(almost) fired for the first time - is it really the end?

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I've been working for just over 2 years at a small nonprofit, with just 3 employees, myself, a young female coworker, and a female boss who is out most of the time. When it's quiet, it's not bad, but when things get busy, I go to pieces, make mistakes, and get into trouble.

My last job was at a university, administering the class schedules, that lasted for 4 years till I emigrated to the USA. I loved the job and did very well. Now, in this current position, I am on a final warning, had my hours cut, no health benefits, and just waiting for the axe to fall. I've never been fired before. My disciplinary problems are not due to any dishonesty, but more the fact I find it hard to cope and tend to annoy my coworker without even trying, or as my boss puts it on my file, "performance issues".

My question is: if you are fired, is it the end? What will potential employers' attitudes be to you when you have to answer 'yes' to the question about whether you've had to resign or been let go from a previous position? Is it easier for someone who's say 18 and been fired to find a new position than someone like me who is 40? Does the fact that I have been honest and have tried make a difference?

No, businesses need employees to be able to perform accurately during busy times. If this is your weak area, you will be hard pressed to keep employment anywhere here in the US. Why not attack your problem directly and get therapy/medication for anxiety?

Perhaps I should be a little more precise. Wen I know what I'm doing and feel confident, and my coworker(s) are all just as geed up as I am, I really enjoy the busy periods. It's when things begin to go wrong and I become the botto of the peking order that the mistakes creep in and I underperform.

All jobs want people wo are good in fast paced environments and have exceptional organizational skills, so even if mine are a bit weak, I really don't have any choice but to just do my best!

If your work environment is negative for you, start applying for other jobs now. Your hours are cut, so you have time for job hunting, put all your energy there.

You may also consider quitting before they fire you.

Getting fired sucks, but it isn't the end. Some places will hold it against you, others won't. I work in the trades and most everyone's been fired at some point. I am able to work off the union books, so don't have to interview, or show a resume. I would have trouble explaining my resume to the corporate world. So I'll focus on union work, selling my skills to small businesses, or self employment. I'd reccomend you spend some time evaluating what you like to do, and what you are good at. Also, figure out what doesn't work for you. Then pick a job that you are most likely to succeed in. Basically use your analytical skills to set yourself up for success. The book "Do What You Are" is good. If you are fired for "unsatisfactory job performance" instead of blatantly doing something wrong you may qualify for unemployment...I did. Good luck, and try not to beat yourself up.

I was supposed to have my 'assessment' on December 23, but the boss put it off till January 18. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst, as they say.

What an awful mess!

I've been fired at least 4 times. Each time it was a little bit worse than the one before.

Best you can do is not to make a scene, offer a firm handshake and a goodbye. (Even a thank you for the opportunity, goes a long way towards a pleasant goodbye). I dread being fired again, although, now its a 'been there, done that' type of situation.

Hurts me to remember though. Getting fired from jobs you can't afford to lose is the worst. I got fired from a federal government job with outrageous pay and benefits, it still hurts to think about it, but I wasn't happy there anyways. Better to do something comfortable at a lower wage, than suffer and make more money.

Never disclose to future employers that you've been fired though, its less problematic to have 'gaps' in your employment history than to suggest that they would be inheriting someone else's problem employee. I've always found work again, just takes patience and preserverence.

Don't do this. Fired = Unemployment Benefits. Quitting = Nothing.

Sometimes you can still get the benefits if you quit. I've ben fired from every job I've ever had. Generally it is because they say I am unqualified. Most of the jobd I have had can't be doen by one person. At a recent job, three other co-workers told me that I did the job better than any of th elast 2 peole who had the job. Then I got fired. From another job I ran into two former co-workers walking down the street,. they told me they were so surprised by how uch I did. that when I was replaced it was with 2 full time and 1 part-time.

I was finally fired yesterday. The boss called my co-worker into the office and closed the door. They were in there a few minutes, then it was my turn. She said that my probation was over, and that I was terminated with immediate effect. She escorted me to my desk, where I got my stuff, then shown the door. Five minutes after going into her office I was out on the street.

In the end I had a verbal warning and written up twice about 'inadequate performance', though my punctuality was spot on (in fact I was always early to work), I can count the number of days I had sick in the two-and-a-bit years I was there on one hand, and even though it was never good enough, I really did try my best to do my job right.

I also have a visual impairment, which meant I couldn't really work quite as fast as my co-worker, and while my boss bought me a large screen for the computer and accepted i needed extra time to compete tasks, she seemed to forget that when something needed to be done.

I'm grateful for all your responses. Consensus seems to be that getting fired isn't the end of the world, but I still worry that it's a blot on my copybook. I did mention it to one temp agency, who said not to worry, just play it down. It was a very small nonprofit I was fired from (just three employees), so I'm wondering whether it would be wise to try and spin it another way.

Now I'm looking for another job. We have savings enough for about 3 months at the moment, and hopefully will get a bit from tax rebates, etc. I just hope I find something within 6 months at the most, otherwise I'm totally not sure what I will do.

johnners, Sorry to hear about the job . Sometimes, things happen for the best.
I don't say this lightly, as I have also been in your position (long story).

In this economy, it is more and more common that people have lost jobs, moved, etc.
Employers know this; just don't offer too much information about a termination.

Good luck in your search .

I have been sacked many times once i got my son enrolled in the same school where i was working it was a big mistake
cos later i was sacked and i could not keep my son in same school my money got stuck....i took admission for him in other school
that was a messy situation.
I am sorry to hear about your situation but you need to be strong now....i was not strong when this happened with me and spiralled down into deep depression i could not gather to search job for many years.
Can you search for a job which is easy and does not require lot of speed etc......where atmosphere is relaxed.