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I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

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I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#1

Post by instaheat »

Earlier this year I got fired from my Director of IT position after a group of investors purchased my company and eliminated my position. Brought in their own guys.

Today, I was let go from my Analyst position because I had a USB wireless adapter plugged in to my company PC. I was using it to access our guest network. They called it "circumventing the network" - a fire-able offense. Oh, I'm sorry - it's against the rules to Facebook on my lunch break on the guest network. Snore. Typical corporate "security policy" nonsense.

How can I recover from this? I handled it just like last time, took it in stride. Saw it as an opportunity and found this job within a month. Maybe it's time to start my own company. I don't know. I just know it feels different this time. I feel jaded. It feels personal.

Re: I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#2

Post by slashdotaccount »

Recover from what? Why would you like to work for a company with such stupid rules? They let you go just because of a wireless adapter? It's their loss then, you know you did nothing wrong (right?), move on, find better people to work with.

Re: I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#3

Post by paperclips »

There is no easy answer to this, but to keep trying. Buy outs stink when it comes to layoffs... it's always in the best interest of the investors - whatever that is - not the employees.

At your second job though, they do have a point. It's a company computer and you should not be using your own hardware without permission (to be safe) to browse things against company policy (even as blocked on their main network). Even though you may have been on your own time during lunch, you are still using a company computer which is their property.

In today's current job situation, consider leaving facebook and personal email/services at home and never access them at work. If you really have to, use your phone while on your bathroom break.

Hopefully you will find something soon!

Re: I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#4

Post by wyclif »

slashdotaccount wrote: post #2

Recover from what? Why would you like to work for a company with such stupid rules? They let you go just because of a wireless adapter? It's their loss then, you know you did nothing wrong (right?), move on, find better people to work with.

I agree with that advice. Sometimes getting fired is the best thing that could ever happen to you.

Re: I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#5

Post by instaheat »

paperclips wrote: post #3

There is no easy answer to this, but to keep trying. Buy outs stink when it comes to layoffs... it's always in the best interest of the investors - whatever that is - not the employees. At your second job though, they do have a point. It's a company computer and you should not be using your own hardware without permission (to be safe) to browse things against company policy (even as blocked on their main network). Ev…

"A point." What a sad pathetic little point they have. In fact, they said if I had done it our on issued laptops it would have been OK. But this - no - this is a crime.

It's non sense. Their network wasn't at risk - it's impossible to access the internal domain from the guest network. This should have been a discussion. Not a firing.

Re: I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#6

Post by pawn »

I can see why it feels personal this time. Before you were let go due to outside circumstances, but this time you were fired for something that they say you did wrong.

Like others have said, you're better off without them. There are other jobs out there. Don't let it keep you down.

One thing I'd say about starting your own company is that you shouldn't make that an emotional decision. Carefully think about whether you're able to make that leap yet. Do you have money saved up to build a company on? Do you have someone to go into it with you? I'd say today isn't the day to answer those questions. Sleep on it. Tomorrow you'll see the world from a fresh perspective.

Re: I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#7

Post by jacalata »

"I had a USB wireless adapter plugged in to my company PC. I was using it to access our guest network. They called it "circumventing the network" - a fire-able offense. Oh, I'm sorry - it's against the rules to Facebook on my lunch break on the guest network. Snore. Typical corporate "security policy" nonsense."

Well, that would get you fired at the last two places I've worked as well, so perhaps one move could be learning to know your companies policies and not break them in obvious fire-able ways, or not work for places big enough to have network policies.

Re: I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#8

Post by late2part »

1. The world is not fair. Your attitude in your post reeks of entitlement "Oh, I'm sorry." Get over yourself. You can play by their rules or you can play by yours.

2. How do you recover? You just do. Take any job you can get. Find a better job. Learn skills. Network. Build a reputation and respect. Good things will come.

3. Sounds like the most recent place was a shitty company, and yet, those are their rules - you call them nonsense, they call them reasons to fire you. Be glad you left. Enjoy the next place more - but don't ever be satisfied - keep looking for better!

Re: I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#9

Post by instaheat »

jacalata wrote: post #7

"I had a USB wireless adapter plugged in to my company PC. I was using it to access our guest network. They called it "circumventing the network" - a fire-able offense. Oh, I'm sorry - it's against the rules to Facebook on my lunch break on the guest network. Snore. Typical corporate "security policy" nonsense." Well, that would get you fired at the last two places I've worked as well, so perhaps one move could be le…

Regardless of "the policy" - it isn't as obvious as you make it out to be.

I'm human. Have a conversation with me. Tell me it's wrong. It's cutthroat. What a terrible way to treat a person.

Re: I got fired ("let go", "laid off") for the 2nd time this year. How do I recover?

#10

Post by [deleted] »

instaheat wrote: post #9
jacalata wrote: post #7

"I had a USB wireless adapter plugged in to my company PC. I was using it to access our guest network. They called it "circumventing the network" - a fire-able offense. Oh, I'm sorry - it's against the rules to Facebook on my lunch break on the guest network. Snore. Typical corporate "security policy" nonsense." Well, that would get you fired at the last two places I've worked as well, so perhaps one move could be le…

Regardless of "the policy" - it isn't as obvious as you make it out to be. I'm human. Have a conversation with me. Tell me it's wrong. It's cutthroat. What a terrible way to treat a person.

[deleted]
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