WWYD: Disclosing a dismissal on an application form (long)

I used to work in HR, and being sacked from one job doesn't automatically mean you'll be discounted. But if you lie on the application and are later found out, you could be sacked for dishonesty, and two dismissals are worse than one.

At face value, being off on sickleave for one job while still working a second would be frowned on by any potential employer. But you've taen the time to explain it here, maybe you could do the same on the application. You could make it clear that your situation is different now, that child care isn't an issue etc. I'm not sure if you're still working a second job, if you're not that's something else to reassure them with.

Alos, as this happened in 2001 and you've worked sincepresumably with no disciplinary record and can provide good references from those jobs, I don't think you'll have too much trouble.

Thanks CBear, I don't hold a second job now and my daughter is 15 so child care is not an issue for her. I knew I couldn't lie on the application form as like you said I could be dismissed again if it was found out. There is only a small space to put the condition of the dismissal, not any explanation, but I assume they would ask me about that if I was invited for an interview.

I am glad to hear that you are not discounted straight away for it though, thank you.

If there's only a small space, it may be worth including an additional note explaining things. Somebody did that to explain a criminal conviction, without giving too much (data protection) away if I'd seen that conviction on it's own I may have discounted them from the post immediately, but because there was an explanation of the circumstances with it I was actaully happy to call her for an interview, talk to her some more about it, and then she got the job!

You could always explain it in a covering letter, in pretty much the same way you have explained it here. That might help?

You beat me to it CBear! ?

PS you shouldn't have been sacked on the monday, if it was as immediate as that your employer didn't follow procedure as you were legally entitled to fair warning of a disciplinary meeting, with representation, after an investigation. I know that doesn't help now but you could possibly argue that due process wasn't followed.

Actually scrap the legally part, not sure about that. But most companies have a written disciplinary process and notice of meetings etc are pretty standard. This protects the employer from tribunals etc but also gives the employee the chance to defend themselves. If you worked for a fairly established company they will have had a policy in place so you could still argue your dismissal was a rash decision in which you had no influence.

If you need to put something I'd put "dismissed" rather than referring to gross misconduct.

I'd be upfront and say "gross misconduct" but put a paragraph referring to it in my covering letter. Good luck.

Thanks to you all. I knew I couldn't omit the job and then lie that I had never been dismissed. I am hoping that honesty is the best policy. There is a large area on the person specification bit on the application form so I will put a short explanation of the dismissal in there and hope it works in my favour.

You have all given me a little bit of hope that all is not lost lol

If it's not too late, do NOT put it in the person specification. That part is for you to sell yourself - it's meant to be about your positives. You fill it up with justification of gross misconduct then your missing an opportunity to tell them why you're still the right person for the job. As others have suggested, it needs to go in a covering letter. And do NOT put 'gross misconduct' , put 'dismissed'. HR people won't expect employees to use the specific terms, dismissal is sufficient.