and gave them the 2 week notice. it wasn't like a reoccuring event. anyway if anyone can give me some advice i'd appreciate it.

Answer 1

That's a tough one. If I am not mistaken, employers can not legally say why you know longer work there, only that you are or are not eligible for rehire but this may be different in some states.

However, from experience, it's best to NOT lie as it can haunt you enough that should you get a job you love, they find out you lied or omitted...they might release you then and there as well. If you know someone, have a family member or friend who works in Human resources somewhere, you could always ask them to contact that company ( as if you were a prospective employee) but do NOT have " a friend" call from home or something. That tends to fall thru more often than not.

Answer 2

Lie !!, tell your new employers nothing its none of their business , this is a free world remember, oh... er... unles you are in america!

Answer 3

I think you probably learned from this experience :  )

a) if a potential employer is pushing you to do something, like quit your existing job right there and then - the company probably has pretty crappy morals and isn't likely a good place to work.

b) Leaving someone in a bind is unethical and what you did was wrong.  You knew the policy and decided not to follow it - as an employer that would tell me you have little regard for your obligations when they are no longer convenient or serve your needs.

So - the most important thing is to be able to admit you made a mistake, articulate what you learned from the mistake and be able to say sincerely you regret what you did.  You really left your former employer in a bind - as a small business owner, trust me, I count on my employees and if they did the same thing it would cause me major drama.

Perhaps before the Friday interview you should call your former supervisor and apologize, she might not be very receptive to it but at the same time you will be able to tell any new potential employers that you learned, apologized and would never repeat your actions.

Good luck to you - BTW most companies worth working for value people who can admit when they are wrong and learn from their mistakes.  Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

good luck.   maybe your bridge is no longer on fire?

Answer 5

You can tell the interviewer the true and apologize it, also you can tell that you were going to give 2 week notice and something happened.  If you don't find a job and the situation get worse, (1) thing write to your previous supervisor and apologize for not given 2 weeks, also you can ask her for recommendation letter.  I don't think is a big deal.  I was working once in the company and I could not find a job, so I got one of my friend to ask for a reconmention from the same company that I worded before and I  wrote in my resume.  To my surprise she was talking bad about me.  I called the boss and told him about.  You did a good job in that company if she give you a bad reconmeation for only one mistake, you can complaint to the one above her.  It's not fair that she take that against you.  Good luck  Ga

Answer 6

Just say that you really valued your experience with that company, but due to personal reasons you had to leave abruptly.  

Answer 7

You'd be unemployable in my company.  Two days notice isn't even in the ball park.  Your best bet is to own up to making a very, very bad decision and you've smartened up.  You have a pattern of short term employment and that would be a second strike against my hiring you.  Good luck and shape up and fly right.

Answer 8

It sounds like your ex-employer was "talking down to you" more than just a little.  Any time you get any type of abuse at work its grounds to leave immediately.  you also have other jobs where you gave reasonable notice.  Stress that.

Answer 9

I am an employer who is uncomfortable when someone tells me they left their last job with little or no notice.  It doesn't mean I never hire anyone who didn't give notice on a previous job but I do want them to explain and to assure me it won't happen with the job I am offering.  Your situation would make me think twice because you left your job and the other job didn't work out.  Again, it doesn't mean I wouldn't hire you but that you'd have to convince me you were worth the risk.  In reality that's what anyone is trying to do during any interview - it's just that you have a strike against you before you get started.  But don't panic, one strike doesn't mean you're out.

Just present yourself professionally and explain your position.  Don't go into the details of that final day with your supervisor unless the interviewer specifically asks you about them.  Just explain that you thought the new job was too good of an opportunity to pass up and that they gave you no indication that it wouldn't work out.  Tell the interviewer that you tried to give a couple of days notice (finish out the week or whatever it was) and you knew that was inadequate but felt it was the only choice you had - then just say that the 2 day notice wasn't accepted by your previous employer and that you realize because of that they may not give you the best reference even though you believe your work for them was exemplary up to that point.  If the interviewer doesn't ask you to explain further then leave it at that - except to say that you have learned a valuable lessen from this experience and won't be repeating that mistake again - because you now realize that if a company is a desirable place to work, they will respect your desire to give a full 2 week notice and will find a way to work it out so you can do so.

By the way, for future reference - don't be afraid to make unusual suggestions to current and prospective employers to try to reach a compromise between starting work immediately and giving a two week notice.  For example, a few years ago, I was called for an interview for a position I'd wanted for several months.  By the time they did interview me I was already working elsewhere and they were desperate to hire their new manager immediately.  Rather than leave the job I had with no notice or simply give up on the position because they wanted me to start the next day, I offered a compromise to both employers.  I worked out a schedule with them for two weeks that would allow me to start part time at the new job while working out my notice at the old job just by working 2 hours less per day.  I admit that it was a long 2 weeks for me because I was working almost 70 hours each week between the two jobs and they were an hour's drive apart from each other but it allowed me to get the new job and even today my previous employer would hire me back in a heartbeat if I wanted to go back.  Also, as an employer, I have frequently had employees who have gone on to bigger and better things than I could offer them and never once have I held them to the 2 week notice if it meant they would lose the new job.  Yes, I've sometimes asked them to work their days off at their new job for a few days to help me train someone or work in the evenings or whatever to help me finish things that were on their desks at the time but it has usually only been for a few days and then I give them an excellant reference even if they didn't give a 2 week notice.  I have also had ocassions to need fill a position on short notice but if the person I'm interviewing really is the best candidate for the job but needs to give a full 2 week notice I would rather hold the position for them for that 2 weeks than to hire the wrong person who is available immediately. It's all in the attitude and willingness to find creative solutions that will work out best for everyone.  Keep these things in mind in your upcoming interview and you'll do fine.

Good Luck!

Answer 10

when you leave a job high and dry that is not good no matter how long or short you worked there. i mean it could mean they won't hire you and you can just grin and bear it imean you are the one that has it one the resume. i mean just go for it and then make it stick for long time always give two weeks regardless that is the rule of thumb and its best cause lke you are seeing can haunt you.

Answer 11

I was responsible for hiring at the company I used to work for.  We asked why a person left their job but never asked how much notice they gave.  I also asked what their supervisor would tell me if I called him/her, but we never actually called anyone.  It would be a waste of time.  Employers cannot release any information outside of when they worked their and how long.  In your interview it is best to only answer the questions put forward from a potential employer.  You don't have to volunteer information like that.  If they ask you why you left I would be honest but put a spin on it.  Instead of saying that your employer was a pain I would say it wasn't a good work environment.  It is all in how you word things.  Again, don't say anything about giving notice.  It is doubtful they will ask.  Check out the following website for a list of questions that employers typically ask.  http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_qu...

Try to prepare what you are going to say if you are asked a difficult question.  That way you won't be unprepared.

Answer 12

if this is the worst mistake that you will ever make then you are doing quite well,

just say you were loking to try somehting else????