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Top 10 Ways to Get Fired
Beverly West | monster.com
Most start their jobs with the best of intentions, never thinking they could be fired. After all, that’s a fate reserved primarily for incompetents and workers caught with their hand in the company till, right? Wrong. You might not realize just how slippery the slope out the door can be.
Workplace Mistakes to Avoid
To guard your job security, be sure to avoid the 10 common pitfalls on this checklist from Jennifer Star, a New York City-based corporate recruiter and trainer specializing in administrative-support personnel:
1. Lie on Your Job Application or Resume: Tell the truth from the start, because you will be held responsible for the information you provide, and your employer will check it. Generally, education background checks can take up to a month after hire. I recently had a candidate fired from a large financial company after being there for a month, because she lied about her educational background, says Star. This woman did not need a degree for her editorial assistant position but said that she has one anyway, and one month later when the cat was out of the bag, she was immediately let go.
2. Be Indiscreet About Your Job Hunt: If you are in the market for a new job, don’t send your resume from your office computer, which most likely is monitored by IT. Assume your instant messages (IMs) and emails are fair game as well.
3. Gossiping: You never know who is listening, and in cubeland, walls really do have ears. The safest bet? Keep gossip to yourself, and never repeat anything you hear. Winding up on the wrong side of the rumor mill can cost you more than somebody’s trust; it can mean your job.
4. Taking Too Many Personal Calls Can Make You Look Just as Bad: Spending much of your work time orchestrating your own personal business, rather than your boss’s affairs, usually results in being given an opportunity to spend all of your time on the phone on personal business — looking for a new job, Star warns.
debjame
11 months ago
12 comments
2b Trish, I wholeheartedly agree with your comment. I am not guilty of any of the "10 sins," but have been canned. Law firms seem to be the worst employers. It seems like the people who are guilty of the "10 sins" always find some way to pin the blame, and the cliques in a lot of law firms are unbelievable.
2bTrish
11 months ago
2 comments
All of these tips are good advice. If some of these practices happen at your job and people are not let go because of this type of behavior find a new job. Unfortunately there is not much you can do about working in an office where there seems to be favoritism. It happems. Be professional and keep your nose to the grindstone.
Consider yourself lucky if you get fired for being proactive and working your butt off. You will find a place that appreciates you at some point. Remain focused and it will pay off.
Account Removed
about 1 year ago
Very good article, but I would like to see an article that goes deeper than just the obvious reasons. For instance, what do you do if you work for someone who is a "narcissus" or a boss that has an army mentality. (No offence offence to anyone in the military by ANY MEANS!!) What I mean by this is that they want to restructure the position so it is "task oriented". Or the boss that plays favorites, etc.
lbaker2210
about 1 year ago
6 comments
I got fired from a non-profit when my boss told me that I had a "random" drug test. I got a call saying that I had marajuana in my system. The only way that was possible was that a roomate of ours (now gone) had a prescription. Can you get a contact high? It was a hair test, where they cut your hair and test it. Is it the smoke in the air or is it in my system? Now I am affraid to get a job where they do drug testing because it was a horrible and humiliating experience.
Latricia
about 1 year ago
8 comments
Unfortunately, all of the ten happens where I am employed and the people who are doing it are receiving increases and promotions.
angelina
about 1 year ago
2 comments
I worked for an Attorney's office where the paralegal slept with the attorney's son. She felt I knew too much. However, he(the attorney) came to me and said that I would be a better fit in a larger office where there are 6-7 attorney's. After praising me for the quality of my work. I was fired.... What do you do then? Could it be that she slept with him too?
letmeroar
about 1 year ago
2 comments
My termination from my employer had nothing to do with any of your 10 ways. I believe they are great points to make, but there is nothing more important than effective communication. When a supervisor chooses not to include you in the circle of knowledge and information, there is not much one can do. Oh, and by the way, it is Federal Law that if anyone works any overtime (beyond 40 hours a week) you are owed overtime pay 1 1/2 times your base pay. Also you are not required to get pre-approved for said overtime, just so you know!
shoebox
about 1 year ago
4 comments
Debrakay, I've also found that being overambitious or really productive makes you quite a powerful employee with a large skill set to offer. In turn you are harder to manipulate and pose a threat to the powers that be.
My advice is NOT to work for such people - it's great to be ambitious in your work.
debrakay
about 1 year ago
6 comments
I was terminated (ouch) 3 weeks ago but am happy to say none of the 10 applied to me. Since I was given no notice and had received no disciplinary actions I can only assume I was let go for working too many hours and producing too much. Next time I will only do what I have to do and nothing extra. Lesson learned.
Starlight500
about 1 year ago
42 comments
Great Advice. Spreading false Rumors and gossip can also be a pit fall.
49509
about 1 year ago
2 comments
This was a great article and very true. Good tips to remember.
Insanitek
about 1 year ago
296 comments
I have witness all of the above and have seen people not get fired from smaller businesses until things are far out of hand. It is disappointing since I would like for people to be somewhat professional on the job, even if it is McDonalds.
Account Removed
about 1 year ago
Great article. I have witnessed all of the above at one time or another from my employess (unfortunately).