How to loose your job and maintain some form of dignity
Posted on 23. Feb, 2009 by Scott in Uncategorized
Well it does help if you are hired as “the extra guy we don’t really need” (and yes that’s a direct quote), but it was my first job after finishing my degree and I could use the experience. It was for the same company that had helped put me through school, so I figured I owed them. That is even after I had applied for another job and was told I would have to quit by one of the heads of IT because the simply do not hire people without experience. Really??? But your paying me to go to school, for this even. But I digress…
This was by no means a shocker, we had missed some weeks budget by over 90%. You can’t keep the doors open for long at that rate. Something had to give. Hey new ‘extra’ guy can we see you over here?
Over the last couple months I had slowly and quietly prepared for this. Little things like not bringing in a new calendar in January. Removing personal items. Trying to document everything I was doing and keeping those needed informed. This was as much for me as it was for them.
On January 1st I registered this domain because I’m toying around with the idea of doing something different, there will be more on this later. For now just a quick thought on something I truly believe :
If opportunity only knocks once, give him more doors to knock on.
(I know it’s a little corny but I kinda like it)
Inevitably I got called in and was given my options. Back at my desk I simply turned off all of my computers. There was no need to say good bye (everyone was gone for lunch) or send any ‘Good bye and thanks for the fish’ emails (besides that’s melodramatic and desperate). When my boss asked if I needed a box I replied no thanks I’m good. Grabbed my coffee cup and left.
The three things I did that helped me:
- Slowly remove personal items. No one wants to see you sniveling.
- Prepare to do something new. Update a resume or start a new project.
- Don’t look back. What’s done is done. Whatever you have built up (experience, contacts, savings) is what you have to work with, move on.
Don’t get me wrong, it still scares the crap outta ya. But you what? It was getting to be time to do something different anyway.
Stumble It!
