Nobody ever wants to get fired. I guess if you are a CEO of one of the big bailout banks and get fired with a six million dollar severance package you do not mind much. However, the rest of us are more interested in keeping our bread and butter. You don’t want to get fired.
You can avoid the pink slip by doing your job and keeping your head down. Though, sometimes that is not enough. There are a number of things that an employee can do to get fired. Believe it or not it may not be fair that you were fired because you don’t want to take a shower more than once a month, told your boss where he could shove it or are smarter than a fifth grader and everyone else you work with. These are ten things that will definitely get you fired.
1) Not being honest on your job application
This one will get you the pink slip quick. Your resume is usually pumped up a little. This is a given and employers know this. However, the
job application is another story.
If they want to get rid of you and need a reason they will typically do a quick scan of the application. If you didn’t disclose your felony record for bank robbery before you became a teller at a bank, chances are you won’t be there very long.
Stay away from saying you have your PHD when in fact you don’t. Even if you are several credits away from the BA you better not claim it on the application if you want to keep your
job. This will definitely get you fired.
2) Be sick when it’s convenient for you
Sick days and vacation days are coveted by any employee. These are yours and you hoard them, count them relentlessly and want to take them at your convenience. However, this is not always the case.
If you request a day off and are denied, but happen to be conveniently call in sick for that same day you stand a good chance of being fired.
3) Be disgusting in the workplace
Regardless of how great a job you are doing for the position if you are disgusting in the workplace they will get rid of you as quickly and as quietly as possible. No one wants to sit next to the guy that has uncontrollable gas and doesn’t know what deodorant is used for.
Personal hygiene is not on the
job application or
jobdescription, but you can bet your bottom dollar that it is taken into account. Unless you are working from home you will be fired.
4) You are always right
Everyone has one of these in the office. They will not concede, discuss or compromise. They are always right and never miss a chance to let everyone know it. The ego is a fragile thing and letting you down easy won’t be the case. If you cannot play on the team then you can play alone in the unemployment line. No compromise equals no
job. If you always have to be right then you can be fired.
5) Always keeping your head down
There are times when this may not be a great idea. Of course you want to stay out of office politics and not draw attention to yourself for a number of reasons. However, when it comes to letting someone go they may choose you. If they don’t remember you for your accomplishments they will let you go if someone will need to hit the door.
Some employers may concede that you are not a team player since they never hear from you. No contribution to the team with ideas and thoughts could mean you are going where no one wants to go, the
unemployment office. Always keeping your head down will get you fired.
6) No respect for the chain of command
There is a certain way to do things in the office and the hierarchy must be followed. You cannot go to your boss’s boss without his permission. You cannot go to the CEO or President of the company and then it comes down to your boss that you went up the chain missing him.
Have a sense of what should be said and when. Make certain you know the players and your role in the game. If you don’t, you will get fired.
7) Be ungrateful
The complainers are always there to let you know how little or how much you should have got. They complain about the raise they received, it wasn’t enough. They complain about a day off, it should have been two. They complain about everything. Complainers are the first to be considered as the employee out the door.
Remember that we are experiencing the highest unemployment rate in recent history. There are hundreds in line waiting for the table scraps you complain about. Being ungrateful will get you
fired.
8) All your time is spent with the negative energy in the office
The negative energy in the office is employees that gossip, complain and don’t perform. Misery loves company and sometimes we are painted with the company we keep. You may not be the gossip, the complainer or the non-performer. Though, if the boss sees you in their company you are automatically in this click. Stay away from the negative energy in the office. Build your own positive energy so you won’t
get fired.
9) Take responsibility for something that doesnt go right
Being responsible goes a long way toward your character and credibility. There are times when you need to take the responsibility for things not going right. There are some that are always there to be responsible when things are going right. Where are they when things are going wrong? Taking responsibility for things going wrong goes a long way with moving you away from the
unemployment line.
10) Don’t take credit for someone else’s work
Taking credit for other peoples work will get you fired. These are the freeloading folks that are building a team to work on a project and their contribution was getting the coffee. To hear them tell the story they completed the goal all by their lonesome. Don’t take credit for someone else work if you don’t want to be fired.
These are ten definite ways to get fired. Avoid them and you avoid the unemployment process. Don’t get fired if you don’t have to. Take your showers and be grateful for whatever you get
