Last Updated on July 31, 2022 by
Did you get fired from your job? Are you looking for better opportunities but wondering if the fact that you were fired from your previous job will affect your career or not?
No worries, companies may fire employees for various reasons. And this doesn’t affect your new job as long as you aren’t terminated from a job for some serious issue.
Still, if you think about how getting fired goes on your record, continue reading this post to find all your answers!
Why Do Employers Use Background Checks?
Prospective employers typically perform background checks before hiring candidates to ensure they hire the right person.
Sometimes candidates do not disclose all the information about why they left the previous company. And this can put the future employer into serious issues. That’s why employers check the candidates’ backgrounds to verify the details provided by job seekers.
Additionally, here are a few more reasons to run a background check:
- The recruiter can hire the right candidate to ensure that the workplace and company assets remain safe.
- The company can be saved from falling into criminal, fraud, or legal issues by hiring an employee with a criminal record.
- Future employers can learn about the candidate’s job history and loyalty.
- The hiring manager can recruit qualified people who will contribute to the company’s success.
- Recruiters can learn about the qualifications and achievements of the candidate.
- Background checks improve hiring quality since it ensures that trustworthy and efficient candidates are hired.
What is a Background Investigation?
Managers do background investigations (aka background screening or background checks) to screen candidates before hiring them. This process is pretty common in most companies and is often used to employ trustworthy candidates.
Through this routine background check, the manager verifies the information provided by the applicant during the interview process, in the resume, or while applying for the job.
The current employer may run a background check on the candidate’s previous work history, education, identity, motor vehicle, and criminal history.
They may also contact previous employers to check if the information provided is correct or not.
Should I Make a Full Disclosure?
Whenever you apply for a new position after being fired, the new employer will want to know about your reason for termination. And you should never lie about it.
It’s always best to completely disclose the information about your previous work and the reason you were fired in the resume or when asked. If you try to hide it from your boss and he finds it out, you may be fired once again.
Besides, if you sign up for a new employment contract with false intentions, you may face serious legal issues.
All in all, always make complete disclosure to avoid any issues in your career.
What Kind of Checks Will a Employer Run?
Different recruiters may run different types of background checks. So, it’s hard to tell what kind of background check your future manager might perform on you.
Below are some common types of background checks that most employers consider.
- Criminal records – Recruiters typically check your criminal reports to make sure you are not involved in any illegal activity or have been arrested in the past. They can find this information from the court.
- Credit checks – Prospective employers go through your credit history to verify your information like name, address, social security number, address, and the debt that you possess. They may also check your payment history for the debts.
- Education, certification and licenses – Hiring managers can run a background check on the education, certification, and license information to ensure that you haven’t given any fraudulent information.
- References – If you are applying for work through a reference, the recruiter will run a background check to know your potential and gather more information about you.
- Military records – Some recruiters can also dig into your military records to learn about your service. Most of this information is confidential, but they can still check your name, rank, pay, and awards.
- Bankruptcy – Being bankrupt shouldn’t affect your chances of getting hired, but your manager can opt to check your status before hiring you.
- Driving records – The potential employer can search for your driving history to know if you are involved in any legal issues due to driving.
- Medical records – Although medical records are confidential, some recruiters may check your medical history. However, you will have to provide consent before allowing them to check this information. Also, managers cannot make decisions based on their medical reports only since it is illegal to discriminate against employees based on their health issues.
- Drug testing – Recruiters conduct drug tests to verify that the employee is in a good mental state and not an addict. For drug testing, job seekers are usually asked to get tested at a collection site by providing a sample of their urine, saliva, or hair.
Can an Employer Disclose That You Were Fired?
Yes, your past employer can legally disclose the reason for which you were fired from your previous job. No law prevents past employers from providing information regarding the termination of their employees.
However, they cannot state false reasons or give statements that might damage your reputation. And if your previous employer does something like this, you can file a case against him.
When an Employer Can Say You Were Fired
Your manager can tell your future recruiters why you were fired from work. However, if the reason for your termination is anything that defames you, the manager shouldn’t share it with anyone. This would lead to defamation, and your career can be put at risk.
Finally, if you find out that your previous employer is hurting your image, you can sue him.
What Information Employers Typically Share
Many employers do not disclose any information that would harm the reputation of their former employees. Generally speaking, they share details regarding your work history, job titles, behavior at work and with your colleagues, skills, etc.
Besides, most states have different policies regarding the information that can be disclosed by employers. And you can also talk to your former employer before leaving the company to get an idea of the company policies and the information he’ll be sharing.
Does Getting Fired Affect Future Employment?
Honestly, getting fired from your company should never affect your career. You can be fired due to several issues, and that’s completely fine. For example, the company might fire you due to poor performance, irregularity, etc.
Whatever be the reason, don’t hold grudges towards your previous company or talk bad about it. This will save you from any issues in your future employment.
But if you have been fired due to disloyalty, fraud, theft, or some illegal activity, it will harm your reputation, making it hard for you to find new employment.
What to say if someone asks you why you left your last job
Be truthful!
Whatever be the reason for your previous termination, never lie to your prospective employer. If you do so and the boss finds it out, you could place yourself into serious trouble. And in the worst case, the company will fire you.
That said, always answer questions about your termination positively. Try to convince the employer that you are a good fit for the current position. Drag his attention to your present capabilities for a positive outcome.
How Does Getting Fired Affect Your Career?
Your termination is what matters the most when you are fired from the job. If you were fired from your work due to poor performance, rude behavior, irregularity at work, etc., you can improve its effect by working on your weak points.
In this case, you can respectfully tell your prospective employer how you have improved and why they should hire you now.
Contrarily, if you were fired due to illegal activities or some serious issue, it can have a negative effect on your career.
Overall, if you handle your termination positively, you won’t have a hard time dealing with it.