Fired due to my personality

[Underyourthumb]

I started a new job 3 weeks ago and I thought all was going well until I got called into a meeting yesterday at 3pm. They told me that while I am pleasant and polite, I’m not very bubbly. This is a receptionist position in a dentist. One of the things that they said was “the girl we saw at the interview… we haven’t seen her since” l was trying not to get upset by this remark because I had no idea they felt this way and I thought all this time I WAS acting the same. I mean of course I’m going to be over the top and chatty and putting my best self out there at the interview because I’m trying to sell myself. But I am ALWAYS so happy and smiley and upbeat when patients come in. I have worked in customer service/hospitality and reception jobs for years and have always received such positive feedback regarding my demeanour and pleasantness so I am just so confused. They are saying they were hoping I would be more out there and bubbly and have a laugh with the patients. But I do try to do this with the ones who actually seem like they want to chat. Most of them don’t want to chat to the receptionist at the dentist… they just want to be checked in and take a seat. I’ve never been to a doctors or dentists where the reception team are the life and soul of the party and have chats with the patients.They have other things to be doing. I may ask them how their day is or if I’ve built a rapport with them already I might say “oh how’s your back now, are you feeling better since last time?” Etc.. I’m not miserable or anti social. But they want MORE. I am so so upset because it feels like such a personal attack on my personality rather than me not being good at the job. They don’t like me because of me and im trying not to let it hurt my feelings but it’s making me now second guess how I act. I’m definitely not bubbly and loud and outgoing, which it’s obviously what they’re after. But I can do the job well, and I am personable and friendly and professional and this is just a massive slap in the face. To lose my job over my personality is devastating!

Has anyone experienced this? How can I pick myself up? I feel like absolute shit about myself.

I had this exact same thing at a cosmetic dental practice. Turns out what they meant was that I wasn't hot. I washed and put a bit of mascara on but I wasn't an ex air hostess like the other receptionist!

I personally do not want to deal with a over bubbly reception. This is a blessing in disguise because they sound nuts. You are not the problem.

A bubbly receptionist at the dentist is my worst nightmare . Please leave me to my panic attack in peace thank you very much. I'd appreciate a tissue , maybe some water but please no chat , I'd actually walk out.

A company that sacks someone after three weeks without attempting to train them, unless it’s for something actually criminal, is not a company you want to work for. Count it as a lucky escape.

Huh?

Just over 50% of the population are women so that means nearly that proportion of customers will be women.

While a minority of women seeking cosmetic dentistry might want a "hot" female receptionist most others won't give a shit or would strongly prefer a "hot" male receptionist.

The only problem with the term "hot" is that tastes vary....

I'm polite to dentist receptionists and I'll chat if they want to chat but tbh, normally when I go I am worried about a problem being found that will cost the Earth to put right and dreading the scale and polish my very thorough but rough and heavy handed dentist. I'm not bothered if the receptionist doesn't try to 'have a laugh' with me. I'm not really in the mood for a 'laugh'.

Most mortal beings want quiet, discreet and efficient dental receptionists.
Now they upsell aesthetics they are like walking into a rave. I can’t stand it. And to be fair if I was dropping 10k on veneers I would still want an oasis of calm.
The thing is most of the people I know who will pay UK prices are 30 and over, at the very least, otherwise it’s off to Turkey.
You are clearly really good at what you do and while you are full of personality they clearly want someone they can shove in front of a camera which is not the same set of skills.

Sounds like you dodged a bullet there OP.

Also it is pretty shitty that they didn't mention anything to over the last three weeks and decided to just go straight to firing you.

@Underyourthumb

I'm so sorry, what utter cunts.

I think there must be more to this

As others have said, maybe you're not vibing their social media vibe. But that's not something you should feel upset about.

or something like one of the SM BABES has a friend who needs a job & is an insta babe.

I'm trying to not offend anyone else but that 'type' are not my cup of tea!!

you'll get another job easily if you're good at what you do, & they actually need a competent, personable 'normal' person.

unless your aim is to be an insta girl, then don't let the bastards get to you!

🤗

unfair dismissal after only 3 weeks would be utterly pointless.

You sound well out of it, it comes over as quite a vacuous and unprofessional business. Perhaps suggest they re advertise the role as Entertainer required. Good luck

Ah OP, have a hug xx
They sound like twats and you sound like a lovely, normal person who wouldn't get on my tits if I was sitting in the waiting room in agony, preparing for a root canal! I don't want a dance troop or cabaret singer, I just want to sit in peace and gird my loins for the misery of the dental inspection 😬
Their bloody loss.
Chin up, there's a better job out there with your name on it 🙂
From a fellow Un-Bubbly MNetter xx

please don’t do this OP. It makes the poster look bitter and unprofessional rather than the company

I don't want my dentists receptionist to be annoying and bubbly I want her to be polite and efficient.

I don't think that is the reason you lost your job.They have another reason most likely nothing to do with you and are fabricating an excuse .

That sucks, OP, I'm sorry. I'd take it as a positive reflection on your personality that you don't fit in with a superficial, 'Insta' image. In the real world, I want the receptionist at my dental surgery to be polite and competent. 'Bubbly' would annoy the heck out of me. I hope you find something better soon.

I think a co-worker has a friend lined up for your job and they made up an excuse to get rid of you.

They sound ridiculous OP; I was a dental receptionist and the one thing we weren't under pressure to be was "bubbly"; I left because we were on minimum wage, and had more & more tasks piled on us for no extra money. I did one of those online personality tests and the worst job for me was ( you guessed it!!) receptionist!! The workload did my head in; we were often on the desk alone, and had to contend with a phone ringing non stop, patients waiting to pay / book appointments, sort out their files, respond to messages from the dentist's, and more stuff that escapes me now. It was a nightmare. I wouldn't have been happy if I was expected to be bubbly as well. One of the dentists complained to the practice manager that she'd heard someone on the desk swearing. Reader, it was me. Just glad to be out of there.

They were interviewing her replacement from week 1.

That replacement won't last 2 years if they last 2 months.

There is a reason they are recruiting regularly.

Surely they can't fire you if you have been pleasant & courteous in your role and have done your work efficiently & conscientiously?

Sorry it happened to you. Whilst polite and kind are great qualities, I don't think I'd want 'bubbly' when I'd been in agony all night and was sleep deprived.

Bubbly = Brainless halfwit, and even more so when used to describe themself.

don't take this lying down. Have you got a local Facebook page you could name and shame them on. Find out who the CEO is and email them.
maybe don’t do this though, as you still need another job and anyone can search your sm and deem you a troublemaker

I agree it is far more likely they want someone else in, rather than you out. They've had to make up a reason and that's the one they chose. Being pleasant, efficient and chatty if appropriate show you were good at your job. I suspect they used you in a temp capacity and were just filling in time til the person they already allocated to the role could start work. Very mean and nasty thing to do to you so do what the HR people on here suggest, but be glad you are not staying to work there long term.

The way they have treated you is deeply unpleasant and unprofessional and it must have been a horrible shock. However I think you are well rid of them, it is a dentists, not a nightclub. Who wants "bubbly" ?, it always comes over as fake and annoying and the last place I would want that would be at a place where I was waiting to have a procedure performed. I cannot imagine anything worse than being checked in for an appointment by a grinning, babbling influencer style person.