I lost my job and am freaking out

I woke up at 3:30 am and couldn't fall back asleep. It is now 4:30 am. Tomorrow it will be a week since I was let go. I have got to apply to at least 1-2 jobs per day this week. That's my goal at least. My anti-anxiety meds are not strong enough - I think I need to ask my doc to up my dose. I will need it.

I had asked my colleague in my last job to write me a recommendation on LinkedIn. He hasn't responded and he hasn't given me a recommendation.

I had to update my LinkedIn profile this morning and I lied about my successes in this last job. I fabricated successes. IF he sees this, he will know I lied. But I had to update my profile today so that employers can see my latest job and its details. There is nothing I can do about this, & I have to fib. I hate it, but it's what I have to do.

I am not sure if fabricating something is a good idea. I wonder if you could capitalize on things you do well and something you know you can do well. I’d not describe things you either can’t do or might not be good at. I’d focus on things you do well. Put details of your last job describing what you actually did like content or what not. I am not sure why you say you have to lie? Lying might work short term but it’s not a good strategy long term. You could get a job but not be able to keep it. I do think you might want to omit being fired but maybe don’t lie about actual tasks you did?

Thanks, divine. But in this case, I have got to fib a bit. My resume otherwise shows all sorts of data points, like increased traffic by 105%, or increased website leads by 50%, etc etc. I have to show similar successes in this job somehow. And it's not like they're going to check if I don't provide a reference from this last position. Everyone lies on their resume, or exaggerates facts and many even lie and make up stuff to get a job. I feel I have no choice in the matter. I can definitely speak to all that I do well, including content focused tasks.

I don’t agree that everyone lies on a resume. I ran into people who do of course. Truth always comes out one way or the other, either on the interview or later on, mainly when people aren’t able to perform a task even if they get hired. If the goal is to get hired it’s one thing but if the goal is to stay employed, then lying is counterproductive. But no not everyone lies.

Of course I agree that you could really focus on highlighting accomplishments and word it a certain way to make it look more presentable

Maybe recruiters can help you to tweak a resume to make it more attractive for employers

Thanks divine, but I'm going to do what I think is best. I'm not lying about my actual responsibilities - just the results of my work. And I am not using this company as a reference.

Good luck.

Oh I just thought could that former CEO you are in touch with help you? He might know companies that hire or he himself has a position for you

He will help me as in he will provide a good reference for me when the time comes. I would never go back to work for him, and he hasn't been able to refer me to anyone else.

Are you sure tech / office is the right area for you? You find Power point and Excel boring beyond words.

I would look at service industry, thats what i did when i got fired from my last tech job, i went to nail school. I had to get money from my mom for tuition but it ended up looking good for my disability application when i failed at that too, when god closes a door she opens a window.

Right now there are tons of jobs in the service industry. If it were me, i would try Shipt. They are always looking for people, and all you do is shop with other people's money, text, and drive all day. Get a fold up shopping cart for your car so theres no heavy lifting - i always meet my shoppers outside in the driveway with my cart. If i had a car, i would do it myself!

You seem more like a people person than a tech nerd. A paradigm change could be a blessing. When i did standup comedy in the 1980's, what surprised me most was that i was lauded for things i was punished for doing as a computer programmer.

Thanks for your thoughts!

A couple of things: I am not in tech, I am in a niche specialization within digital marketing that does have technical aspects to it, but I do not work within the tech industry.

Also, I need a 105K+ salary to live where I live now, and the only way I can achieve that is by leveraging the 11 years of experience I have within my field. I will not be able to start over in a new field earning over 100K.

I don't mind sticking to what I know. There are aspects to my field that I really enjoy. You are correct in that I am more of a people person than a tech nerdy type. I do need more interaction than I had in my last job. If I work with clients again, I will have more people interaction. I am applying for senior level jobs in my field in different agencies. I am pretty confident that I can land a job that is in my salary range and in my field of expertise.

I found the PERFECT job for me at the RIGHT salary today. I applied and spent solid time on my application. I pray that I get an interview. Literally, it's perfect. It combines my content experience with my digital marketing experience in my niche area and is the exact salary I want. It's also 100% remote.

Ok, so this news is very encouraging. Out of 400+ applicants for a different role in my field, I'm in the top 10% according to LinkedIn, and I've been contacted for an interview! Finally - after 15 or more applications, I have an interview!

Congratulations!

Thanks @Bill3!

So, I asked a colleague from my last job for a recommendation on LinkedIn. He read my message, and did not respond or write a recommendation. He is more senior to me and directly oversaw my content-related work. Big SIGH. You would think he would want to try to help me out in my job search. It's off-putting that he doesn't want to lift a finger for me.

It’s possible he didn’t like quality of your work so he’s not comfortable giving recommendations. I am not saying quality wasn’t good, but perhaps he thinks that. Otherwise he’d respond that he’s busy or something. No response is telling you how he feels. Plus it’s possible his negative opinion about your work effected higher up’s decision to let you go as he directly supervised you. He can’t possibly write your recommendations.

I also think that remote work creates situation where you don’t really get to know people well, no connections are formed, so he might feel he doesn’t even know you. I am surprised they are 100% remote as most companies have at least part time in person interaction nowadays, unless you are out of state

He told me multiple times that my work was "awesome" - I asked him for feedback directly on my work too. And he gave me compliments. Perhaps their decision to let me go has swayed his decision to not write a recommendation.

I really don't know.

And it's not strange that the company is 100% remote. There are many digital agencies across the country that are 100% remote.

Many companies are also turning to a remote work model due to covid and the Great Resignation. I wrote an article about remote work for my last company, so I've researched the topic.

My CEO started her company thinking that she would simply consult on her own. But she gained clients and had to scale. She initially hired top talent as contractors. Then, it evolved from there into hiring full time employees, but from top applicants across the country. Her company is only six years old.

But now, in the corporate world, it's not strange to find many fully remote positions. That's what I keep finding available and am applying for.

I understand. Most of my family and friends are in a corporate world. They are now required to go part time to the office. One or two days a week at least. All of them. That’s why I was surprised you find and prefer 100% remote companies. But I get it

Honestly if quality of my work was deemed awesome but I was fired for not meeting their standards, I’d hire a lawyer and question the decision. In absence of negative feedback (no written evaluations) and glowing feedback from those who oversee your work how do they justify firing an awesome employee? I’d be livid. How do they explain it??? It’s so unacceptable

My company set it up that way. Remember that I had a terrible first review and it was in writing? And that my second review was far better, whereby I was told I was meeting their expectations, yet it wasn't in writing? The only positive statements I have about the quality of my work are all verbal. I have zero proof, and I think they set it up that way to get rid of me - all because I had had a mental health issue and had to reduce my level of responsibilities.

Also, when I came up with almost 300 different blog article topics for clients last July-August, my superior told me that I did as good of a job as he could have done himself! This is the same guy I asked a recommendation from. He is a NYT best selling author, too.