September 7, 2006 - 9:57 am
I came to this last job with the usual jumble of hubris, hope, and naivete’. It was my first account executive position in an advertising agency and while my main account had a spotty marketing history, I was determined to turn things around. For awhile my efforts seemed to work. Some of the people who couldn’t see the big picture moved on to other opportunities, while smarties skilled with people (and many a design program) took their place.
Times were good and the work we did on their campaign seemed worthwhile and effective. We moved to be closer to my work and my husband (who is an amazingly talented freelance programmer) was able to work from a small space just 10 minutes from my office.
What happened next seems so surreal even now, that I’m still reeling. After the client’s financials took a dive due to past failures and after some staff at the agency decided they weren’t after all amused by having an account executive keen on change, I was effectively asked to resign.
Many tears and confused phone calls later, I was delivered my personal effects to my home and I’m now without a job in this new town of ours.
I don’t know if any of you have ever effectively been fired, but it does get one right in the gut. One is left with this sinking feeling that all those good grades and kudos from the past might have been wrong after all.
Making sense of betrayal and one’s place in the order of things is not one of my strong points. I can be a smart-ass, make jokes, and be silly with the best of them. But faced with something as unfunny as this, I’m left with only a pea shooter and one bean against an entire army of self-doubt. Until then, thanks to Andie for this comic interlude:
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I was let-go of a job once. I was even headhunted to the place by the 2 owners and some friends who had worked there.
I felt betrayed after they told me “I was no longer needed” after 6 months of busting my butt (I didn’t see it coming).
But I learned from it. I got an even better job and went even further with my career than all of them could even imagine.
Now, I’m in a position to contract work to them. They call me occasionally looking for stuff but I’ll never use them for anything, not even to wash my car.
But it was a blessing in disguise. If they never let me go, other opportunities would have never happened. It’s all in how you view things.
September 7th, 2006 at September 7, 2006 - 11:39 amSorry to hear you lost your job. Personally I was usually pleased to be let go from the jobs I was made redundant from, but since you obviously enjoyed your job, I guess it sucks. You’ll get over the self-doubt. I promise.
September 7th, 2006 at September 7, 2006 - 3:03 pmThanks Emma and Tony for your kind words… Here’s to better times!
September 7th, 2006 at September 7, 2006 - 3:57 pmOh wow I had no idea. How shitty!!!!!!
My only unasked for advice is to remember that time heals all. With a little Prozac. And wine. And chocolate.
September 7th, 2006 at September 7, 2006 - 5:18 pmUgh, that just bites. I’m so sorry about that. I’ve never been very good with witty, one-liners that help take the focus of something horrible that’s happened. But I do feel ya - just more of an excuse to indulge in chocolate; dark chocolate! Hope your spirits are higher soon…
September 7th, 2006 at September 7, 2006 - 11:26 pmOh, there are few things as horrible for the self-esteem than getting fired. Especially when you feel that you are doing a good job (And I think that you were).
Don’t rush to be funny. We don’t mind. Try to look at it like you were threatening because you were GOOD. I have seen it happen time and time again. Some get their knickers in a twist because they HATE CHANGE and bitch until they get that level of comfort back. Sucks, but I highly doubt it was because of you.
I think that the moms are the ones that will suffer and that is sad.
HUG
September 8th, 2006 at September 8, 2006 - 9:39 amEesh. I’m so sorry that happened. You’ll forget feeling shitty the second something better comes along, the thing you were meant to do. Don’t let the turkeys get you down, just be glad go got off that sinking ship.
September 8th, 2006 at September 8, 2006 - 7:17 pmOh man, sorry to hear about this!
It’s always heartbreaking to get booted from a job. (The two times I got sacked was also due to office politics).
But I agree with Tony. “When one door closes, another one opens” sounds trite, but it’s true.
Cheers,
September 9th, 2006 at September 9, 2006 - 5:11 pmAnnie
Everyone worth their salt has been fired. And it’s almost always for some inexplicable randomness that knocks from left field. Things will work out. You didn’t want to work with those bastards anyway.
September 13th, 2006 at September 13, 2006 - 11:15 am