Have you ever got a new job after being fired?

[Lushmetender]

I have always done ok in my job but recently due to feedback I’ve been getting at work I feel like I’m failing. I’m having a hard time on one of my projects and worry I could lose my job. Have you ever lost your job and got something else in your professional field? How did you approach it with new employers? Have you ever thought what you’d do if you lost your job?

Do you generally enjoy the job and have been there for over two years? Have you asked your manager for support?

5 years. I’m at a senior level do not much support from manager as she is busy and has a whole dept to run.

It's not actually that easy to fire someone after 5 years, if they're a large company (or a well run small one that is aware of its legal obligations) you will have a number of warnings and/or and be put on a performance plan first.

Given this, have you had a frank conversation with your manager? Then you know if:

1. You're underestimating yourself and are fine
2. You're underperforming but in a milder way that you can turn around with feedback / support / effort
3. Things really aren't working out, and it maybe best for you to search for another job / leave asap with a good reference based on your past work

It's not ideal to have been fired, but so many people have been made redundant now with covid, or chosen to make a career change / take time off with family that in many ways it's a good time if it's going to happen.

I think it’s very hard to find work if you are actually fired (for many reasons) but you don’t get instantly dismissed in situation like this. Your manager would have to give you warnings and work with you to improve so you can resign if it’s only heading one way. You should definitely have a Frank conversation with your manager, see which way the land lies. Better to quit when you are ahead if you can and before you loose confidence (and having secured another job too!!)

Thx I was offered 2 jobs recently but I turned them down as I felt quite low and wasn’t sure if they’d be too much pressure at a time when not feeling confident. I’ve had a few bits of feedback from my manager which is leading to this but no warnings in writing or anything like that. I do like what I do and the team I manage but it has all become v stressful and I feel no matter what I do, there’s always a “but you haven’t done x”. I know others in the team are feeling the same in certain aspects of the role but seem to be able to articulate it well. I feel I’m not being listened to when I state my point of view. I got the usual rating in this years appraisal but then a few weeks after got told it should have been needs improvement but that I have “the whole of the year to improve”. So really mixed messages. My line manager is a nice person but has an inability to give constructive feedback and I know her bosses are applying the pressure now indirectly through her but the messaging from her is mixed. She’ll say one thing, you think you know the brief but then she’ll do an about turn!