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You are here: Experts > Jobs/Careers > Job Searching: Canada > Interviewing Tips > Rescheduled First Interview
Expert: Ruth Butler - 11/2/2009
Question
Dear Ruth,
I am so excited to find your service! So, I was terminated about a month ago from a retail clothing store that I was Warehouse Supervisor for. I was fired for "time card fraud" which is true, but the way I was lured into doing it over a year and a half time makes me feel like I was set up. The owner had a personal problem with me, and a couple of weeks before I was fired, I had to run home over my lunch to get an Imitrex for a migraine. I told my manager I would be gone for half an hour but it took 45 min and when I returned, the owner was fuming and he said "Are you out doing drugs on your lunch break?" I couldn't believe my ears and repeated the question aloud as I turned and walked away in disbelief only to see the main buyer/manager standing there looking like she was a statue. Anyway, I am a recovering addict and have been clean for 3 years. I have a little girl and live with my parents. I told him "No..." And he said, "You Sure?? Your clean then??" "I'm sure, yes." I was so angry and approached him in his office about a half hour later to tell him I was concerned with the way he was treating me lately, and assured him that life was years behind me, at least as far as I was concerned. But he wouldn't let it go and proceeded to belittle me and tell me I shouldn't have any financial worries because I live at home and then told me that when I arrive at work, I go to the bathroom for ten minutes, "but I'm not saying anything," he said as he threw his hands above his head like he was surrendering. But the only person who'd be surrendering anything was me, as I was let go a couple of weeks later for "time card fraud." For once, every last responsibility had been completed in the warehouse, it was clean and no work remained. My manager had come back from LA that Wednesday for about an hour to do receiving. She left around 2:00 that day and had always had me do little chores for her, telling me not to clock out, and she had spent very little time at work lately and when I asked her where she was, like yesterday, not in LA thins time, when she had been gone all day and she would say, I was here, working. Anyway, I had to go to the doctor this Wednesday and the owner had told me a week ago that I was not to leave early, under any circumstances. I had to go so I left at 4:45 and set my punch out time to 5:30, which I knew was wrong. But long story short, he had the store managers in front watching me and they wrote down what time they saw me leave at and he got excited I assume when he saw what I did and I believe he encouraged my manager to be gone more than she should be for working her supposed 45 hour work week, in hopes that I would follow her lead, and I did. I worked there for 20 months. Should I use the job on my resume or should I say that I have been a stay at home mom for the last three years? As you can see, the story is too speculative to present and "time card fraud" is a harsh halo to have over my head. Unemployment denied me. I had a job interview today but was in the ER last night because of facial pain, swelling and fever (sinusitis) and my inability to focus and think clearly this morning led me to call the prospective employer and reschedule for tomorrow. How bad is this? Are there any redeeming ways to make up for this? And, lastly, what should I do about the above issue, include it or leave it in the ground? Can prospective employers access unemployment application records? Would a background check show I worked at this store for 20 months? I know you are most likely too busy to respond to me by tonight, but if you're slow, or bored, I'd really appreciate an expedited response.
Answer
Dear Jocelyn:
You have a serious situation here. If I were you, I would get legal counsel to try to expunge the time clock fraud off of your record.
Yes, a background check would indicate that you worked at the store for the last 20 months, and if they call for a reference, that is going to be a problem.
I cannot tell from your story if this was the first time you punched out incorrectly. If that is the case, yes, you did the wrong thing, but it may be understandable. If this is longstanding, then it is a big issue that you need legal help with.
If you were in the ER, rescheduling is ok to do. Be sure you don't start to "ramble" on the interview. It is not their business that you are a recovering addict unless that is asked on the application form. The fact that you have been clean for 3 years shows that you are serious about recovery.
One thing you may want to do is find a friend that owns a business and have them call to get a reference about you from the warehouse. You need someone who sounds businesslike and is professional that does this. The reason this may help is because we need to know what kind of reference they are going to give.
Let me know what happens. Warmly, R. Butler
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