How to Handle This Situation..fired from internship

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>So today, out of the blue, I was fired from the internship I have been doing part-time since January. No explanation was given, I was called into my boss' office and he told me it "wasn't working out".</p>

<p>I called him later (as he was clearly too ****ed off to explain what happened to me) and he told me I had been let go because "I told another employee I hated my job, that I wanted a marketing internship, not a box making internship" (I made boxes to send to customers every day).
Now there are two things wrong with this:
1) I never said that or complained about my job
2) There was no way to prove it (though he didn't bother to ask).</p>

<p>Now I am FURIOUS.</p>

<p>This looks bad on my record, and I lost a decent internship because clearly, I had someone as an enemy without realizing it.</p>

<p>I told my boss that I liked my job and that if he had any doubts I would have no problem having a real man-to-man conversation with him about any concerns.</p>

<p>There was no conversation. No conversation, no warning, no questions, no defense.
He took this person's word and never thought twice.</p>

<p>I thought this was HIGHLY UNprofessional. Am I wrong?</p>

<p>While on the phone, I even asked him:
1)Haven't I always been on time and always busy? the answer: yes
2) Have I ever taken an extended break? the answer: no
3) Do I participate in discussions/offer my ideas? the answer: yes</p>

<p>Once he realized he was wrong for getting angry so quickly and firing me, he started asking about "little things" that I completely explained and clarified. It was pretty much at that point that he was just trying to cover himself for making an irrational decision based off was someone told him.</p>

<p>I've worked for these people for nearly 3 months and put out quality work they praised me for...and they fire me because of someone who said I said something? If I ever said anything close to that, it was a joke and it would have NEVER been to someone like a manager/VP. But, like I said, the exact statement above never came out of my mouth. So clearly someone lied about me because they didn't like me.</p>

<p>My problem:</p>

<p>This is going to appear on my employment record...how do I explain this to future employers if they ask? They don't want to hear "oh I hate my boss he was an idiot they made a mistake". So, what can I say?</p>

<p>The only thing I can think of is, "Well call my other 3 past employers, they will all recommend me for the job and I have professional references who would support you hiring me".</p>

<p>What do you guys think about this situation?</p>

2

<p>Life’s not fair… especially as it regards employment. This is a good learning experience, just not in the way you hoped. There’s really not much you can do, but obviously you won’t use this for a reference. I don’t think you have to reveal that you were “fired” - in the future people won’t know you were supposed to be working there longer. Not sure you even have to list it.</p>

3

<p>Wouldn’t you agree that is unprofessional, though?</p>

<p>Firing an intern for a comment? Not EVEN for their work without any type of discussion or talk?</p>

4

<p>Yes it’s inappropriate, hence the life isn’t fair comment. It’s just that I’ve found in my many years of experience that some very immature and unfair things happen in the workplace. It’s normal to feel anger, but it ultimately doesn’t do much good. If the facts are exactly as you presented, the boss behaved badly. You can of course, pursue it - even go to their supervisor - but it might not make a bit of difference. Good luck.</p>

5

<p>No. At this point, I would never ask for the job back. I honestly could careless other than it is one less good-looking internship on my resume…I have another job that doesn’t pay nearly as good, but it still is there and as for many hours as I need it.</p>

<p>I just don’t want this person getting contacted by future employers who do background checks and then have him telling this “story” to them. Of course, if they contact any of my other 3 past employers or my 3 professional references, they will get a complete different story anyway.</p>

<p>And to justify the little things he said to try and build a case to fire me, he mentioned several projects that I halfway completed…and I told him thats because Im waiting on the other employees who are in charge of the project to email me with information so I can proceed…and he agreed that was okay.</p>

6

<p>Sometimes employers are just dumb or unreasonable. I got “fired” from a volunteer, part-time internship with a local government organization my freshman year of high school without notice, reason, warning, or anything. Just made it awkward when I received a political appointment later indirectly over that department. </p>

<p>Don’t take it personally. Pick yourself up and move on.</p>

7

<p>Thank you for your positive words.</p>

<p>The good news, for me, is I have an internship with a tech company (I do not wish to reveal the name, fortune 500 though) marketing internship for this summer…I got the offer an hour ago. I guess you lose some and win some.</p>

<p>I just don’ like my name to be in a bad realm, especially not in the community of my college, I have a lot of connections and a reputation that I do not wish to be tarnished.</p>

<p>I will get over it. Not today probably, but over the next week or so.</p>

<p>If my employer was that rude about firing me after I have done good work for them for two months, then that is not a place I want to be anyway. Though, being give the ability to explain “my comments” would have been a nice touch. Oh well. You win some you lose some.</p>

8

<p>I wouldn’t worry about the former employer saying anything negative to a potential employer as a reference. If the former employer says something that results in a rejection of your application with the new company, you can sue him if it is not true. Employers know this and are extremely careful what they say when called. Usually it’s just dates of employment, title, and if you authorize it they can reveal salary.</p>

9

<p>the company was incredibly unprofessional in letting you go that way. I think you should consider yourself lucky in that you are not longer working in that type of environment as it seems you were under-utilized anyways. I wouldn’t worry about them giving you a bad referral, usually all they can say is the time you worked there and the position you worked.</p>

<p>Unfortunately this is a lesson learned, there are places in the world like this but keep your chin up, you are already moving on to a better opportunity</p>

10

<p>george.</p>

<p>What did you say to the other employees about your duties as an intern?</p>

11

<p>Sax,</p>

<p>To be honest with you, I have no clue what the boss who fired me was even referring to when he told me what someone had told him. With that being said, before this position, I came from a job where all I did was dishes and supervise a dishroom (including cleaning out trashcans, tables, etc.). All I can say in my defense, was that there is a reason that I was promoted at my position and have been given nothing but top reviews from my former employers at that position.</p>

<p>I am a hardworking student and I didn’t get my two internships, my references, a promotion, and job offers for being a “complainer”. If I am asked about why I was fired, I will definitely bring that up along with minimizing the importance of my internship with this company (a lot of skills I learned there I used at my other internship).</p>

<p>Again, I have another offer and I am pretty much past this at this point. Honestly, it doesn’t feel the best as I know (along with all of my other connections) that what happened is not indicative of the type of student/worker I am.</p>

12

<p>good for you George… sounds like they are dicks. I’m glad you have a better offer and you can let those bad workers enjoy each others company while you do better things.</p>

<p>Some places respect interns and value their contributions and understand their situation and how it can benefit both the company and the intern. Others do not.</p>

13

<p>I do have another issue already, though.
I have applied for a position with the city government for the fall (yes, I plan ahead a lot) and they have requested I sign a form that allows them to contact any of my ex-employers and ask about my behavior/attendance/job performance.</p>

<p>Should I sign something like this, knowing that this employer will give me a bad name?</p>

14

<p>well, you don’t have a choice do you? if you don’t sign the form I assume they won’t consider you? so…</p>

15

<p>Well, I am waiting until after my interview and after they contact my references. That way, they will (hopefully) see me in a good light and have a much better chance of not caring about their opinion if they already like me and have had 3 people support my hiring.</p>

16

<p>I’m assuming your still in school. It’s a 3 month at the most internship; why include it at all on future resumes.</p>

<p>I mean if you’ve already included it on something you will have to deal with that but otherwise I would drop it from my resume…“I choose to focus on my studies this semseter”</p>