Expert: Ruth Butler - 11/8/2009

Question
QUESTION: I was terminated from my medical receptionist position after 5 yrs. My termination letter read I was terminated due to being abusive towards patients and employees. Which I have never been.There are other individuals in that practice who were verbally abusive. I was a good worker. When a coworker just step out one day and said she'd be back in 5 min's she never did. So I stepped up to the plate. we were short handed for several weeks. I go above and beyond, which the others rarely ever did. I just need to know how to get around this terrible situation and what to say to a prospective employer. I have had 4 interviews. 3 i was honest and told them. well i'm still unemployed. being honest is turning out to not be the best policy. the last interview, I said there was personality conflicts. that didnt work either...
Thank you in advance for your help..

ANSWER: Dear Lisa:

The first thing you have to do is find out what kind of reference they will give you and who gives the reference.  Find a friend who is a professional that either calls from their cell phone or business phone.  Have them say they are considering employing you as a receptionist and want a reference on you.  Then at least you will know what type of reference you will get.

Who terminated you....the office manager or the doctor?  Why do you think you are terminated?  Get back to me, and I will further assist you.  There has to be a real reason why after 5 years they let you go.  

Warmly, R. Butler

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you Ruth. Its funny, my husband is wanting to do just that. Have someone call the office manager (who is the one who called me n the morning before i left for work and told me that the doctor didnt want me back anymore). I'm just wondering, a few weeks before I had applyed for a managerial position at the local hospital. I was trying to improve my experiences. Unfortunatly, I had to get a reference from her becuz of the application I had to fill out. So, to be honest, I dont know why. But i'm thinking this was the starting point.

ANSWER: Dear Lisa:

I am thinking she figured she would get rid of you before you got rid of them!  Warmly, R. Butler

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: But she did it in such a terrible way..I'm having trouble getting around it with prospective employers. At first I thought I be truthful, but thats not working at all. So, I'm not sure what to say. I will try to find someone to call her and see what she would say. My other question, Is she does bad mouth me, do I have any legal aspects?? should I aproach the doctor and her about this..It is illegal for her to that.  

Answer
Dear Lisa:

I think one of the things I would do is - IF you had a good relation with the doctor is to contact him/her directly.  Hopefully, you would have his/her home phone or email.

I would simply say something like - I was with you for 5 years and thought we had a very good personal and working relationship.  I have always tried to work hard and go the extra mile and I was never rude to patients.  I am not sure what quite happened here.  __________(the office manager) said you didn't want me back because I was rude.  You and I know that is not true.  Now I have a letter that makes me look like an employee that has done something terribly wrong, and I am having trouble explaining this to future employers.  What would you advise and what is the truth of this matter?

Yes, you may have to consult a lawyer about this whole mess.

Warmly, R. Butler