Liz Handlin

That said, since he also has the motive of being able to include that employer on his resume without fear of it biting him in the tail, it's wise to acknowledge that. Insulting the intelligence of his former employer by pretending that isn't the case is a mistake. All of us have the ability to connect the dots when someone's apology might also be part of a process to achieve a goal. That doesn't mean the person is bad. In my book, it makes them pretty smart to clean up life's messes that are holding them back.

If Joe reaching out isn't well received, he has the knowledge of knowing he tried. He can even share that with prospective employers. As a recruiter, I always appreciated people who could speak honestly about mistakes they made and the lengths they went to to set things right. So often you feel like you are getting a snow job. If a person really has changed, if the mistakes of the past aren't indicative of today, there is no better way to demonstrate that then to show ease in sharing lessons learned.

I suspect, however, the apology will be well received. Over the years many job seekers have blown it with me. They've done things to shatter my professional reputation with corporate clients without regret. Only a few have ever taken the time to apologize and attempt to make up for their poor choices. I say "a few", but I can honestly only think of one. I'm guessing Joe's former employer is going to be pleasantly surprised. He may even feel some closure himself as I'm sure he hated having to fire an employee who had showed so much promise prior to the day he lashed out. I know I still think about the people I've had to fire through the years. It's not a good feeling. There are times when people leave you no choice. Many employers aren't numb to the act of firing someone. If it was an employee the supervisor invested a lot of time in, there can even be resentment that the person put him in a position to have to fire him.