Fired from my job - and stunned

[shinyam]

I was "let go" yesterday from my job as a programmer.

The manager called me into his office and said "Sorry I"m going to have to let you go. I don't think things will work out with you."

I nodded my head in resignation and understanding. Then he told me to pack my stuff. I asked if I could say good-bye to a couple of co-workers, but he said he preferred I didn't. Then he escorted me out the door.

When I checked my company email from home later that night, there was this email sent out to every employee:

Subject: Announcement

***** ****** is no longer employed at ABC Company.

How cold and impersonal is that?


I was hired four months ago, and didn't pass my probationary period, mainly because I made several mistakes. I made those mistakes because I had very tight deadlines and was under stress. I guess my team leader didn't see me as competent.


Anyway, I will move on. I am just kind of stunned and, to be honest, devastated.

It took me years to find this job, and I worked so hard to get it.

 

[Back Burner]

No offence but being on the other side of sloppy programming it may have been the best decesion for both parties.
Your first 4 months was your time to shine and you didn't.

Take it as a lesson learned and move on.

What type of programming do you do?

 

[shinyam]

Back Burner, we use a special programming language used to set up telephone surveys.

I will take it as a lesson learned and move on.

However, I am just upset at how abrupt and cold they were with me. They never called me in earlier to warn me. I would have changed if they gave me the chance.

Anyway, now I have to figure out my finances. I guess I could live for a few months without working, it will be tough. No more escorts for me.

Have any of you been fired? Can you give me some coping advice? Cause right now I feel like $hit.

 

[calloway]

Sorry to hear about your news. Most of us have been fired (or more politely said... let go) or will be at some time in the future. Many times it's out of our control and sometimes it is our own fault. Move on... stay positive and learn from this experience.

 

[KBear]

When you are let go for a list of reasons, they will not give you any warning, and they will not let you wonder about to chat with people. Take this as a lesson learned and apply these lessons to your next job.

 

[shinyam]

Thanks for your kind words, calloway. I will try to move on. I guess I just need some to grieve.

Thanks for the advice Kbear. You are right, I guess I wasn't warned because there were too many things wrong with me.

 

[shinyam]

Thanks Spiker for your optimism and kind words. I will do my best to make a comeback soon.

 

[Mr. Downtown]

I was "let-go" several years ago from a company who were about as anal as they come. And it was for "pure chemistry" not performance as to why I was let go. I was, and still am, a firm believer in "what ever comes around, goes around." As it turned out, the guy who fired me was fired from his job several years later. He sent a resume to the company that I am now employed with and my senior asked for my recommendation, knowing I worked for this outfit. I gave him the thumbs-down and he was not hired (2 yrs later, I believe, he is still unemployed). That was sweet vengence.

 

[booboobear]

. I gave him the thumbs-down and he was not hired (2 yrs later, I believe, he is still unemployed). That was sweet vengence.

This is called sweet justice.

 

[sarasota]

...I guess I wasn't warned because there were too many things wrong with me.

Everyone has their strong points. Maybe you just aren't a stickler for details. Hard as I try, this is not my strong point either. Try looking for a job that is more suited to your abilities; finding out what those are might take a bit of work. Look for some good books.

It can take some effort and certainly the right knowledge, but its best not to get down on yourself.

 

[gala]

I guess I wasn't warned because there were too many things wrong with me.

Don't beat yourself up too badly. You are bound to take this hard and feel like it's a sign you are no good, a failure, etc., and you just have to get past that. Maybe you had skills that were different than what they wanted, or there was some personality clash, or you didn't really like the job so didn't do your best, etc.

The good news is I think the job market is starting to pick up a bit. I don't know nearly as many unemployed people as I did two years ago so it ought not to be as hard to find another job now as it was awhile back.

 

[Drunken Master]

David Mamet Presents: Shinyam

Boss: Listen, shinyam, I'm sorry, we're going to let you go. It just isn't working out.

pause

Shinyam: Oh, I see.
Boss: Yeah.

pause

Shinyam: standing up Well, listen, can I just go back and say goodbye to a couple of the guys?
Boss: standing up as well No, I'd really prefer it you didn't....
Shinyam: Oh....
Boss:....Because it's corporate policy, and you really havn't been all that long....
Shinyam: Okay, I see, that's....I mean, it's a little stupid....
Boss: ....Well....
Shinyam: I mean, exactly what the fuck do think I'm going to do when I get back there? Freak out?

Boss is nervously silent. The situation is turning soically awkward. He is desperately thinking back to last year's Seminar on "Employee Terminations".

Boss:...No, no. No, it's just that....
Shinyam: Well, whatever dude. I mean, I don't give a flying fuck, you know. Those guys are all fucking morons anyway. They all live in their parent's basement and jerk off nightly to the Sears Catalogue, you know? But I am going to go back there to get my coffee mug. It's my favourite coffe mug. I've had that same mug since I was seventeen. I love that fucking mug. So I'm just going to go back and get my mug. turns to go
Boss: a bead of sweat trickles ever so noticably down his forehead Uh, uh, no....
Shinyam: stops, stares Boss directly in the eyes. Statues don't stare so well. What? I'm sorry, what did you say?

pause

Boss: No, listen, Shinyam, listen, I think it would be best...
Shinyam: What did you say to me?
Boss: ....Listen, we'll courier your mug to you....
Shinyam: What the fuck did you just say to me?

There is literally a torrent of salty sweat tricking down the Boss's face. He has lost control of the situation. He inches closer to the phone to call somebody. Shinyam advances, all trace of sympathic humanity gone from his eyes.

Shinyam: Okay, let's get something straight.
Boss. Okay, listen, you need to back off and cool down....this isn't productive...
Shinyam: I need to ask you something. Reaches behind, pulls out a Magnum .44 from under his shirt and lays it on casually on the desk. Boss is too shocked to speak. I need to ask you exactly who you think you are fucking with. pause You'd better answer my fucking question. When I ask you a fucking a question, you'd better answer it. Boss makes a nearly inaudible and total incoherent wimper. Shinyam picks up the gun and slams it onto the desk. WHO IN THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE FUCKING WITH? YOU THINK YOU CAN FIRE ME AND STEAL MY COFFEE MUG IN THE SAME DAY? YOU THINK I'M A CHILD? YOU THINK I CAN'T HANDLE GETTING FIRED FROM THIS SHIT-FARM OF AN OPERATION YOU'VE GOT GOING ON HERE? YOU AFRAID I'M GOING TO FREAK OUT! WELL GUESS WHAT, FOOL! YOU'VE GOT A FIVE ALARM FREAK-FEST ON YOUR HANDS NOW!

Boss:Who may or may not have urinated in his pants at this point Please, listen, just please....
Shinyam: has calmed himself, speaking in a perfectly even tone, picks up the gun Okay, here's what we're going to do. You're going to come with me, and watch me get my coffee mug. Then
we're going to personally say good-bye to each and every person in the building, you got me? And then maybe later you're going to throw me a nice going-away party. And there'd better be cake. God help you if there isn't any cake... Grabs Boss by the scruff of the neck and leads him out of the office.

Fade to black

 

[Mustang Jack]

Drunken Master, thanks for painting the picture for me...awesome.

Shinyam, don't get down on yourself. Just because they didn't feel you were a good fit for their job doesn't label you. Things happen for a reason. This may lead to you getting a better job more suited to what you are best at, as long as you shrug it off, don't take it personally, get a positive attitude back and get back out there. You may benefit from visiting a company that can evaluate your skills and help you find the right direction. Sometimes it helps to get the view of an outsider to appreciate what you have to offer and steer you in the right direction. Good luck.

 

[shinyam]

LOL!! Drunken master, that was brilliant! Thank you so much for making my day a little brighter. I feel A LOT better.

You should be a screenwriter or something with that kind of talent.

Also, thanks to gala and sarasota for some very good and wise advice. Mr. Downtown, I'm glad to hear you were able to get your revenge.

Thank you for your advice and words of encouragment, Mustang Jack. You're right, maybe it was better for me this way. I will try not to feel rejected, and try to find a job that suits me better.

 

[Ginglay]

having experienced this from both side (fired, and firing), one sees a different point of view...

abruptness and coldness is necessary, as the compnay needs to protect itself from your anger, and therefore, tries to provide as little information as possible and isolate you from everything as soon as possible, and is also the reason why you were not allowed to say bye to your co-workers. While it feels personal it is not, all of it is done to protect the interests of the company.

In your case, you were still in the propationary time frame in which case warning is not required, nor is it in the best interests of the company to warn as this is the time that is given for you to shine. Remeber from a company's point of view once you are hired full time it is near impossible to fire someone, and so one tries to pick employees with great care.

I for one see no personal gain in negativity and revenge... Be positive and upbeat... Learn from this and move one...

 

[Geoffrey]

whats the best advice you can give someone who is on a probationary time period ? how can you insure the job is yours in other words ..........how do you make yourself shine ?

 

[onthebottom]

having experienced this from both side (fired, and firing), one sees a different point of view...

abruptness and coldness is necessary, as the compnay needs to protect itself from your anger, and therefore, tries to provide as little information as possible and isolate you from everything as soon as possible, and is also the reason why you were not allowed to say bye to your co-workers. While it feels personal it is not, all of it is done to protect the interests of the company.

In your case, you were still in the propationary time frame in which case warning is not required, nor is it in the best interests of the company to warn as this is the time that is given for you to shine. Remeber from a company's point of view once you are hired full time it is near impossible to fire someone, and so one tries to pick employees with great care.

I for one see no personal gain in negativity and revenge... Be positive and upbeat... Learn from this and move one...

I agree, it's hard to fire people, even if they’re total muppets they are still people and you can relate to them. I had to witness a friend of mine getting fired, it sucked, I could read his face and he was completely caught off guard, HR had me there just to be a witness. I told the HR rep if she did that to me again she'd be sitting in that chair.

OTB

 

[sweet guy]

I agree, it's hard to fire people, even if they’re total muppets they are still people and you can relate to them. I had to witness a friend of mine getting fired, it sucked, I could read his face and he was completely caught off guard, HR had me there just to be a witness. I told the HR rep if she did that to me again she'd be sitting in that chair.

OTB

I disagree, they just want somebody to be a witness or a fall guy to cover their ass if the one who get fired sue the company later on.

BTW, there are indeed some jackasses/bitches bosses really love to fire people. And after she fired that person, she would go so low that the next day she bought other staffs coffee and donuts to "encourage us to keep the good work-meeting the sales targets".

I had seen one myself. I simply could not tolerate her smug look cause she know pretty well no male supervisors could even touch her. Why? Cause it would be too "expensive" for the company to fire her.

This is also true to her female supervisors, all single, attractive, well groom, occasional smoking, wear conservatively and yet suggestive white women. Some with kids but no hubbies.

Yeah, I wonder why how could they get promoted or "parachuted" to the management positions, given the fact that quite many of them talk BS, few credentials other than certificates issued by the company and know absolutely nothing on the frontline work.

Funny thing is all of their white middle-aged male VPs have nothing but outstanding compliements for their jobs well done.

 

[onthebottom]

I disagree, they just want somebody to be a witness or a fall guy to cover their ass if the one who get fired sue the company later on.

BTW, there are indeed some jackasses/bitches bosses really love to fire people. And after she fired that person, she would go so low that the next day she bought other staffs coffee and donuts to "encourage us to keep the good work-meeting the sales targets".

I had seen one myself. I simply could not tolerate her smug look cause she know pretty well no male supervisors could even touch her. Why? Cause it would be too "expensive" for the company to fire her.

This is also true to her female supervisors, all single, attractive, well groom, occasional smoking, wear conservatively and yet suggestive white women. Some with kids but no hubbies.

Yeah, I wonder why how could they get promoted or "parachuted" to the management positions, given the fact that quite many of them talk BS, few credentials other than certificates issued by the company and know absolutely nothing on the frontline work.

Funny thing is all of their white middle-aged male VPs have nothing but outstanding compliements for their jobs well done.

I was there just as a witness with my friend (which sucked) and have had to fire people who worked for me.

Replace White with Black in your post and read it again.

OTB

 

[sweet guy]

I was there just as a witness with my friend (which sucked) and have had to fire people who worked for me.

Replace White with Black in your post and read it again.

OTB

It doesn't matter since I am mostly "color blinded", except white since white is not really a color.