How to interview for jobs if you have a sticky past

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Dear Mr. Walberg:While with my last employer, I went on one information interview, and my employer found out about it. Eight days later I was asked for my resignation on grounds that I was insubordinate. They claimed that they had several letters from employers in the community that I was bad-mouthing my supervisor and employer. I resigned to avoid having a termination on my record, and later found out that there were no letters, and I assure you that I was not bad-mouthing my employer or supervisor. They apparently just wanted me out.What do I tell prospective employers about why I resigned? How do I complete applications that ask for a previous supervisor's name, title and phone number? And will prospective employers contact my last place of employment?J.K., Washington StateDear J.K.,The key here is honesty and brevity. Tell the truth, as briefly and quickly as you can, then dive directly into your experience, skills, talents, and above all, your accomplishments. Sell the present and future while being completely honest and extremely brief about the past. The more you dwell on the ghosts of the past, the more prospective employers will believe the negatives.In your case, you want to avoid what your previous employer accused you of. Do not bad-mouth, but simply explain, with a smile on your face, that you went on one information interview and eight days later you were asked for your resignation. It was wrong of your employer to do it, but you were caught between the rock and the hard place and only wanted to protect yourself. Incidentally, they would not produce the so-called letters! So, now you are here and interested in continuing your career.Yes, prospective employers check previous places of employment, but smart employers refer all such calls to human resources, so on applications, simply put the name of your previous employer's HR manager and telephone number. If you are asked again for a supervisor's name, explain that the employer requests calls to human resources only. That should work with most employers and is the accepted way to go. Prospective employers will get basic information of your employment dates, position, etc.Again, "touch" on the past; "SELL" the present and future.(Marvin Walberg is a job search coach. Contact him at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net, marvinwalberg.blogspot.com, or PO Box 43056, Birmingham, AL 35243.)