I was let go from my job

[redhat]

The only individual I had talked about leaving with was one of the guys I worked with whom I had developed a very good friendship with. We even go 4-wheeling and hang out to this date. So if it was him saying something to higher management, which in turn getting me canned... I'd be incredibly shocked.

Now working in a pizzeria, without having to take any work home with me, I am able to finally concentrate on myself. I do want to work towards loosing some pounds and have been eating better for some time now. If they really thought I was too large, I'd be interested in what they want as an ideal employee. I'm not no John Goodman, and can easily perform all facets of the job whether it be moving large equipment, jumping up and down quickly, hopping down on the ground to get something.

All said an done, I am kinda happy though. Out of that environment. I just keep playing it all back in my head which is kinda weird.

Looking at competitors now, ha. Nursing home MGMT.

 

[sleddriver]

Bummer.

I'm a bit surprised you were surprised or blind-sided by this, given your past posts. All of the signs were there. Promises made; Promises broken. Delays. Waiting. "Pushed back". Pay attention to the warning signs when there is this much divergence between talk & actions.

Sounds like you were held in place with "promise" of promotion. Instead, you were let go as soon as you had trained your two replacements. This classic corporate "chess move" is going on in lots of organizations.

It is indeed painful to be "pawned" like this. Manipulated, deceived, then cut loose.

My advice to you now is to ride a bike every day. Ride for at least an hour. No exceptions. Your brain is working in overdrive, so take your body out for some exercise and give your brain a rest. It will help deal with the shock you're experiencing.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
my take is that your boss stood up for you...he got it and you got it also.


This. Sadly, they felt you were a threat so you got let go. These days politics carries more weight in the work place than skill.

 

[SuperDave456]

I've been looking for solid employment since 2010. I've had many contracts and jobs, I also work IT, and It has taken me 5 almost 6 years to find "employment".

Its tough. Very tough.
I've watched people looking for jobs lose their homes, their marriages, and I've known 2 that I've gone to their memorial service.

Take care of yourself.
You can't take care of others if you don't take care of yourself first. Your health is worth more to your family/friends then you relize.

About IT, what I have found is that MANY companies are running on a shoe string and bubblegum budget. IT isn't about upgrading or making things better, it is about keeping the lid on the crazy house.
They fire the experienced guys and hire 2 college grads with zero experience. The folks in charge expect their network infrastructure to last the next 5 years so that they can kick the can down the road. The kiddos they hire can reset passwords and when they get more experience and ask for a raise they will leave and the company will hire another couple of college grads.
It happens a lot.

The unfortunate part of IT is that it's only after you take the job do you begin to get an understanding of how dysfunctional the company is.

Good Luck.

 

[SatinSilver]

What is your height, weight and age?

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: eljefino


TL;DR I left the industry and work for a slice of the war-industrial machine, which is well funded, on mission, and has tons of advancement potential. We also have a sweet IT department. I'm not part of it but the computers always work.


BIW??

 

[bmwjohn]

I'm overweight too, so a few thoughts. It is easy to be seen as sloppy, and appear (or actually be) sweaty and smelly. So try to dress in slightly upmarket and clean clothes, and shower once or twice a day. They will assume the opposite, so you will have to be a little dressier than most.
NOW, probably short on money, but look up STAR12. There are 3 colleges in Kansas City, all run 1 day training classes on line and in hotel around the country. Always business, no tests, no credits, but a PDF Completion certificate. STAR12 is a rolling one year, all you can eat, possibly 30-36 courses for $399? excel, intro to HR (GEnie, ADA, EEOC, Lilly Ledbetter, etc), 2 day OSHA training, facilities management, etc. You gain maybe 30 or more business related certificates at no cost to future employer to beef up your resume cheaply and quickly.
also, IF YOU are IT, what certificates do you have? I think the COMPTIA plus series are great, and they OVERLAP in content enough that studying for 1 means learning about 2 or more. A, network, server, security, i-net, linux (my plus key doesn't work)see if local job training folks will pay for some courses, etc. Certificates are how you get hired, expertise and personality are what keep you there. Might look at Certification magazine or blog.
If you actually have money for college, WGU Indiana is great for IT certificates and degree, on line about $5500 per year, contact me privately for more info. Good luck!

 

[Mr Nice]

SuperDave,

Yep, unfortunately politics play a MAJOR role at any job. Sometimes you have to keep your mouth shut and bite your tongue. Sometimes you say something innocently and your statement gets 're-worded' and back to big boss. If they know you are close to your immediate boss you... then they get two birds with one stone.

I seriously doubt his weight had anything to do with getting laid off.

If redhat lived in the Orlando area I would definitely pass his resume to my boss. I post jobs on BITOG once in while if she can't find a suitable candidate.

 

[spasm3]

I'm betting that it got back that he was looking for a job. You never know who is friends with who at the upper management level hr between companies.

 

[demarpaint]

I honestly believe many companies just look at the bottom line, and if they feel they can get someone to do your job for $8K/year less there's a good chance you're gone. It sucks but that could very well be the situation here. No one will ever be honest in telling you why you lost your job.

Good luck to you in finding another job!

 

[Mr Nice]

redhat,

What did your wife say about the sudden decision to let you go ?


I reread your first post on this thread and it sounds like you were on their [censored] list for some reason. Sometimes ego gets involved and big boss finds out you are looking for another job and they let you go as a warning to others.

I was at a hospital (I work in healthcare, not for a hospital) the plumber they had was always complaining about low pay and bad managers. Hospital cans the plumber and COO said he was laid off due to 'ObamaCare' (lower reimbursements) and was shown the door, security escorted him off hospital property. Now the hospital hires plumbing contractors until they another plumber. The guy was at the hospital for approximately 12 years and now out of work.

I told the other people in the Engineering Dept that the plumber could not keep his mouth shut and he must have said something to the wrong person and hospital administration say bye bye.

 

[JustinH]

sounds like you should move down south and take your experience somewhere else. Everybody is looking for an exit strategy from the Northeast and you just got yours.

 

[Andrew1972]

I am not sure of your industry. Is it possible they have decided to bring in new blood and move into cloud based solutions? Our company has fully moved to the cloud(gmail/Google docs/slack/Amazon web services/project management software) and it is simply more reliable and we have a single it person for 135 employees with 20 spread geogrpahically. The only thing that suffers it seems is ability to video conferencing with effective sound.

You always need an it person to manage it all however the days of whipping up servers etc seems numbered with inexpensive and reliable hosting.

Apple Store takes care of our computer problems and dell local support for the users who like Windows and Linux.

Do you experience with any of these or maybe a good time to learn.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: redhat
Many of you have commented on my previous thread about looking for a new job back around January. I had gone on a few job interviews but didn't receive any offers impressive enough to leave my current job.

Unfortunately a few weeks ago, on a Friday, I was let go after five years. Still shocked that it happened and in many ways upset. First a bit of back story. I had been there for over five years, at the time I was let go, one of seven in my department (IT). I had been waiting on approval from higher ups for a promotion where I would be traveling daily to the buildings we owned and doing on-site work (server setups, client maintenance, mild training, etc). They had and still have tons of tasks that needed to be taken care. Huge implementations, big deadlines, you name it. My immediate boss was really the one pushing for this promotion, including myself of course. But when asking the higher ups, it kept being pushed back wanting to discuss this at a later date.

At the time I was doing technical support and lots of system administrator tasks. The plan was to hire two entry level guys to handle the tech support and then move me up. About a month ago they hired the two guys to do such and I trained them. Two weeks later I was let go. When asked why I was told that "we're going in a new direction and you're not part of it". I asked "how will all of the projects that we have get done?" I was told "that's our concern now." I was let go by one of the higher managers, my boss was let go minutes before me.

I assumed they were down sizing or out sourcing, but recently came across my job being relisted looking for a new employee. I asked one of the guys still there and was told that they were approved to hire an additional employee due to the huge workload.

At this point I just shocked. I trained my replacements and they even know they need the help but I was let go? Just makes no sense to me. I can't believe it's over money as I'm lucky to have made only 8k more than the entry level people they hired. Pennies to be honest. I know those systems inside and out... Guess they don't value experience.

Was always on time, always showed up, stayed late. Went above and beyond countless times. I was severely under paid IMO. I'm wondering why they wouldn't get rid of one of the new guys but not keep me? One of the guys I worked with misses me terribly and I can tell they're struggling. Feel bad for him. I really think the higher ups figured me and my boss didn't do much but then realized how much work isn't getting done.

I'm looking for jobs again. Good friend of mine is trying to get me into a bank. I am back to working full time at the pizzeria I've been at on and off over the past 10 years. It isn't a bad gig and pays the bills.

Shocked. Figured I was worth it. Guess someone didn't like me. Wondering also if maybe it's some sort of discrimination as I was helping the CEO months ago and he said that I could use some exercise. I told my boss who wanted to tell HR (under the presumption that it wouldn't get to the CEO in fear of retaliation). Sure I know I'm a fat guy, big whoop, didn't wake up yesterday and say oh Jesus I'm fat. But I don't need the CEO to bother me about my weight. Maybe they thought I was too fat, lol.



These are the very reasons why I tell anybody I know never to "go in early-and stay late". Because employer loyalty is non-existent these days, and you will get nothing in return for going the extra mile-in most instances.

 

[HighViscosity]

Redhat,

I'm very sorry you lost your job. When I read your story for some reason I thought of the movie Office Space when your CEO made that comment about needing some exercise. I assume the CEO is a type A dyck head (or 1 year law student) who thinks people with extra pounds are sloppy and lack self discipline. Did your supervisor actually report that to HR? As a person with a somewhat functional brain it seems very obvious to me (although I could be wrong of course) that a butt kisser told the boss that you were complaining about the exercise comment, and a complaint with HR would threaten his enlarged ego. I think your supervisor may have been let go because he appeared more loyal to you than the company. Whether right or wrong, employees who become labeled as confrontational or complaining will have a long lasting cloud over their head regarding co-workers and management.

I hope the manager/ceo who decided to fire you and your supervisor get mugged and beaten by a gaggle of angry bums. Since the strong language nanny on this website filters colorful words I freely say: [censored] those mother [censored] 's and I hope they get rapped in the [censored] while standing in the unemployment line.

I wish life were fair, but there are far too many douche bags in a position of influence. I truly hope you find a great job with a company that values your skills and your dignity as a human. This kind of [censored] really [censored] me off....... whew I feel better, best wishes and I'll have my wife pray for you......... God bless......

 

[cjcride]

HighViscosity, you don't post much yet when you do you cut right to the chase.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: JustinH
sounds like you should move down south and take your experience somewhere else. Everybody is looking for an exit strategy from the Northeast and you just got yours.


So nobody ever gets canned in TX? There are no workplace politics, downsizing, firing higher paid people to replace with lower paid ones? None of that?

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: HighViscosity
Redhat,

I'm very sorry you lost your job. When I read your story for some reason I thought of the movie Office Space when your CEO made that comment about needing some exercise. I assume the CEO is a type A dyck head (or 1 year law student) who thinks people with extra pounds are sloppy and lack self discipline. Did your supervisor actually report that to HR? As a person with a somewhat functional brain it seems very obvious to me (although I could be wrong of course) that a butt kisser told the boss that you were complaining about the exercise comment, and a complaint with HR would threaten his enlarged ego. I think your supervisor may have been let go because he appeared more loyal to you than the company. Whether right or wrong, employees who become labeled as confrontational or complaining will have a long lasting cloud over their head regarding co-workers and management.

I hope the manager/ceo who decided to fire you and your supervisor get mugged and beaten by a gaggle of angry bums. Since the strong language nanny on this website filters colorful words I freely say: [censored] those mother [censored] 's and I hope they get rapped in the [censored] while standing in the unemployment line.

I wish life were fair, but there are far too many douche bags in a position of influence. I truly hope you find a great job with a company that values your skills and your dignity as a human. This kind of [censored] really [censored] me off....... whew I feel better, best wishes and I'll have my wife pray for you......... God bless......

Stop beating around the bush... tell us how you really feel!

 

[redhat]

Thank you all for the advice and the genuine concern. I do appreciate it and value the insights from everyone on here.

Some questions I'm thinking about:

How do I refer to my former boss when asked for references? Do I put "Former Director of Information Systems" with the company name listed?

Is it acceptable to say when asked why I no longer work for XXX company that "the company was moving in new directions and my services were no longer needed"?

General attire and presentation of myself personally are a couple of things mentioned that keep coming back to me. Many days I would wear a polo, nice jeans and dress shoes. Clean clothes of course and I showered every morning, deodorant and some nice cologne. Sometimes I would wear a dress shirt, dress pants and dress shoes, but not all the time. My main reason for this was that there were so many days where I would be running cabling, moving large dirty equipment, in and out of basements/wiring rooms/boiler rooms working on servers, firewalls, messing with patch panels, moving desks to fix broken drops with 4 years of dust and foot debris. It got to the point where I was seriously ruining nice and decently priced clothes.

When dressing nicely and not anticipating tons of manual/dirty labor, I would neatly style my hair (longer but manicured back/to the side) with pomade and have always kept my beard very neatly trimmed and styled nicely. With all of that said, perhaps they thought of me in jeans being dirty that I was a sloppy dirty person. Perhaps they should've hired an actual housekeeper who vacuumed more than once a month, LOL.

 

[eljefino]

And the other problem you might have had-- I certainly had it working in TV-- was that my reward for doing my job right was that I got to sit down and actually not scurry. That's what one gets for engineering something and taking ownership of it.

There was a fine line between "monitoring my work" and "watching TV".

Perhaps you had things going well enough that they thought you should have had more pep in your step. These same managers would go to a fire house, and say, hey, what's with all this surplus labor, not fighting fires right now?