Filling out a California state job application, standard template used for everything from park maintenance to law enforcement. Before you even get to qualifications, experience, or education, they hit you with a termination question. EVER been fired from ANY job in your life? Yes or No. Then explain yourself in 200 characters. After 15 years of federal service, awards, and commendations, this is the first thing they want to know. Not what you've done, not what you're qualified for. Just, were you ever fired? From anything. Ever. This isn't for a specific position either. Same form for every state job. My agency admitted wrongful termination and offered a settlement and to remove the termination from my record. Trump's Executive Order stripped union bargaining rights and stripped any movement from the unions. The Executive Order/Union fight has been in 3-year limbo, three judges have failed to issue a ruling after months of delays, and it's expected to reach the Supreme Court which could be years away. So, I currently have the termination stuck on my records. So now I check Yes and explain 15 years of decorated federal service in 200 characters. Is my application going to be an automatic trash bin candidate or what? Also, there are no asterisks for it and it actually allowed me to move forward without answering. Should I skip it and only bring it up if they do? For more sensitive positions it will come up in the background anyway. I am worried this is going to be the end for all the experience and knowledge I bring, all because of a pathetic new manager. Most applications ask if they can contact your supervisor, this one just takes a name and phone number with no option to restrict contact. The supervisor who terminated me isn't going to be honest. Can I list my hiring supervisor from years back instead as he retired long before and doesnt know any of the newer staff.