My job turned out differently than I thought. I was hired to be an executive assistant. This is what I do and what I’m good at. Anybody around here who is or has an EA knows it’s a specific skill set.
However, my job turned out to be a customer service rep/accounting position. I’m not any good at sales or collection. I’m good at deflecting people a VP doesn’t have the time to talk to. The job was wrong for me, and I should have known it. But I’m stubborn, and felt that if I just worked and tried hard enough, I could do it well.
The week before last, I went with my boss to Las Vegas for a trade show. We spent a lot of time together, I learned a lot, and I thought it was a positive experience. On Thursday evening, we went to a buffet. Within 1/2 hour after eating, I felt nauseous. I began vomiting that night. It continued, including on the plane (where I learned the flight attendant will let you get up with the seat-belt sign on if you’re throwing up). Saturday, the food poisoning hit my intenstines, too. By Monday night I was laying in a bed in urgent care with an IV in my arm. Took two full bags in under an hour.
I go home with a prescription for phenegren (sp?), a liquid diet to follow for the rest of the week, and instructions not to go back to work until I could keep food down. On Wednesday, my boss was so angry at me for my continued absence that I went back in. Weak, dizzy, exhausted, I drag myself to my desk. I got nothing done, save fouling up the office bathroom (sorry). Friday I am much the same.
Friday afternoon, I’m called into her office and provided with a written warning cataloging my sins, including my ‘excessive’ absence and accusing me of not calling out. (Untrue, for those who are interested). I sign it, because I feel like I have to and I’m so weak I can’t think straight. She says to think over the weekend abou whether this is a “good fit” and that we’d talk monday.
I go home, and panic about feeling so sick that I can’t show an immediate and signifigant improvement. I decide this is because I’m running on about 500 calories a day in soup and jello. I eat solid food on saturday. (Bread and Turkey, for the interested). I am, predictably, violently ill on Sunday.
Monday morning, I have a banana and vomit so hard I see stars (literally. It was actually really cool looking in and of itself.) This is in the office bathroom so everyone gets to hear it. Then I am called into her office, read a litany of all the things that haven’t been done since I’ve been out, how I didn’t do anything the two days I was there, etc, etc. I try to explain how sick I am, she accuses me of faking (then admits maybe it’s psychosomatic). She gets angry I’m arguing with her, and tells me she needs to terminate me.
Somehow, in my delerious state I end up agreeing to stay for two more weeks to tie up loose ends. I need the money. I then went home, slept for two days, and came in yesterday.
I’ve never been fired before, and this came at the worst possible time. I’m job hunting, but I just feel so depressed and helpless. I’m still feeling sick (can consume fruit and startch, eggs rejected as of this morning). I know my friends are sick and tired of reasuring me that I’m not incompetant and will too find a great new job, but I don’t feel that way. I am physically and mentally at my worst right now, how in hell do I sell myself to someone?
I’m just ranting, I guess, but I’m not angry enough for the pit. It’s mundane, it’s pointless, and I feel compelled to share it. Any other recently fired dopers out there, feel free to share your tale of woe. Misery loves company and all.
