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I received a job offer 1 week ago, I've accepted it but today I was fired from my current employer.

Just 2 days ago, my future employer asked for my current employer's reference and I provided them with HR details. I requested for them to wait 1 week as I would be handing my notice in then. Now there is no need to wait one week but I'm worried my future employer may think that I was fired and may reconsider hiring me.

Should I be upfront with my future employer and let them know I was fired and then can now contact my employer for a reference. Or should I 'beat around the bush' and just tell them they can now contact my employer without mentioning being let go.

My main concern is they will reconsider hiring me due to the termination.

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    Were you fired before or after giving notice?
    – Matthew Gaiser
    Jan 30, 2020 at 14:58
  • Before, I was not able to give my notice. I planned to hand it next week.
    – Ali
    Jan 30, 2020 at 14:58
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    Did they have an inkling that you might be leaving?
    – Matthew Gaiser
    Jan 30, 2020 at 15:01
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    Do you know if the hiring company waited or just contacted them? I.e. Why were you fired?
    – Gamora
    Jan 30, 2020 at 15:02
  • I was fired for under-performance.
    – Ali
    Jan 30, 2020 at 16:06

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Unless you were fired for misconduct or security policy violation, I believe that information is not relevant to your future employer now.

They interviewed you and you cleared and accepted the job offer. They may only need to check your working tenure with your previous organization, nothing more.

If the current employer would not have terminated your contract, you would have left through normal process anyways - so for the future employer, it really should not matter. However, be clear in your communication with the future employer - let them know that:

  1. You were let go before you could submit your resignation, and they can check for reference now.
  2. Now that you don't need to serve the notice period, you can join prior to the agreed date, if they are willing to take you onboard.
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  • I was not fired for either of those two, so my future employer does not need to know my contract was terminated but you have advised it's better for me to do so and be upfront? Also, would my current employer tell my future employer I was terminated? Lastly, how badly will my future employer conceive the termination?
    – Ali
    Jan 30, 2020 at 15:14
  • @Ali Well, since you already told them to hold on, as you need to resign and serve notice, and now suddenly (because of the termination) you're available - may create some confusions. As you confirmed the reason is performance - your future employer would not bother about that. Nothing to be gained by hiding, rather showing your cards will gain you some trust and confidence.
    – Sourav Ghosh
    Jan 30, 2020 at 15:18
  • "Also, would my current employer tell my future employer I was terminated?" Vastly depends on location. Example: In India, if you're terminated, that'll be written in BOLD and CAPITALS in your "relieving letter" as a permanent record, is some other countries, even revealing it verbally might be illegal.
    – Sourav Ghosh
    Jan 30, 2020 at 15:20
  • "Lastly, how badly will my future employer conceive the termination" - Most likely, the'll let this pass anyways.
    – Sourav Ghosh
    Jan 30, 2020 at 15:20
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    @SouravGhosh as you mentioned in comments (and I see m to remember too) it might be illegal in some countries to let the other company know OP was fired. So maybe OP should try to find out this first before he volunteers this information willingly to his new employer
    – user180146
    Jan 30, 2020 at 15:24

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