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Answers to Readers' Questions on Career:
Getting Fired
The following 6 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- What to do with assignment worksheet?
- Fired and worried I that I can't get a job
- Distraught over being fired
- Should I put being fired on my resume?
- Told off boss before quitting job
- Lost temporary job and having trouble getting others
What to do with assignment worksheet?
Question
September 17, 2009
when my daughter is done with a assignment worksheet does she have to scan it and send it to you?
Jennifer - USA
18330
Answer
Our website is used to help students understand their school assignments, as well as to explain things to people. We don't grade material.
If she has an assignment worksheet, it must have been given by a teacher and should be given to that teacher.
Fired and worried I that I can't get a job
Question
March 5, 2009
I was recently terminated from a position, and before that I could not get a job for a long while. I can't get back up. I am so full of fear that any job I could get, I am going to fail, or I can't do.
I am so full of anxiety, all I dream about is knowing inside I just can't do it, I am goung to get fired, I don't know every skill needed, etc. What can I do to get up? I finally have a new job, that I start next week, and I am sure that I can't do everthing on a job description list that was given to me. I keep looking at it and every time I do, I say I can't.
- USA
17388
Answer
This can be a great opportunity for you to find a better position that you enjoy and will give you the job security you need.
You want to take stock in yourself, build up your confidence and have a good plan of action to get a good job.
Take some time to think about what you are good at, what you like to do, and what you have achieved in your past jobs. it is good to write this down, so you can add things as they pop into your mind.
Consider achievements that you can be proud of. Don't take things for granted or compare with other people. Even such things as graduating from school and being reliable at work are things to put down and be proud of.
Gathering this information, you should be able to come up with a job you'd really like to have and something you'd be good at. Employers want to hire people who come in wanting to do something that will help their business. If you feel you are really good at something, they will be more interested than the average person applying for a job.
Also look at the skills you have. Are they important to a company or is there something lacking in your experience? Perhaps you can take some classes to expand your skills. There should be government support for this. Also, companies like go-getters who are trying to improve while looking for a job.
Let people know you are looking for a job--friends, relatives, etc. Most jobs do not come from the want-ads but from word-of-mouth.
Getting fired can be traumatic, but it is not the end of the world. Unless you were fired for drinking on the job or goofing off, you are in the company of millions of other people who are talented and skilled, but have lost their jobs.
It is not going to be easy getting another job, but you don't want to come in expecting failure. Instead, it is a numbers game. But also, the people who do their homework and study the companies where they apply, will have a big advantage, because they know what the company wants and needs. Even someone applying for a janitor job can sell himself as being valuable to the company.
Take advantage of this opportunity to get a better job. Plan and do your homework. Be persistent and patient. You'll get something better and be glad for losing your old job.
I hope these ideas help. Best wishes in getting a new job, and let me know how things turn out.
Distraught over being fired
Question
October 10, 2006
I was fired a couple days ago at a job that I loved and all my coworkers were my friends. I had a couple instances at work where I had some disagreements with managers who were new and didnt really know what they were doing, I guess I felt I could never be fired and was "untouchable" because I was so good at my job. My boss when letting me go said he would give me a great reference and i was the hardest person hes ever had to fire. Ever since ive been fired ive gone into a complete depression I cry all the time. When I wake up I feel im in a nightmare. I got a new job the next day but hate it, its only been two days but im so overwhelmed and depressed. I dont like this new place but need to have income.. What should I do????
- USA
12122
Answer
Getting fired can be very traumatic, because it can make you feel like a failure. It makes it worse when you liked your job and your coworkers. Feeling that you never could be fired because you're good at what you do perhaps made you overconfident.
There are several lessons you should learn from this experience. First of all realize that anyone can get fired. Second is to realize that a manager, even one who doesn't know what he's doing, still has power over you. At the very least, you need to learn to use a lot of diplomacy when disagreeing with a manager.
Now, what you need to do is to create a whole new outlook on your career and what you are going to be doing. Perhaps getting fired was a blessing in disguise, because you were getting complacent with your job. Consider your present job just a temporary situation. Take stock in your talents and seek a position that will make the most of what you can do.
The shock of getting fired. In such a situation is very similar to breaking open a good relationship. But you need to move on, sometimes things work out better than before. You might think of a career change or even a location change. The big thing is to make some career plans and start working toward achieving your goals.
You obviously have some talents, and hopefully you've learned some good lessons from this experience. Try to make the most of your present situation, and will toward landing on your feet.
Best wishes on starting your new career.
Should I put being fired on my resume?
Question
September 7, 2006
I was recently fired,I knew it was coming & wanted to give my employer a 2 week notice but I didn't. Do I have to state I was fired on my resume. If I don't, do I start an interview by stating I was fired & give the reason? I am devastated & need your help! Thank you.
- USA
11871
Answer
On a resume, you never state why you left a job. You list the job, your accomplishments and how long you worked for each company.
You may or may not have to fill out an application before an interview. That is where they usually ask why you left a job. Typically, you can state you have a personality conflict with your supervisor. That is acceptable.
If you did not get along with your boss and that was the reason that you were fired, you can try to get someone else in the company to provide a reference. During the interview, you can say you had differences and left the position. Do not dwell on it and certainly don't say anything bad about your old boss or the company. It is something that happened and now you want to move on.
Be sure that you have a clear idea of why you were fired, so that you can use it as a lesson learned. Many people have been fired and found it was the best thing that happened to them.
Best wishes in getting a good job.
Told off boss before quitting job
Question
September 1, 2006
My work experience is being an Administrative Assistant. I have worked in Utah and Colorado. I moved back to my hometown after having been gone for thirty years. I went to work as an Administrative Assistant at our hometown university. The boss that I had was very demeaning. She would come in the office and it would be a flurry of demands.
She was a micro manager. Some examples:
(1) I was instructed to order blue paper. When it arrived she said that it was not the correct color of blue. I had to send it back and order the color she wanted.
It was just going to separate different document that were going into a packet for the Alumni of the university. There were other colors that were also going into the packet.
(2) She asked me to order an umbrella for an outdoor event. I sent her the specification of the umbrella. She wanted a yellow one. So I was going to order it. She then told me to call the company and ask how yellow the yellow umbrella was.
(3) I was to put together a menu for an Alumni Dinner. We chose a dish that was from the Campus Cafeteria. She asked me to ask the cook how spicy was the dish.
(4.) We were in charge of the Homecoming Parade. She criticized everything I did.
There are so many things that I could not do right. The Monday after the Homecoming Event I went into her office and gave her my resignation. I asked to be relived of my duties that day. In the past I had talked to her about her treatment of me. I told here at my exit interview that I felt that she did not have any respect for me and the skills that I brought to the job.
She was not happy about how I left my job and the department.
My former boss is the Director of the Alumni Association. I have a job interview at the university next week for another department. I know that the manager will call my former boss and ask her why I left. She will say that I left on bad terms. What do I say to the manager? I want to work again at the university. It is a very small town and not a lot of jobs are available.
Thank you for your help
Gerri Johnson
Gerri - USA
11813
Answer
There are bad bosses in many industries, but there seem to be many more in the administration of colleges and universities. I have heard of other examples of demanding supervisors in colleges who show no respect to their workers. This type of behavior would not be accepted in most businesses. You did the right thing to quit and move on, but you did the wrong thing by telling her why you wanted to quit. I am sure that she has taken it personally.
Although it is after the fact, a rule in leaving a job is to make sure you are not burning your bridges behind you. Smile, even if you have to grit your teeth, because you never know if you will need the person as a reference.
In your job interview, tell the manager that you had a personality conflict with your previous boss. Say that your previous boss was a nice person, but you had completely different working styles, so you felt it was best that you leave the position. Do not say anything negative about your former supervisor. In fact, think of things you can praise about her--like her work with the alumni. Thus, if your former boss bad-mouths you, it will sound like sour grapes.
Note that if you do not get the job because of a bad report from the other supervisor, you have legal recourse to sue the school. Most companies have a policy only to verify the person worked there and what the final wages were. They do not give personal evaluations because of the threat of a suit. You also can play the "harassment card" since you were apparently verbally harassed and force to quit. Certainly, you do not want to get involved in any legal actions, but I just wanted to let you know it is an option.
Emphasize your skills and how you can help this new department. Show that you are a good worker and are pleasing to work with. Then no matter what the other manager says will not matter.
I hope this helps. Best wishes in getting the job. Let me know how things work out.
Lost temporary job and having trouble getting others
Question
August 7, 2006
I was terminated from a previous job in June, 2005. I was hired by a temporary agency and worked for them in various assignments for over a year. On my last assignment, they were given the impression that it would last through December and may even go permanent.
That wasn't the case. They laid me off-with NO warning-on my birthday. July 28, 2006.
I'm in paramedic school and I was working for an insurance company. They knew what they were getting when they hired me. Now I'm back in the job search and I had one interview today and they wanted to hire me...until they found out that I was in paramedic school.
Hospitals and doctors don't want me-no experience-they say I have worked in an office too long and not enough on the ambulance (I work part time with an ambulance service). Offices don't want me because I am in paramedic school.
Do you have any advice for someone like me?
Thank you,
Melissa Anthony
Melissa - USA
11658
Answer
One reason companies use temp agencies is that it is easy to terminate the contract if conditions change, while it is difficult for them to fire a full-time employee. So, don't take it personal that you were let go from the agency with no notice.
The worst thing that could happen to you on your last assignment is to be hired as a permanent employee. It sounds like your dream is to be a paramedic, and that would just sidetrack you.
Keeping in good terms with various temp agencies is worthwhile to be able to get short-term jobs when they come up. But I think you really would be better getting part-time work. In that way, you could concentrate on your schooling and getting the experience needed to get a job in that field. Right now you look like someone who is vacillating from one thing to another.
One thing you can do is to check with the companies where you worked before to see if they need part-time help. If you signed a contract with the agency that you won't go back to a company, you might have to get a release. But also working part-time with the ambulance service may help out.
The big thing is to focus on what you really want to do.
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