Ever been fired from a job?

I was in a role at one point that was just the wrong fit. I communicated my feeling about this to my supervisor as well as to th eclient and detailed why I felt that the role should not continue. It was much easier because it was a contract role and I think what helped was my willingness to look for solutions rather than complain about the problems. We found tasks that I could be successful in and sought a replacement. What the client decided to do in the end was to post the role as an FTE which would have disqualified me anyway- non compete and all that.

I did some work in that job that I am very proud of. Because of the state of IT at the time, it wasn't easy to find another role but I made it. Regardless, I think I did the right thing. It would not have served anyone for me to hav ekept trying to work in a role that I was a poor fit for.

My first computing job, over 20 years ago, was with a startup computing company that made development tools for COBOL.

When I started the job, the initial offer was low, lower than I had been lead to believe by my friend at the company who had got me the interview - I was going to work in his department. When I asked at the final interview about the discrepency, they suggested that the company was starting out, revenues were low, and once the business picked up they would be making adjustments. Naive as I was back then, I took the job with that idea in mind.

After two years, the revenue and profitability had improved greatly - I know, I was posting the monthly sales numbers. So at my review discussion with the head of HR, when presented with the standard raise, which was exactly the of inflation rate, I protested, politely.

This basically raised the ire of the HR manager and the president. So they looked for reasons to fire me. They couldn't find any. They tried to humilate me, by making an admin assistant (secretary in those days)my supervisor. She saw how hard I was working (60 hours weeks, no OT) and how productive I was, and she became my ally. She would tell me when they asked her about firing me, and she would tell them there were not any grounds.

Eventually after 6 months, there were 2 down trending months in sales in a row. They then decided it was grounds to lay me off. The VP of sales who did the layoff told me it was the best thing that could happen to me, and that he would be happy to provide great references. And he was right.

I was fired as a sales person for not making enough sales. That place was a bit of a revolving door. I was more at home being a "consultative" sales person as opposed to a hard closer. I was told I was too technical. I took the hint, and never did another pure sales job again.

James

When I landed my first fulltime position in IT, I worked for a software development firm her in town as the senior pc tech. I've been playing with pc's for years, and built my first 386 out of a box of spare parts, no previous training and/or instruction.

18 months months later, I was "promoted" to an application support position for which (in hindsight) I was completely un-qualified, and which ultimately lead to my dismissal five months later. (Of course, telling off my managing VP had nothing to do with it!)

In a previous life, I was sacked four times as the sous chef of a large restaurant. The owner discovered I was "keeping company" with his ex, and fired me.
(I swear, I didn't know she was his ex!)

The problem was, my replacement wasn't up to the job, so the executive chef called me back. I hit him up for more money, and he agreed. Train my so called replacement, and a month later, WHAM! Sacked again! Replacement not up to the job, cycle repeats another three times.

Finally, after doubling my wage, almost becoming an alcoholic, and getting stressed beyond belief, when the phone rang the fifth time, I didn't answer.....

edited for formatting

For nearly 18 years, I worked for a Computer Services company in Technical Support. Over that time, I had held several positions, eventually working up to be second tier support in my local office. My performance appraisals were always good and I was praised for my knowledge and creativity in finding solutions to the client's concerns.

Unfortunately, I developed severe Bilateral Repetitive Strain Injury (Carpal Tunnel and Tennis Elbow in both arms). This was extremely painful and forced me to slow down. Even though I attempted to change positions within the company so that I could continue to contribute, my attempts to transfer to another department were blocked for any number of reasons (including 'scaring off' another manager because of my physical disability and just plain competition among managers). My performance appraisals began to suffer because my productivity was suffering. As my condition deteriorated, management began to look at me as a liability instead of an asset especially since there were others in Tech support that saw me having problems and started to ask questions about my condition and what the future may hold for them.

As a Canadian, I was covered by WSIB (Workplace Safety Insurance Board) or comp as some may know it. Eventually, I was declared permanently disabled by comp. The law here is that an injured employee must be given modified duties. Because I worked in a Canadian office of a major US firm, head office was not pleased. I was told that there was no job available that could accommodate me and suddenly I was unemployed.

WSIB sent me for skills upgrading and paid for me to gain my MCSE certification. I was off work for 2 years. Unfortunately, a gap like that looks very bad on a resume and it took a while and a pay cut in order to secure employment. My salary is still not up to my former level and even though I generally enjoy my current position, I still think of what could have been.

By the way, WSIB charged back every cent they paid for my rehabilitation to my former employer. My case worker told me that they had been charged over 250K plus fines. I also sued the company for what Canadian law describes as ?constructive dismissal? and received a settlement on that.

I have seen some nasty comments on the discussion boards concerning Carpal Tunnel. Please let me assure you that I endured a lot of pain because of my condition and still encounter bad days. Although some may try to fake it, I certainly did not. WSIB has since de-listed CTS and RSI as workplace injuries.

...a long time ago, way before IT, and before many of you were even born. And I deserved it. The only thing I wonder about, in hindsight, is what took them so long to do it! I would have fired me long before they fired me. That manager should have been fired for not firing me sooner!

...was late 3 times so my probation was ended in 5 months. But my coworkers had their time cards punched in by their 'helpful' mates, some were even allowed beyond 3 counts.

The real issue was I pointed out that the entire code was not following OOP; 2nd, I had uttered in front of the manager's favorite programmer that his coding was crap in my review.

But like you, I have rebounded in the next two jobs with 8 times higher in salary, benefits, recognition, respect and most of all, very flexible time. At present, I may not even come in at all and not be deducted.

And not management does not want me to leave and lots of people want me to work for them as consultant.

Yes, I was fired for poor performance. No, it hasn't hurt in the long run.

I had a support job with the promise of becoming a developer. I'd been given a small project to do in my own time, but my main purpose at the company was support - telephonic, remote and on-site. I found it too routine for me, and to make things worse one of our clients became a threat to my wife (not my fault, promise).

The combination of the two became too much for me, and I lost interest in the job. As a result I started doing private stuff during working hours using office computers, and my work generally went down. I was given a written warning for the performance, and when it was found out I was using company email, PCs and time to do something else, I was summarily dismissed with a month's salary.

What has it done for me? I did one more year as a support tech (within one building) before moving into a development position. I have not taken a support position since, and warn my employers ahead of time that I am not available to travel. All in all, I'm now doing what I wanted to do, and I'm enjoying it (and being paid for it).

I Worked 12 Years For This Company Based Out Of Reno, NV.. I Was The High Ranking With Seniority (Automated Systems Conveyor Technician). I Was Based In Plainfield, IN. & Indianapolis, IN., I Serviced Preventative Maintenance, Programming, Repair Of Conveyor Systems In 2.5 Million Sq. Feet Of Warehousing Conveyor Systems For 12 Years. My Income Was $16.60 Per Hour. On Call 24 Hours A Day And I Loved My Job! One Day About 3 Months Before I Was Laid Off, The Company Sent Me An Mexican/American Employee And Instructed Me To Train Him Everything I Knew. I Started Training In The Preventative Maintenance Field. About A Week Went By, I Heard From The Company Rumors That I Was On The Chopping Block For Layoff. So I Cut The Training Short For Job Security On My Part. For Three Months, My Foreign Tranee Only Recieved Preventative Maintenance (PM) Training Only. I Did Not Give Anymore Information To The Trainee In Fear Of Losing My Job (Job Security). Sure Enough! Three Months Later I Was Handed A Lay-Off Order And I Was Replaced By My Mexican/American Trainee Who Was Being Paid $8.00 Per Hour, Over Half Of My Income! I Was Laid-Off And Replaced By A Foreigner For Less $$Money$$. On The Day Of My Lay-Off, 72-Hours Following My Lay-off I Recieved Notice By Mail Of My Termination (FIRED)! So I Worked 12-Years Of Excellent Service, I Was Layed-Off For 72 Hours, Then I Was FIRED! Most Discusting Part Was I A AMERICAN BORN CITIZEN OF THE U.S. Was Replaced By A Job Stealing, Low Life, $8.00/Hr. MEXICAN BORN JOB STEALING SOB! This Company Was Cited And Fined By The INS 237 Fines In 2002, One Year After I Was Fired, For Hiring And Employing Illegal Aliens. You Want To Know What Happened About 1 Month After I Was Fired? I Recieved A Phone Call From Corporate SOB's, Asking Why I Didn't Train My Trainee Everything I Knew, I Said Job Security. The Companies Conveyor System Failed, Went Down And Stopped Production For One Week, Their Mexican Maintenance Man Couldn't Fix The Problem. The Company Called Me And Wanted Me To Fix Problem, Guess What! It's Your Problem, Not Mine, I Don't Work For You No More... They Kept Pestering Me To Fix It, I Gave In And Said $200.00 Service Charge And $60.00 Per Hour CASH! Up Front! They Refused, I Said Call Someone Else Then... You Call Me Back It Will Be More Charges. Sure Enough, Four Hours Later They Called And Asked Me Again, I Said $250 Service Charge And $80.00 Per Hour CASH! They Said They'd Call Me Back, They Had To Discus This Deal With Corporated Head Quarters In Reno, NV.. Corporate HQ Called, It Was The Owner, The Owner Of The Company Tried To Offer My Job Back To Me If I'd Fix The Problem. I Said No! But Said Go Ahead And Fix At My Rate, Well The Rate Changed Again, $300.00 Service Charge And $100.00 Per Hour CASH Up Front! Owner Said Ok! Owner Instructed The General Manager To Pay Me Cash Immediately Upon Arrival. After Walking Through The Conveyor System And Noticing Several Problems In Preventative Maintenance, I Charged Them $500.00 CASH For 1-Hour and 20 Mins. Of Work. While I Was There Three Mexican Kept Glued To Me Like Bugs! Trying To Figure Out What I Did To Fix Problem. One, The PLC Had To Be Reset, The Control Panel Had A Couple Of Contactors Tripped, And Had To Oil The Main Drive Chain On The Sorter. Made An Easy $500 Bucks. But, They Begged Me To Come Back, But I Refused!

LAYOFF - REPLACED - FIRED - And Begged By The Company OWNER!

The Company Laid-Off 72% Of It's American Worker's For Cheap Labored (Mexicans).

I Think, This Company Should Move Their Operations To Mexico And The Owner Should Forfeit His U.S. Citizenship!

I'm Currently CEO And Owner Of My Own Company In Repairing Commercial and Residential Networks And Computer Systems. I'm A Small Company, And Employ Hard Working American Citizens! I Hire Americans Only! If You Don't Speak English or Not An American Born Citizen, There's No Work Available In My Company!

I Came From Working A Great Job I Loved In Conveyor Systems, Owning My Own Home And A Good Life, Having Brand New Vehicles Every Three Years.

Then I Was Lay-Off, Replaced, Then Fired!

I Lost Everything! Lost The House, The Vehicles!

Currently! I Work Everyday, 7-Days A Week, I Rent An Apartment, I Own A 1976 Chevy P/U And A 1986 Ford Ranger. I Own And Run A Small Company Of Myself And 4-Employees. I Barely Get By....

In Other Words!

I Was Interviewed By A Company Who A Friend Asked Me To Come In, This Company Built And Installed Automated Systems Control Panels, Just Like The Ones I Used To Work With.
Only (2) Showed Up For The Interview For Control Panel Installation Technician. Myself And An 20 Year Old Kid Straight Out Of College.

During The Interview, We Were Shown Schematic Drawings Of Control Panels And Were Asked To Disyfer The Schematics.

One Week Past And I Recieved A Phone Call From This Control Panel Company And Was Told I Was OVER QUALIFIED For The Position. I Asked Why? They Said They Wanted To Hire Someone They Can Train In This Field. And? They Said I Knew More About Their System Than Their Own Trainer. So They Hired The Straight Out Of College Book Worm Over 12 Years Experience In This Field.

Later, I Found Out Through A My Friend In That Company, The College Kid Who Was Hired, Bears The Name Of A Mexican Family.

So, Thats My Story! American Jobs Are Going To Mexico!

LAID-OFF - REPLACED - FIRED - OVER QUALIFIED!

I joined a brokerage firm in 1992 with 60 people as admin/phone/computer person. I was able to bring this company into the networking world with windows 3.11 and eventually Windows NT. I install a Nortel Norstar (which is my passion) and buy 1998 the projects were nill and my job was stagnant. The company didnt want to roll out any etrading web portals. And eventually got acquired and laid off. But an agency found Cox Communications in so calif looking for a project manager and phone admin to take over building out and moving into their 200,000 sf new facility. Included choosing a phone system, vendor installation and cutover of 2000 phones and sonet networks. Great jump in challenged and experience. Not to say my salary in 92 was 27k but in 98 in was 39k. With new company in went to 70k now at 110k.

my motto is keep your mind open for constant change...things are obsolete in a matter of months these days. dont get your feelings involved on projects you want to happen and they dont go your way. And the best advice is; Familarity breeds contempt. Keep you relationships at work even during your break and water cooler talk times very professional. Its best to be mysterious after 2 years rather than give colleagues material about yourself to gossip etc.

I was once hired for a slot that I knew I was not ready to handle but I had signed on to a training program so I had no choice but to take it. I had spent an hour on the phone with the supervisor and felt like I was in a totally different career field. I told my mentor that he did not have to worry about me being hired for that job. Imagine my shock when he told me the next day that I was hired. I asked if my competition was a dead dog because I could not believe that they hired me.

So, they dragged me across country and for 14 months I struggled to get it together coming in at times at 4 AM and leaving at 10 PM plus doing weekends. Though I was in the same corporation everything I was trained to do they did almost exactly opposite at the new station. I was trying to relearn my career field while trying to supervise 8 employees in a section that I had recieved only 8 days of training in during the 14 month training period. On top of that, the 8 employees hated me, each other and themsselves.

My immediate supervisor and her boss differed on my managerial style. I was not strict enough for her and I was too strict for him. Made me think I was right on target but didn't help my piece of mind. I finally requested a transfer to the janitorial service. I said that I was going to have to file bankruptcy but at least I would have some sort of income to start back on a road to sanity.

Fortunately, there was an IT Coordinator position open. I had learned a lot of IT stuff OJT when I worked for the Dept of the Army. Also, at the training site corporate had bought a lot of software for the section and IT installed it but no one provided training. I taught myself the softeware and then trained the section. I had to do a repeat at the new site and actually had people call me from other sites across the country.

I felt I was qualified for the job but the last two jobs that I was hired for I told them I knew nothing and was hired. Jobs that I knew I could do I couldn't get hired if I had paid for my first year's salary. I was desperate for this job so I asked the interviewer how he wanted me to answer. Should I plead ignorance or tell what I knew? He wanted my knowledge so I was hired and four years later moved into the IT Service.

I suspect that they would have never fired me at the other position so I fired myself and it was the best thing I had done for awhile in the job arena. I am now looking to retire in two years and go full time in my part time career.

I have already done the preliminaries. I have two doctoral degrees and have published two books and have a web site related to that career in full swing. I wanted to retire early but I would lose too much so all I am doing is waiting for the calendar.

Someone once said no one ever truly succeeds until they have have been fired at least once. Well, unless you count my self-fire I need to get fired so I can excel. ;-)

And it's sad because those were the only two jobs I had (one I have now not counting, of course). Once because I reported a manager for harrassment (co. believed him over myself and the victim) and once because I was basically being used as the errand/moving/go-fer boy instead of a real IT person and I said something about it. First job lasted about 11 months.. the second barely more than a month before the truth came out and they started treating me like a dog rather than a professional. I think I'm better off out of those places, though, although I was out of work for nearly six months with the last gig and forced to take the first thing I was offered for less money just to pay my bills.

I was a contract worker for a large oil and gas company and was busting my butt working roatating schedules of at least 12 hour shifts and had little time at home with my family. I had asked for a different shift many times and was turned down only to see positions open and filled during those other shifts on a regular basis. I dealt with this for a while as the money was great and wanted to stay long enough to get hired as an employee as opposed to contract.
Finally enough just became enough with the situation. Contract workers were treated awful compared to employees and I was starting to suffer marital problems because of it. I told them I could no longer work this swinging shift and I would be more than happy to take another shift of a guy who had just given notice. This was literally my fourth plea for better hours for me and my family. My manager agreed to this and gave me my new start data and time under the new shift. I was excited and happy. The day before I was to start I recieved a call saying that I was terminated. I was terminated after we had an agreement. They just decided to change thier minds. In the past this company has been good about letting people go with no notice at all. It seems it is something they like to do. People with children. And it is not like we did anything to breach security or anything. Certain things just weren't working out.
I spotted an ad on Monster for what sounded like a good position and sent my resume. I interviewed, liked the company and accepted the offer. It went very well. It was definitely for the better as I hated where I was and needed a change. I make quite a bit less, but I worka very normal schedule with a ton of flexibility and everybody is great. Getting fired was the Best thing that happened to me in my career.

(Twice)

But that wasn't all of it.

The first time I was fired because the owner:

Didn't want anyone besides him to delegate work.

Thought taking burned out PC's to the trash was stealing from the company.

Thought SCO Open Server 3 was the be-all and end-all, and thought input to the contrary was insubordination. Even if it came from SCO.

Thought if you did anything in the way of a hobby, you were taking time away from the company business.

Didn't want to hire a cleaning staff, but didn't like the way we cleaned the office when it was our week to "volunteer".

When I took a day off to have a heart cath, he was personally insulted. More so when the doctor's report said it was "workplace stress". (Did I mention he was in charge of reviewing the medical claims too?)

(I just didn't learn.)

Second time.

The new owner took a perfectly profitable retail venture, and ran it into the ground trying to be the king of video conferencing long after WebEx cornered the market.

I came in one Monday to be escorted to the bosses office where the old owner was. He had come in to take back the firm, and first thing he did was fire one-half the staff.

His famous words: "I don't know anything about IT, and I don't know anything about project management, but I know I need to cut expenses." Wanted me to wrap up the details of a project with a potential savings of over $8000 a month. For free. AFTER he fired me.

Ruined me forever on small or family run businesses. After working for these two I never again questioned the need for unions, or leg-breaking shop stewards.

Over the nearly 40 years I've been in IT, I've been fired once and had one position eliminated.

Back in 1977 I was working for a large, well known, retail clothing chain in the SF Bay Area. I enjoyed my work and my coworkers... then one Friday afternoon, the VP of IT came and asked me to come to his office.

He told me that "things just aren't working out" and that I was being terminated. It was quite strange and I wondered for the longest time why my Project Manager didn't have the "brass" to do the dirty deed. It was all political and I know who it was (Project Leader) that stabbed me in the back.

They underestimated their actions... just because one guy apparently didn't agree with my programming style, thay gave me the axe. The following Monday, I received a phone call from another Project Manager there who said he and another P.M. would very much have liked to have me on their teams, and to feel free to use him as a reference. Two of my coworkers quit because of my firing, or so they told me. Probably true since we were all close friends and none had been looking before. The Project Lead had better hope he never works for me in the future -- I owe him one (evil grin). Getting sacked hurt me financially for a few months, but it all worked out eventually for the better.

In 1996, the position I had prior to the one I have now was eliminated as part of a cost-cutting attempt even though I showed the Asst. Superintendent how to save $110,000 more **without** layoffs. It wasn't his idea, so they proceeded with their plan. Everything I told them that would go wrong, did within 9 months of my leaving... AND they ended up going to the voters for a special tax to get funds to refurbish several neglected school buildings and grounds.

Hunting for a job at 47 years of age was no fun, but it eventually worked out for the better. I miss the variety I had on the last job (I did literally everything there) but I have a good job that pays better... not to mention a bunch of great people to work with.

Nobody has ever questioned my performance. If you find yourself getting "canned," "sacked," "being made redundant," or whatever you (or they) want to call it, and you know your performance is not an issue, hold your head high and keep on going. There is something better for you out there. Sometimes it take a while to become apparent, but a better job is out there for you -- don't get discouraged.

(edited for a typo)

I was never fired with anger, but with the phrase "We think you'd be happier elsewhere." Once as a landscaper (for taking my legal 10 minute break in the morning), once as a plant nursery worker (more legit because I didn't have a driver's license at the time), and once as a florist delivery guy (I was too fast and spent most of my time wandering the shop looking for something to do. He actually wanted me to toodle around between deliveries.)

Since these were some of my first jobs, I figure these were learning experiences. I learned that some employers are not worth working for, and that I need to adapt to my environment if I really do want to stay employed.

Just over two years ago, I became the recipient of a one person
lay off after five years of IT/Accounting service. This came as a
result of an accounting consultant playing the role of a
corporate snitch, and liar, in a small family operated winery.

The main rationale for accepting the position at first was the
promise of a very good pension plan in addition to the other
benefits offered. This factor for a person of my age and an IT
worker/manager with over 20 years of experience was an
exciting prospect.

My supervisor with the title of Director of Administration
decided to ignore the market place and other related issues
several years ago. This was the period of time at the beginning
of the huge slump that caused the start of pension plans going
to the wayside. The Director could easily have placed a freeze
on the plan. This would have saved the plan for everyone's
future. However, after the first recipient retired, the director
decided that it was to much work to manage the plan. So, the
plan was finally frozen after losing approximately 15% of it's
value, and a newly designed 401k replacement ot our already
existing 401k was implemented.

The end result was approximately a 70% loss of my soon to be
realised early retirement. The Director received a $20,000
bonus and a raise to $125,000 per year with a new retirement
plan at this same time. Further, I was to remain a highly
motivated one person IT department and a payroll/benefit
accoumtant without a raise or bonus.

After I was released frojm the agony, I experienced two different
severe operation as a result of one prior Worker's Compensation
accident. Now, I am on the mend and I am on Social Security
Disability with a bleak retirement ahead. Fortunately, my wife
and I purchased a three acre property in Hilo, Hawaii while at the
winery.

Today, I am a disabled person with a small retirement from a
401k plan, a Social Security Disability plan, Social Securities
permission for me to earn up to 60% of my former salary as a
consultant, a home with 85% equity, a three acre property in
Hawaii, and a pending Worker's Compensation settlement. All
that was just mentioned, along with my wife and her retirement
plans, will make the two of us a happy couple for years to come.

The conclusion is simple. Forget the thoughts of how you could
work for an employer and receive a retirement plan that will
actually exist for your needs. Take the time to setup your own
retirement plan, along with some property, and then accept any
benefit offered at a company that you can ENJOY.

I've been in the Army for 22 years and there is an old saying, "Screw up and move up".. I've only seen a handful of people get canned and it wasn't for job performance but for moral issues; DUIs, bad checks, etc.. Screw up a database or crash a network and get moved to a position of higher authority.

My tale of woe...

I was working for this group that in many cases was clueless. Two rather young, inexperienced supervisors & one old-line hard ass manager fit into this picture. They never planned ahead. Reports due today were passed out late in the day, resulting in working late. These inexperienced supervisors NEVER wanted to hear from an experienced person as to a "better way". I never did learn to shut up.

One day, I was handling the cycle duty and forgot to run a particular important job as part of the rerun. In my defense, it was a fairly new process & I was busy with a bunch of stuff that day. In addition, my supervisor had made the identical mistake a couple of weeks before.

They put me on report. A few weeks later my manager told me that all was OK & they expected me to pull out of it. On Thursday, I was invited to a meeting on Friday at 4pm.

I was off for 9 months. That was very difficult. I'm in a good place, now. I prove my worth all the time. Got laid off a couple of months back, but started as a contractor the next day - for the same company.

I worked for a company for 25 years. They came to me and told me that I needed to cross train other people in my department. After 1 year, I trained 5 other people to do what I was doing. One week before my annual bonus and 2 weeks before a scheduled pay raise they called me in to the managers office and told be I was laid off. The new president of the company was an Ex marine who viewed the senior people as replaceable cogs who they could get rid of and save the salary. I took a month off to relax and then had another job a week after I started to look and I couldn't be more happy. The moral of the story, when you are asked to crosstrain someone look out.

I was the Network Admin for a small network for almost 2 years. I don't remember why (probably had to do with wanting more $$), but I had been looking for a new position for a couple of months already. One day, my boss and another manager called me in and said they were going to redefine the expectations of my position. I was told, "You're not talented enough to do this job. You can apply for it, but we're not hiring you for it. You have 2 months to find a new job."

4 hours later, I received a job offer. In hindsight, the job wasn't that great, but it did come with a 30% pay increase. 2 years later, my wife and I were looking to relocate and I interviewed with a large employer. I was offered that job at a modest 5% increase, but happily took it. I found out later that management was looking to cut their headcount in half and I would have been one of those cut.

So, I've come close to the axe a couple of times and have avoided it so far. However, I have a suspicion that the axe may fall at my current job. My manager has had a personal problem with me for some time now (I have no idea why), and it appears that he's happy to let my contract expire without renewing it.

I had no problems at all with what was written. It wasn't PC, but I'm not PC either.

Someone I heard about worked for a major technology firm who was relocating their jobs to India. This person who to fly to India to teach her replacement how to do the job. I might have flown over, but would have taught them the wrong stuff. :-D

I was going to school in the mornings and work in the afternoon and weekends. The boss had a friend who couldn't get work anywhere else cause the bum was drunk most of the time. One weekend the two of us were working whithout anyone else there to keep tabs on what was happening. Come Monday morning the boss calls me into his office and tells me I am being fired because there is money missing from petty cash. This could only have happened when I was at work Saturday. He failed to mentioned and would not accept the fact that his buddy had the key to the bloody cash box. I did go on to bigger and better things, but at 17 this was tough until I realized I was not at fault and that it was a blessing in disguise to be rid of that place. Heard from a friend working there that the boss and his buddy were canned the following month by the owner of the business, and I bet you know why. Thats right. Missing money in now fairly large amounts. The problem was the other 8 people working there lost their jobs because that branch was closed. Justice does come sometimes.

I was just recently fired from a IT management job that I liked and was paid very well for. I was well respected by everyone I worked with except the people that counted - the owners. I never found a good way to connect with these people (it is a husband and wife owned technology company) and I think in the end that is what did me in. I did not fit their profile of a good manager and they never got comfortable with me on their leadership team. After consulting with many of my former co-workers there, I still haven't figured out why it happened so I have given up trying to understand it. I took solice in the fact that almost everyone I worked with (including the executives who reported right to the owners) called me after my firing to express their disbelieve at what had happened. I believe in the long run I will be better off as it spurred me to do what I have been thinking of doing for 3 years - going solo. I now work as an Independent Consultant and make the same money as before, have more flexibility with my schedule, more free time for my family and hobbies, and have a lot less stress. I now realize that job was a bad fit for me and getting let go was just the push I needed to go in a direction that will make me happier.

I've had three engineering jobs over my 30+ years ... and all three job losses were due to major company shrinkage. Apparently when "downsizing" became all the rage back in the late '80's, management forgot how to do anything else but. I always felt that any idiot can fire people to bolster the next quarterly bottom line; it takes real management to make it work with the folks they have. But, hey, what do I know ... they're collecting golden parachutes while I am counting quarters to feed my grandson.

I can relate. God has a way of openning a window
when a door closes. He will move you to where he wants you to go in order to prosper. However,
there were some lessons learned that he needed to take you thru.

===============
I had a manager to tell me that I was not looked at as an engineer. (Me beingBlack Female) However, she placed me on Engineer projects and put me in front of the customers, etc....
I since went to a new Corp. I am respected as an
Engineer and was made a Manager-employee with Bonus, etc.
I received my Masters Degree, etc.Now working on Second Masters. My Boss loves me, etc because
I have a strong work ethic and I bring new Ideas to the table, & I'm EDUCATED!!! -No one can take that from me.
My past Manager was not polished and did not have any degrees.
Be careful of working for Managers that do not have education and that have moved up the ladder based on politics. In any case, I learned so much from that tired place-sweat shop. (no pay increase for four years-gave them to her buddies)
I thank God for that experiance. It made me a better professional. Increased my salary by 50%.
I love life even more

You make a good point, but I was trying be mindful that at one point in history, my ancestors, and yours too probably, were immigrants looking for work. Why blame them for wanting a better life? The bigger question is: Where is the righteous anger directed at the corporate fat-cats that get away with this?

... especially since my people either came down from Canada into New York, or came with the place before the white man came.

Reminds me of a tee-shirt I picked up at a pow-wow last year.

"Homeland Security: Fighting Terrorists since 1492"

I was [i]technically[/i] fired from 2 jobs. The first one, I was an assistant bookkeeper for a law firm in a town a little over a 1/2 hour away from my home. I had a minor car accident (I wasn't visibly hurt but they took me to the hospital anyway because I was pregnant) which put my car out of commission. I had no transporation. Public transportation (taxi to the nearest train station) would have cost me a day's pay). I also didn't have a phone. I had to walk to the pay phone a few blocks away to check in. They never offered any help. No offers of having someone pick me up, no offers of train tickets [i](and that really peeved me because the company bought train passes all the time for when any of us had to travel to the Downtown office)[/i] Nada. I finally got tired of checking in and put it off longer and longer. They basically terminated me for lack of transporation and not checking in. They also refused my unemployment which really sucked since I was pregnant with my second child. But looking back I realized it was a dead-end job and I would never have learned all that I know today.

The second one was kind of a weird situation. I was the MIS of the small company. I had a seemingly close work relationship with the President. Then her best friend came to work for her as the Graphic Designer. I got to know her really well. Also, a guy was hired to program a custom software for the company. He also proceeded to take over most of the Network managing since he knew a lot more of that than me especially since he switched us to Novell. This left me with all the little techie jobs. Which I didn't mind, I liked fixing all the small problems. One day the Graphic Designer and the President had a huge fight. The GD quit. They made me the new GD (they had been trying to get me into a position that would better suit my skills vs. wasting them on the little techie jobs --- or so they said). They hired a new techie. Soon after that the GD position became obsolete. I was moved into Customer Service. After I had my third child I tried doing some data entry work from home...it was supposed to be somewhat temporary. The work eventually dissipated. Finally when I emailed requesting more work I was told I had made the choice to stay home and to turn in my passkey. I did so without any regrets, I had basically been forced out of my position of power in company after 5 years of loyal service. Too bad for them.

The job I'm in now is where I plan on staying for a long, long while.
Tink

The only job I have ever had is an independent game maker, but that's probably because I'm so young.

That ship has sailed. Get over it.

Signing bonuses are inducements to get you to take the risk of leaving a secure job, and going to a new place. They wouldn't have been offered unless they were needed. With the number of job seekers out there, they aren't needed anymore. Except perhaps in scarce skills. If you want one, become a security guru, a Sarbox specialist or an SAP consultant.

Times change. Back when my dad was growing up, people were trading in heavy horses for tractors. Blacksmiths had a lucrative career, but suddenly were no longer in demand. Some continued to make a living, others moved on to other careers.

I make only 2/3 of what I used to make, but thats not my employer, thats the market. I well know that if I want to focus on money, I have to expand my skillset to include the hot tech things.

Or you can go out and be your own boss, and make as much as you can.

James

I have no issues yelling and screaming about the national policies set by both governments, Personally, I don?t agree with a lot of them. But using it as an excuse is not acceptable in my book. In this example, both the American and the Mexican are doing their best to play the system to better their lives.

Management (overall) is just trying to get the best ROI they can. If they are wrong, they will learn the hard way and the workers get screwed in the process.

There is always more to the story that meets the eye. The personal "perception" or even the truth of someone being let go is tarnished by a direct conflict of interest. I?ve been through a dozen acquisitions, both large and small, and I?m still amazed and why people are let go.

I'm just providing a realists point of view. You can fight the global economy and lose or you can try to understand it, play the game, and attempt to position yourself and your family to win.

Those that continue to blame it on (in this example) the Mexican are misguided at best. If they were in his / her position, they would do the same thing.

Those that are blaming it on management are a little closer to the truth, but in most cases, it's outside their sphere of influence.

Those that concentrate on what they can do to survive will ultimately be the winners.

In this case, it seems as if the Mexican played the game well. Does that make him a SOB? Does that make him a low-life? In my book, he / she is a winner.

worked for job "A" for over two years
Resigned to accept job "B"
I continue to work part time for job A while still working full time
for job B
Job A asks me to come back full time, I accept a start date and
resign from job B
In the interim job A rescinds it's offer because job B calls them
and tells them a bunch of nonsense

I am now without either job A or Job B

Any lawyers out there?

I worked for a security firm this summer. I was normally a supervisor and did alarm response for their clients. A few weeks into my job, our company got the contract to do a golf tournament at a ritzy club. The first night we worked, a guy was almost dismissed while I was supervising because he by accidently drove a cart on the greens. I was in the office at the time.

The next night, they told me that I was going to be in the golf cart doing the job that these guys did. That night, I dropped off an elderly man at his car after his shift was over. The grass was wet and as I approached his car (at half speed - the cart was electronically limited to 5km/hr), I pressed the parking brake by mistake and the car slid 3 to 4 feet and scratched his car.

The manager of human resources spoke to me about my accident and I told him I was sorry, that i didn't mean to do it, and that I was only going half speed, but was still fired.

Was told by him that I had to pay the full amount of the damage and that the company had no insurance. (they say 1000 bucks, which is rediculous because I didn't t-bone his car, i scratched it) Since I was just out of school, I told him that I only had 400 dollars to pay for damage (about 40% of damage) He said fine, we will pay half the costs and you pay half. 400 dollars wasn't enough and he said it could be deducted from my pay until paid in full.

I was told by the owner of the car I scratched that he was told the company had insurance and he was not to worry because it would be paid for in full. He told me this, and I asked my boss if he would use the insurance and I could help the company. He lied to me and told me they had no insurance. Finally, he admitted they had insurance but only a ten-thousand dollar deductible.

Eventually, I was told I was fired unless I payed the full amount. They told me finally that they had no insurance because the golf cart was company equipment. Humorously, my record of employment says I was terminated for "misuse of company equipment"

Anyway, I complained to the labour board about them because legally they aren't allowed to deduct pay. The security firm changed my record of employment but now are complaining that my job performance was poor (obviously making up reasons so they aren't fined by the labour board)

Anyway, I'm applying to other jobs now, one of which is being a cop, so hopefully it works out better.

Anybody have any advice on what to tell future employers about what happened? I don't want to complain about my employer to future employers, but maybe somebody has advice about this. I am an honest person, and I have no problem telling the truth, but how can i turn this into a positive?