How to talk about a "needs improvement" performance review at a job interview

[ice712]

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As a lot of people might notice, the 3 letter company doesn't give fair performance reviews for a lot of reasons, perhaps more of avoiding to pay for the annual raise. However, I couldn't say that in a job interview...

I transferred from another district and that district leader once said I was one of the best in my cohort and after I transferred to my current district I was given "needs improvement" after 3 months... of course I questioned about this and was given a few faxed reviews from stores I went to. I found a lot of things on fax weren't true and the tech could prove my point but anyways, can't argue since I did one time left work behind due to severely understaffed and no OT was allowed.

Then my question is how to word/explain this "needs improvement" review result so I won't be misunderstood as an incompetent pharmacist if being asked in a job interview? It is not good to talk bad about the company but I really want to make a point that stores were severely understaffed

Please help!!!! thank you in advance!!!

 

[owlegrad]

How would they know about a needs improvement rating in an interview?

 

[zelman]

Are you talking about interviews for internal job applications?

 

[ice712]

How would they know about a needs improvement rating in an interview?

If I am asked during the interview, I have to tell the truth... right?

 

[ice712]

Are you talking about interviews for internal job applications?

Ohh... Sorry for the confusion... it's for different company

 

[TheBlaah]

If I am asked during the interview, I have to tell the truth... right?

Oh dear summer child....

 

[Mambo#5]

If I am asked during the interview, I have to tell the truth... right?

Lmfao. That response is really sad. I suppose if you got fired you would tell them that too. Read a book. Seriously?

 

[Mambo#5]

If I am asked during the interview, I have to tell the truth... right?

Study Trump. Take notes on what he says and how he says it. Fact check it if you like, but millions of people support and believe in him. Moreover, look at how far you can get by not being honest.

 

[ice712]

Study Trump. Take notes on what he says and how he says it. Fact check it if you like, but millions of people support and believe in him. Moreover, look at how far you can get by not being honest.

LOL Good points... I was afraid that somehow the other company might find out if I don't tell the truth but I guess they couldn't if I don't authorize them to contact

 

[owlegrad]

I’m honestly a little confused. If you have to be truthful about the needs improvement rating don’t you also need to be truthful about why you got it?

 

[BidingMyTime]

OP, 1) no interviewer is going to ask you about your last job performance review, that just doesn't happen 2) If for some reason you were the first pharmacist ever that they decided to ask about, the you can tell them anything you want, because they will never know the difference, if this is against your ethics, then you would stress the good points on your review, and deflect/keep silent about the bad points--I would only talk about your last good review, you could mention that you had recently switched positions and were given a 3 month review to go over job duties that you still needed to learn 3) when the new company contacts your old company, the only info your old company will give them are to verify the years worked and whether or not you are eligible for rehire.

 

[Amphetamine Salts]

i think it's safe to assume that 99% of new employers don't care enough to call around and verify the validity of your claims when it comes to leaving your past job

 

[TheBlaah]

i think it's safe to assume that 99% of new employers don't care enough to call around and verify the validity of your claims when it comes to leaving your past job

It's not safe to assume that particularly with independent pharmacies or smaller hospitals/companies. My previous employers would always call previous employers. They're not allowed to ask specific questions about their employment and why they separated, they ask "Would you hire this employee again?" which tells them all they need to know.

 

[Amphetamine Salts]

It's not safe to assume that particularly with independent pharmacies or smaller hospitals/companies. My previous employers would always call previous employers. They're not allowed to ask specific questions about their employment and why they separated, they ask "Would you hire this employee again?" which tells them all they need to know.

if you were hiring someone, would you call their previous job and ask about them?

 

[TheBlaah]

if you were hiring someone, would you call their previous job and ask about them?

If they were a serious candidate, of course.

 

[ice712]

OP, 1) no interviewer is going to ask you about your last job performance review, that just doesn't happen 2) If for some reason you were the first pharmacist ever that they decided to ask about, the you can tell them anything you want, because they will never know the difference, if this is against your ethics, then you would stress the good points on your review, and deflect/keep silent about the bad points--I would only talk about your last good review, you could mention that you had recently switched positions and were given a 3 month review to go over job duties that you still needed to learn 3) when the new company contacts your old company, the only info your old company will give them are to verify the years worked and whether or not you are eligible for rehire.

Good to know! Thanks so much!

 

[ice712]

If they were a serious candidate, of course.

Don't you need to give them the OK to call? I'd think that it is very normal that I don't want the current company to know I am searching jobs...

 

[TheBlaah]

Don't you need to give them the OK to call? I'd think that it is very normal that I don't want the current company to know I am searching jobs...

If you mark "Don't contact my previous employer", they in all likelihood won't (though there's technically nothing legally binding them, just company policy). However, if the applicant isn't currently employed, I'd wonder why that would be the case.

 

[Amphetamine Salts]

If they were a serious candidate, of course.

most employers don't do that. think about what you're saying. you would call a potential employee's place of work and ask about them? you are a total stranger to these people. how do you think they would react. that's why most employers don't do it, it is very weird to cold call like that

the best way is to interview the employee and putting the employee through tests to evaluate their skills right then and there

 

[TheBlaah]

most employers don't do that. think about what you're saying. you would call a potential employee's place of work and ask about them? you are a total stranger to these people. how do you think they would react. that's why most employers don't do it, it is very weird to cold call like that

the best way is to interview the employee and putting the employee through tests to evaluate their skills right then and there

I know how they would react, because I've called them. They act professionally, usually. They a)confirm the dates of employment (so I know the applicant's not lying to me about previous employment), and b) state whether they would rehire (if they catch on, I'll rephrase to whether they're eligible for rehire). This isn't to test their skills, it's to check their work history.

Like I said before, this doesn't apply to DMs from major chains because they most likely couldn't give a crap.

 

[gwarm01]

Don't you need to give them the OK to call? I'd think that it is very normal that I don't want the current company to know I am searching jobs...

I once had the HR department at job #2 call my manager at job #1 even though I requested that they do not call them. I hadn't even accepted the position yet. Then, because they called my manager rather than HR, he thought I had put him as a reference without asking first and chastised me for it. I took the job anyway, but that was a good precursor to how they ran things at job #2.

 

[Amphetamine Salts]

I know how they would react, because I've called them. They act professionally, usually. They a)confirm the dates of employment (so I know the applicant's not lying to me about previous employment), and b) state whether they would rehire (if they catch on, I'll rephrase to whether they're eligible for rehire). This isn't to test their skills, it's to check their work history.

Like I said before, this doesn't apply to DMs from major chains because they most likely couldn't give a crap.

think about what you're doing. you're calling a potential employee's previous place of work and asking their boss if they would be rehired. what kind of response do you expect to get? why would you do something like that?

this is the kind of backwards thinking that i truly don't understand. if you REALLY wanted to know if a candidate was suitable for the position, you would see the results first hand. literally that is the best way to make a determination. going off secondary sources is not the best way, and it will probably negatively influence you away from a candidate that could have been stellar

so yeah, really backwards thinking

 

[M0df]

think about what you're doing. you're calling a potential employee's previous place of work and asking their boss if they would be rehired. what kind of response do you expect to get? why would you do something like that?

this is the kind of backwards thinking that i truly don't understand. if you REALLY wanted to know if a candidate was suitable for the position, you would see the results first hand. literally that is the best way to make a determination. going off secondary sources is not the best way, and it will probably negatively influence you away from a candidate that could have been stellar

so yeah, really backwards thinking

Seriously? I normally wouldn't respond to something like this. IF you have permission and/or a listed reference, you call to find out more about your applicant. The fact that you think that someone should be hired, given a chance (first hand results) and maybe a year later fired for lying on his interview or application is backwards thinking. Not to diminish your accomplishments but you have 1 year of experience and it didn't involve hiring/firing/disciplining techs and pharmacists.

I am glad you have a job but someone is telling you how it actually works from hiring manager point of view and you think it shouldn't be that way. Well, we had a call recently regarding a technician who was totally unreliable and left the job. Tech had poor work ethic and attendance. Store manager said she would not rehire this person.

Now. If you, as a candidate for a job, ask your potential employer not to call your current or former employer, they should respect that. They can draw their own conclusions from your request and you probably shouldn't work for them if they disregard that request.

 

[TheBlaah]

think about what you're doing. you're calling a potential employee's previous place of work and asking their boss if they would be rehired. what kind of response do you expect to get? why would you do something like that?

this is the kind of backwards thinking that i truly don't understand. if you REALLY wanted to know if a candidate was suitable for the position, you would see the results first hand. literally that is the best way to make a determination. going off secondary sources is not the best way, and it will probably negatively influence you away from a candidate that could have been stellar

so yeah, really backwards thinking

Really? There's something to be said about your personality if you can't think of any reason why a employer would call an applicant's previous employer. If an applicant is so concerned about it, they should mark "don't contact previous employer".

Most employees leave on a decent note; the fact that they don't means you, as the manager, may one day be dealing with same issue in the future.

How are you going to "see the results first hand" in a 1-2 hour interview. What kind of tests are you going to be administering in this timeframe? Or are you suggesting we hire first, see how they work out, and then fire them if it doesn't? Do you know what's involved in firing somebody? It's a LOT of bureaucratic paperwork; a person is only fired if they messed up in a big way.

 

[VictorOfHungerGames]

Study Trump. Take notes on what he says and how he says it. Fact check it if you like, but millions of people support and believe in him. Moreover, look at how far you can get by not being honest.

This is such a sad truth... lol Trump University was the worst. He flat out lied and still took their money... just like pharmacy schools, wait what?