Article on Desk Demon website Insulting!

[bellajgw]

I just read the article on Desk Demon titled “How to Answer the ‘Why were you fired?’ Question” by Jonathan Walker and I have to say I’m very disappointed and also very insulted.  Mr. Walker states that while being fired is a common thing, happens to everyone, he gives horrible advice and makes wide assumptions.  

For Example:

Do Not Say Bad Things About Your Employer:    Ok, you don’t want to be too negative because, yes, you will sound whiny and negative.  So tell me how you would explain that you were being verbally and emotionally harassed by your employer to the point that you were losing hair, sleep, getting sick, feeling nauseous every time you entered the building and finally had to go to the company lawyer to look for help?  How would you give that a positive spin??

Do Not Blame It On Anyone, Especially Office Politics:  Again...same situation...female boss harasses Employee A.  Female boss was just hired and is best friends with owners of the company and their family.  Employee A had worked with female boss in another job and knows for a fact that boss lied on her resume.  Shortly after being hired female boss fires three single mothers and then targets Employee A.  Female boss threatens, harasses, lies, accuses, calls Employee A names when alone.  Employee A goes to company lawyer and claims harassment.  Lawyer takes 1 week to "investigate", says it isn’t harassment because both boss and employee are female, and two days later employee is fired on trumped up charge of not returning a customer's call but lawyers cannot produce voicemail or e-mail or any other proof of this.   So how would you describe that scenario to a potential employer?  How would you spin that so you aren’t blaming the firing on anyone??

Be Honest and Don’t Keep Anything Hidden:   Right there you are contradicting what you have been saying.  If it wasn’t actually something you did that got you fired and you can’t say bad things or blame it on anyone, then you would have to lie. Wouldn’t you?

Don’t Blame Incompatibility with Your Boss or Coworkers:  Ok...this is the one that is insulting.  Mr. Walker says in the article “If you were a good employee, you should have found ways to befriend your co-workers and boss. Being nice to everyone, no matter what their office rank may be, helps you handle difficult situations. Employees who get fired because of their incompatibility with the rest of the working team only prove that they are immature and have social issues.”   So, if I understand this correctly, my inability to get along with my boss who was horrible to me the moment she stepped foot into the building, harassed me, called me names, threatened me, accused me of ridiculous things, etc,  was all due to the fact that I’m just a bad employee?  I'm immature and have social issues because I just couldn't get along with my boss no matter how much I tried? I'm a very likeable person, I'm a very happy and upbeat person, and I get along very well in 98% of all situations.  But because in this circumstance I was not able to win over a harassing and nasty boss that makes me less of an employee???  So the fact that in my last two jobs I have taken I have been given very substantial raises, praised by coworkers and bosses, given promotions....it’s all a fluke?  

So, while Mr. Walker’s advice may work for some out there, he insults those of us who have fought hard and struggle continuously to get past the humiliating and sometimes infuriating experience of being fired.  Not all of us who have been fired were treated fairly, not all of us were fired for something we actually did or did not do.  Some of us were actually...gasp...victimized by those who fired us.  So how should we respond to that question?  Where is our article?

[gee4]

Bella,

I feel strongly about this as you do.  I read the article too and was still looking for the answers at the end.

Everyone's situation is indeed different so these remarks will not apply to everyone.  Like a lot of other cases, yours sounds like a definite case of bullying, and whilst not as bad as my own situation, it is nevertheless bullying, whether direct or indirect.

Assumptions can be made on how to deal with certain situations but until faced with that situation, no-one really knows what any individual will go through, especially if your job is on the line.

I too am a bubbly, upbeat person so it's not in my nature not to get on with people.

[itsme_calista]

I must admit that I read the article and wondered what the point of it was?  I felt it was extremely condescending and actually read that no matter what the circumstance, the individual fired was always at fault!  That simply is not the case!!

Being fired (in any circumstance) is demoralising and is difficult to deal with especially when challenged by an potential employer, the article did nothing to improve confidence or offer strategies in which to deal with the question.

Johnathon Walker may well have written "keep your mouth shut and skirt the question" for all his advice actually did!

Calista

[susans]

It is interesting to see when people react to an article.   This is a great time to invite all of our viewers who may have a knack for writing to think about submitting your pieces on your views!   If you would like to voice something you feel strongly about or have your own idea, let me know.

Susan

[peaches2160]

I think this definitely sounds like a good follow up article, focusing on real life situations and resolutions.

I agree that being fired is not always the employees fault.  Although I have never been fired, I have known people who were dismissed unfairly and at one time was in a situation where I too was being set up for the "let go".  Fortunately, I had a clean slate and good rapport with others in the company and was able to transfer to another position in another department.

I would be interested to see what others experiences have been.