LJ Idol, Topic 25: "Workin' For a Livin' "

[dslartoo]

I have never once been fired from a job

Comments

[basric]

Sometimes work ethic doesn't matter when a new manager comes in and wants to bring her own people in so she sets about finding reasons to fire people. This happens on hospital floors all the time. Never have been fired I saw the writing on the wall and moved to another floor.

Nicely done.

[n3m3sis42]

I agree with this. Along with a great work ethic, it's helpful to have a good sense of the unspoken rules and an intuitive feel for when to get the heck out!

[dslartoo]

Very true. I have left a few jobs when they started going sour -- not necessarily because I thought *I* would be fired, but because the job itself started to suck so badly I hated working there.

cheers,
Phil

[dslartoo]

Regrettably, that is sometimes the case. I've never been fired through at-fault work of my own, but I have been let go twice -- once because the company went out of business, and once because I was working as a contractor and the company summarily decided they didn't want to work with contractors anymore and terminated me (and several friends) with no notice whatsoever. I heard later on that they immediately hired a replacement for me at half my salary, so it was financially motivated and nothing else. Still hated it.

All of the other jobs I've left, though, have been because I left on my own terms. :)

Thanks for coming by!

cheers,
Phil

[n3m3sis42]

I've never been fired either, and have been in the work force since 14. I do think that at times my work ethic has actually backfired on me, allowing me to be used and abused. It does make for nice job security, though.

[dslartoo]

We do have a tendency to take more than we should because our conscience doesn't let us do a half-assed job, don't we? I feel your pain. Mostly, though, I think it's more a good thing than a bad thing. :)

Thanks for chiming in!

cheers,
Phil

[notodette]

I've been fired! When I called my mentor in tears, he said, "Congratulations, you're finally a real journalist."

[dslartoo]

That's not the kind of life experience you particularly look forward to, whether it lends you credence or not. Shame, really.

Thanks for coming by!

cheers,
Phil

[dslartoo]

I was "let go" once (when the company I was working for as a contractor decided that they didn't want to work with contractors anymore and let ALL of them go across the board. Found out later that they hired a replacement at half my salary. Financial considerations, blargh.) I was also laid off when the company went out of business. I don't consider either of those two times to be my fault -- and neither were the times you were laid off, if it wasn't done for performance reasons.

I don't know that I *have* found my niche, exactly; if I had, I'd be doing something I really enjoyed. Still, thanks for the words of support. :)

cheers,
Phil

[pixiebelle]

I've always been one who's done at well at work, which is why I'm killing myself at my current job (I do the job of 3 people, two of which I'm not trained for). I work 12 hour days, I come in on days off. Ever since my first job at Burger King where I was 18 and working the 4:30 AM shift and stay until 5 at night if they asked.

But I'm realizing now that I need a job that I feel satisfied giving my all. It's why I'm aiming to get back into non-profit work. Slaving away for my CEO to own a Rolls Royce just isn't for me, no matter how much I might get paid . It's more than just the money, it's the satisfaction you get from it. Which sounds like you have that, so way to go!

[dslartoo]

I don't exactly feel SATISFIED giving my all to a job I don't enjoy that much, but I'm wired so I can't do anything but give my all. Still, I'm hoping one day I'll manage to get the job I really want and then I can both enjoy the job AND give it my all. We'll see!

I appreciate your dropping by!

cheers,
Phil