Career change tips : Resume question

Hello All,

I have an interesting problem and need some advice. I have been out of the job market now for close to four years. I was injured on the job & have received a settlement for my injuries. My problem is I feel my former employer is going to give me a bad reference due to the settlement I received. I use to work in the health care field. I am at a loss as what to do? I mean, should I just not list that job on my resume & say I was self employed through that time period?

I currently, have a resume listed now that includes this former employer. I also, have a job interview coming up early next week for a very good job that I am qualified to perform, and capable as well. if I am asked if I ever collected money due to an injury, what should I say? Is this information not confidential in nature? I mean, if they call the old employer, could they tell them the situation? I don' t want to misrepresent myself, nor am I that type of person. But, in the same token, I don' t want to go on being unemployed either. My settlement was not enough to carry me through, nor was it large enough for me to go back to school to be retrained either. If the subject does not come up, Should I just keep quiet about it?

Also, was wondering what reason to list for leaving the job. I have listed, that I was self employed after the one I was injured at. Any help on this matter would be most appreciated. Sorry for so many questions.

I don't believe I have ever seen a question regarding accepting a settlement from a previous employer. Or a question about if one was ever offered to you, for that matter.

Did you sue the former employer for the work related injury or did they offer you the money so that you wouldn't sue? (You shouldn't have to say anything in either case, I am just being nosy)

The question of why you left will assuredly be asked and all you really have to say is that you were injured on the job and needed to leave in order to recuperate. Assure them that your recuperation is complete and that you are healthy and excited about returning to the work force.

You don't have to say anything about the settlement because that is neither any of their business or something that you should be telling them at this point anyway.

Contact your previous company posing as an employer interested in hiring you and ask the most common reference questions. Throw one in about "why did JMS041 leave employment?" and see what they say. Contact your state's unemployment office and inquire if a former employer can tell a potential employer about the employee's settlement for work related injuries.

For the most part, a previous employer can say anything as long as it is truthful in nature. If that truth hurts the person's chances then their is nothing that can be done about it. If the truth hurt the person's chances because the previous employer was forbidden to reveal the particular fact that did the damage, then you may have some recourse through your state's employment office.

I don' t believe I have ever seen a question regarding accepting a settlement from a previous employer. Or a question about if one was ever offered to you, for that matter.

A bit different, I agree. i told you it was interesting. No, they did not offer me a settlement. I had to fight for it legally.

Yes, I figured it would come up. Well the thing of it is, the former employers' s insurance company had paid me while i was off of work. my injury was such, that i could not go back to what I was doing previously. So, i could not say that I left to recuperate as the problem still lingers. The new job, would not effect me as it does not involve heavy lifting.

You don' t have to say anything about the settlement because that is neither any of their business or something that you should be telling them at this point anyway.

I was not going to mention the settlement personally. I was just worried that they might say something to the fact that I received one from them.

Contact your previous company posing as an employer interested in hiring you and ask the most common reference questions. Throw one in about "why did JMS041 leave employment?" and see what they say. Contact your state' s unemployment office and inquire if a former employer can tell a potential employer about the employee' s settlement for work related injuries.

I like the idea about contacting the unemployment office. posing as an employer inquiring about hiring me may open up a can of worms,, if you know what i mean? Actually, I am registered at Career Link, and will ask my counselor.

For the most part, a previous employer can say anything as long as it is truthful in nature. If that truth hurts the person' s chances then their is nothing that can be done about it. If the truth hurt the person' s chances because the previous employer was forbidden to reveal the particular fact that did the damage, then you may have some recourse through your state' s employment office.

I see what you are saying. I kind of have a bad feeling about this. My question is, if I would remove the last job I had, and replaced it with being self employed, could they find out? I appreciate your input.

This is the same as any worker' s comp claim. It is highly unlikely that they will bring it up if you don' t open any doors for it. Don' t open any doors. You do however, HAVE to list this job on the actual application IF what the application asks for includes that. So, if it is all jobs last 10 years, you have to list it. If it is last 5 jobs, you have to list it. Therefore, don' t try to hide it on your resume. You' ll get caught somewhere along the line and either lose the offer or get fired if you' re already in the job.

And your reason for leaving was "I was at a point in my life where I wanted the flexibility of being self-employed." (or something similiar). You do however, need to call the former employer and find out what they' ll say. They can say whatever they want, so it is good to know what that is. If you don' t think they' ll be truthful with you, have a friend pose as an employer.

Some former employers don't give any kind of reference, other than you worked there for on those dates and title. Afraid of being sue for slander. So, you have a friend pretend to be an hiring employer. If they say anything negative, contact an employment lawyer to scare them. Should not be aloud to say anything medical.

I like the idea of quitting to start own business, much more positive. You collected Workers Compensation claim, so forget about calling it a lay off. The injury is not their business, unless you can't do it with new employer or have to ask for accommodation under the ADA act. You don't want to injury yourself again, either. It is illegal to ask about Workers Compensation under the ADA act.

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