Should I put my old job on my resume and application? ?

Question

I have been going on interviews for a new job but I never get the job offer or called back for a second interview. At first I just kept assuming there was someone that was more qualified. But as time went on I had a feeling that I was getting a bad reference from my previous employer. The issue is that I quit because I did not like the way management was handled. I have to admit I am responsible too because I should have started looking for a new job a long time ago. Anyway I just could not stick it out anymore because the rules were not being enforced. There would be times when branch offices sent documents 3 hours after the deadline and I would get in trouble for not processing it when the rule states anything received after the deadline should be processed the next business day. Also I would received documents that were incomplete and send them back to the branch office to correct. When I got the corrected document close to 5pm I would get it trouble for not processing it on that business day. I am not trying to complain or expect a job to be perfect but there were just so many things that would not handled in a professional way from management. Then some workers from the other branches called me about not receiving their paycheck. When I called the branch office I got conflicting stories from the employees in the about the paycheck, don't they all use the same database to get their information. Anyway I am thinking about taking this employer of my resume and just taken my chances on a job. I will just tell them that I am currently working on getting my masters degree. Any ideas.

Answer 1

Have a friend call them, pretending to be a potential employer.  I used a girlfriend once to do that, and it worked great...I found out they weren't badmouthing me, at least.

I have worked with many companies over the years (as an IT contractor), some suit you, some don't.  Don't blame yourself that your first went bad.

Whatever you do in your interviews, do not badmouth that company.  That's a definite turnoff to the interviewer, he may wonder what you will say about them when you leave.  Just say that you reached a critical point in your Master's work where you had to devote full time to it for a bit.

If you find that you are being badmouthed, sure, leave it off the resume.