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Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

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Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#11

Post by tamarind8 »

not_your_vase wrote: post #6

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.

What I did say was that I rarely use browser debuggers, because I've just never felt the need to. The console.log and a good mental image of what the code is doing has got me this far.

I asked my boss, that as a senior dev with over 15 proven experience, he should not stress to much about HOW I do it, just WHAT I deliver, and WHEN it is delivered. I guess that was asking for to much? Or being insubordinate? Anyways, I was told my skills, abilities or personality was not the problem, am just not "a good fit". Why? Because I like firefox, and using text editors (vs code) over IDES (visual studio).

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#12

Post by mikro2nd »

tamarind8 wrote: post #11
not_your_vase wrote: post #6

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.

What I did say was that I rarely use browser debuggers, because I've just never felt the need to. The console.log and a good mental image of what the code is doing has got me this far. I asked my boss, that as a senior dev with over 15 proven experience, he should not stress to much about HOW I do it, just WHAT I deliver, and WHEN it is delivered. I guess that was asking for to much? Or being insubordinate? Anyways,…

It sounds like the tooling was just being used as an excuse, that they'd decided to fire you regardless for reasons that they wouldn't want to articulate because they'd be grounds for legal action. Just guessing, of course, but don't believe ~everything~ anything you've been told. I believe you've already made good choices in this: take a deep breath and move on, having "dodged a bullet" as others have commented. Good luck with your next gig.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#13

Post by jasonkester »

tamarind8 wrote: post #8
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.

I bet if you read this back to yourself, you’ll understand why they let you go. And hopefully you’ll approach your next gig differently.

From their perspective, they hired a guy, and it took him 3 weeks to close a single CSS ticket. If you were the company, what would you do?

It sounds like you may be new, so chalk it up to miscommunication. But next time, spend the first day “learning” while closing a few real tickets. Make sure you’re up to speed with the rest of the team in your first week, so there’s no question of your value.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#15

Post by stefanos82 »

jasonkester wrote: post #13
tamarind8 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I bet if you read this back to yourself, you’ll understand why they let you go. And hopefully you’ll approach your next gig differently. From their perspective, they hired a guy, and it took him 3 weeks to close a single CSS ticket. If you were the company, what would you do? It sounds like you may be new, so chalk it up to miscommunication. But next time, spend the first day “learning” while closing a few real ticke…

Read carefully what OP wrote please...not only the CSS issue was fixed, it was also done on ALL pages as well AND the CSS ticket was given the third week.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#16

Post by tamarind8 »

jasonkester wrote: post #13
tamarind8 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I bet if you read this back to yourself, you’ll understand why they let you go. And hopefully you’ll approach your next gig differently. From their perspective, they hired a guy, and it took him 3 weeks to close a single CSS ticket. If you were the company, what would you do? It sounds like you may be new, so chalk it up to miscommunication. But next time, spend the first day “learning” while closing a few real ticke…

I actually had to insist on being given that ticket. My boss was actually happy to let me spend more time learning angular and setting up my dev env. Think about that.

But the moment I stepped up to, and embraced the challenge, everything changed. Maybe someone whispered some bad things about me? I will never know...

What I'd do differently if I wanted to work there? Keep my mouth shut, and not say anything about my views and concerns. Just wait to be given orders and follow them, never questioning anything.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#17

Post by tamarind8 »

stefanos82 wrote: post #15
jasonkester wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bet if you read this back to yourself, you’ll understand why they let you go. And hopefully you’ll approach your next gig differently. From their perspective, they hired a guy, and it took him 3 weeks to close a single CSS ticket. If you were the company, what would you do? It sounds like you may be new, so chalk it up to miscommunication. But next time, spend the first day “learning” while closing a few real ticke…

Read carefully what OP wrote please...not only the CSS issue was fixed, it was also done on ALL pages as well AND the CSS ticket was given the third week.

Thanks. I was actually still being asked if the CSS had been done this morning before the firing. Despite the fact that it had actually been moved as done on the board, me saying I'd finished with it in a slack DM with him yesterday, and me saying it was done in yesterdays sprint meeting. I guess when someone-one has already made up their mind, any kind of input gets automatically, and subconsciously deleted from their minds.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#18

Post by jasonkester »

tamarind8 wrote: post #16
jasonkester wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bet if you read this back to yourself, you’ll understand why they let you go. And hopefully you’ll approach your next gig differently. From their perspective, they hired a guy, and it took him 3 weeks to close a single CSS ticket. If you were the company, what would you do? It sounds like you may be new, so chalk it up to miscommunication. But next time, spend the first day “learning” while closing a few real ticke…

I actually had to insist on being given that ticket. My boss was actually happy to let me spend more time learning angular and setting up my dev env. Think about that. But the moment I stepped up to, and embraced the challenge, everything changed. Maybe someone whispered some bad things about me? I will never know... What I'd do differently if I wanted to work there? Keep my mouth shut, and not say anything about my…

Hey, man. I'm only reading what you wrote and responding to the impression it left. Please try to take it constructively.

Imagine your boss was actually happy with you not delivering anything those first few weeks. Would he have let you go?

I've watched this exact situation play out too many times now to miss the signs. A new person joins the team, spends a few weeks familiarizing and reporting as much in the standups. Manager is encouraging the whole time. Then one day, New Person is no longer with the company, reach out to me if anybody has any concerns.

Every time, it's the new person not catching the signals that they should have been self starting and delivering all that time.

I'm not trying to say that it's fair. Just pointing out that it happens.

Re: Ask HN: Fired for Using Firefox

#19

Post by stefanos82 »

Another hypothetical scenario that could be taken into consideration is the following:

Before hiring you they had either interviewed another candidate that matched their needs and was more experienced than you, or expected a friend of theirs to join their team, but did not reply back for a while and due to their tight schedule, they had to hire someone urgently, thus leading to your hiring. After hiring you, between the end of second and third week, this aforementioned candidate or friend replied and said "I'm available now" and decided to let you go; the only thing that had to do is to figure out a way to use as an excuse to fire you.

I have been there myself and I know first hand how it feels; therefore I will repeat myself: discuss the matter with a lawyer and feel happy that you dodged a bazooka, not just a bullet!

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