Career Cube Blog

Everyone who’s been fired raise their hands.

Yup, mine’s up there too. With the way corporate environments are these days, it’s not unusual. There are very few people who haven’t been fired or laid off at least once in their career. So why are job seekers still so ashamed of it? (See last issue: Are You A Defensive Interviewer?) Why is someone ashamed of being fired when the reason that isn’t shameful at all?

Here are 3 examples, what the reasons behind them were, and how to handle it if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

INSTANCE #1: I’m being deliberately vague on this one as the person asked to remain anonymous. So no name, and not too many details: One person had a 30-day review during which, it seemed to me, they were set up. The company was going through the motions for documentation and procedure. Because of what they said during this review, there wasn’t a chance it was going to work out in favor of the individual. Two weeks later they were fired over a very petty thing, saying the changes they’d advised the person to make hadn’t been made.

What to make of it: My assessment is that the company, or an individual, had it in for this person. Who knows why? Sometimes managers get threatened. Sometimes someone higher up just wants someone out of there, but not for a legit reason. It’s not always the fault of the person who was fired. If this happens to you, look at how long you’ve been there - two months doesn’t bode as well as two years. Look at any tenseness. Anybody in particular seemed to just dislike you? or avoid you? Or pick on you? Did a new boss just arrive and that person share’s a common area with you?

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In my consultations with clients, I usually ask a few typical interview questions, just to see how they respond, especially when I’ve ascertained that their non-results seem to be coming from their interviewing skills - or lack thereof.

In columns, the newsletter, consultations, emails, my articles and speaking engagements, I repeat, repeat, repeat about the importance of preparation for an interview. Know the questions you’re going to ask. Study typical questions asked on an interview. Know how you’re going to answer. Know what you’re looking for. Make sure your questions reflect what you need to find out about that job and company.

Here’s the prevailing - and mistaken - train of thought: “It’s an interview. They want to know what I’ve done. It’s me; it’s my career; I know all about that. Piece of cake.” Period. End of sentence. Basta, as they say in Italy. Nothing more necessary.
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You feel like a double-agent. By day, you’re a loyal, devoted employee. You are completely in line with the company’s principles. You look forward to staff meetings as a chance to share ideas with your equally intelligent, highly motivated and downright inspiring co-workers. Just the thought of spending 4 hours on a beautiful Saturday at a company picnic with people you can barely stand during the week causes you to take a sidelong glance at the raw eggs in your fridge and wonder if a good dose of salmonella poisoning will make you sick enough to miss the picnic, yet not cause you to miss a beach day on Sunday.

You’re looking for a new job.

What separates the men from the boys in this game (or the women from the girls) is the ability to keep that search a secret from your current company. Read more

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