Encarnacion was dismissed from his “regular” position, as a Computer Operator I, in August 1985. The dismissal letter stated that he lacked the minimum qualifications for the position, which defendants characterized at trial and on appeal as requiring an “associate degree” in accounting or computer operation. The job description called for a “high school diploma, supplemented by courses in mechanized accounting or programming and one year of experience in that field,”
or “[a] combination of academic background and experience.” Thus, contrary to defendants' mischaracterization at trial, the job description did not require post-secondary school courses sufficient to qualify Encarnacion for an associate degree. Moreover, although Encarnacion conceded at trial that his post-secondary school courses were not in accounting or programming, and that he had no experience in computer programming
prior to his appointment, he had acquired two years' working experience on the job before he was dismissed in 1985, during which time he had received several “excellent” job performance evaluations.
See id. at 312–13 (noting that jury could credit circumstantial evidence that plaintiff “performed her duties very well”);
Estrada–Izquierdo, 850 F.2d at 14 (finding “probative” the circumstantial evidence that plaintiff “successfully carried out her job” for many years). Encarnacion's job description was flexible enough to permit the jury to determine that he possessed the necessary qualifications, and that the stated reason for his dismissal was pretextual.