Q: I am an unemployed technical writer. After three years at my last job, I was fired. This is the first time this has happened to me, and needless to say, I was taken by surprise! To date, my contacts haven’t been able to obtain a single interview for me. Two questions: Should I include references from my former employer in my cover letter and resume? Should I make brief mention of my firing in my cover letter? – Bill

A: J.T.: I’m sorry you got let go. I’m also very concerned that it caught you by surprise.

Dale: Yes, that’s troublesome. It means that you missed something in the business or its politics, and that you got tossed into the job search without preparation. The upshot is that you have fallen into the classic mistake of expecting your contacts to get you interviews. It rarely works when you ask friends questions like, “Do you know anybody who’s hiring?” As one psychologist said to me, “People don’t sort the world that way.” Which means, you need to ask better questions. Do your research, and come up with a list of companies you’d like to approach. Then ask contacts, “Do you know anyone at _____?” That’s a question they can answer.

J.T.: You also should contact your former employer’s human-resources department about its policy on giving references. Most companies will only verify dates of employment and confirm whether they would hire you again with a simple “yes” or “no.” These days, companies don’t want to give recommendations because it can lead to legal action against them. Thus, many companies tell their managers that they cannot give a reference on a former employee.

Dale: Now, as for your specific questions, Bill: No need to include references upfront or address the firing in your cover letter. If all goes well, they won’t know why you left your former company until they ask you in the interview.

J.T.: Overexplaining will be a red flag to a future employer – and mentioning it in the cover letter would count as overexplaining. In fact, these days, staying too long at any company sometimes can limit your ability to grow in your profession. As a technical writer, you now have the chance to broaden your skill set by moving on. That’s the approach I would take in your cover letter and in your interviews.