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Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

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Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#1

Post by tamarind8 »

I'm here asking for advice, as I'm not sure what to do next.

I got a job 3 weeks ago, as a front-end developer. Obviously still on probation. Just got terminated today, reason given was I do not know how to use tools. They say the fact that I use Firefox as my preferred browser means that I'll most likely be terrible at cross-browser testing. That the fact that I do not use chrome dev tools is a red flag. Or the fact that I said I prefer using text editors (vs code) over full blown IDES (visual studio).

So my question is, is it fair to terminate a new developer because they use Firefox?

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#4

Post by ggeorgovassilis »

> So my question is, is it fair to terminate a new developer because they use Firefox?

I'm sorry for that bad experience. If you were instructed to change tools or given a warning prior to termination, the termination might be justified on grounds of insubordination, but not on merit.

Either way, that place you just left carries a bigger red flag than you.

> I'm not sure what to do next.

Keep learning, get more experience, apply to the next job.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#5

Post by tamarind8 »

ggeorgovassilis wrote: post #4

> So my question is, is it fair to terminate a new developer because they use Firefox? I'm sorry for that bad experience. If you were instructed to change tools or given a warning prior to termination, the termination might be justified on grounds of insubordination, but not on merit. Either way, that place you just left carries a bigger red flag than you. > I'm not sure what to do next. Keep learning, get more exper…

Thank you. There was no warning. In-fact, every dev is free to setup their own local environment in whichever way the choose. There is no standard way to setup anything, and one of my goals was to setup my env and document everything step by step on the org's wiki. So that atleast we'd have one official, approved way of doing things.

What is most shocking about it all, is they have an Angular app, which they are thinking of moving to React, which is why they hired me. On the basis of my React and JS skills. They trusted me to get up-to speed on Angular, but dismissed me because I use Firefox? Don't want the job back, I'm just feeling that people should not feel free to d*ck others around like this. How will I explain all this on my resume?

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#6

Post by not_your_vase »

If you are actually productive with your method, then I would advice you to be happy that you dodged a bullet, and it only cost you 3 weeks. Go for another company, and don't chase this one.

If, however, they have a point, try to learn some productivity tools to be more efficient before going for the job.

In any case, don't think too much about this company, it will just distract you.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#7

Post by ggeorgovassilis »

tamarind8 wrote: post #5
ggeorgovassilis wrote: post #4

> So my question is, is it fair to terminate a new developer because they use Firefox? I'm sorry for that bad experience. If you were instructed to change tools or given a warning prior to termination, the termination might be justified on grounds of insubordination, but not on merit. Either way, that place you just left carries a bigger red flag than you. > I'm not sure what to do next. Keep learning, get more exper…

Thank you. There was no warning. In-fact, every dev is free to setup their own local environment in whichever way the choose. There is no standard way to setup anything, and one of my goals was to setup my env and document everything step by step on the org's wiki. So that atleast we'd have one official, approved way of doing things. What is most shocking about it all, is they have an Angular app, which they are thin…

> How will I explain all this on my resume?

You don't. Omit that job.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#8

Post by tamarind8 »

stefanos82 wrote: post #2

If they have given you this reasoning in written, get yourself a lawyer. Also I firmly believe you dodged a bullet here, sounds like a very toxic environment that give no development freedom.

All they said in writing was "unfortunately I do not meet performance standards".

For the first two weeks they were happy to let me just learn angular and the app. They gave me a CSS ticket to fix one page last week, and I actually fixed all the pages! But I did it using Firefox and a text editor (vs code) so they are having none of that!

> get yourself a lawyer

Very seriously considering this.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#9

Post by tamarind8 »

ggeorgovassilis wrote: post #7
tamarind8 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you. There was no warning. In-fact, every dev is free to setup their own local environment in whichever way the choose. There is no standard way to setup anything, and one of my goals was to setup my env and document everything step by step on the org's wiki. So that atleast we'd have one official, approved way of doing things. What is most shocking about it all, is they have an Angular app, which they are thin…

> How will I explain all this on my resume? You don't. Omit that job.

The time gaps between jobs?

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#10

Post by DamonHD »

tamarind8 wrote: post #9
ggeorgovassilis wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How will I explain all this on my resume? You don't. Omit that job.

The time gaps between jobs?

There have been times when I have strategically done my CV in yyyy or yyyy-mm dates to make such gaps less obvious.

But if pressed you can honestly say that you have no idea what the problem was, you performed your requests, and you were given no warning. In any case that was beyond your control and didn't turn into a real job.

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