Career derailing! Help!!?

Question

Man... I went to school for 6 years, interned for 2, acted as a housing director for one, and finally took a prestigious job with the Governor's budget office at the Capitol... now they're telling me they may not keep me past my 6-month probationary period because they don't feel comfortable with me (it's been very socially awkward; bad chemistry or something- plus i made 2 goof-ups they can pin on me if they need an excuse). I just can't imagine getting hired if I have to explain my last employer let me go because they just didn't like me.

I have 2 months to try to make nice (and save up $ just in case it doesn't work) but it's horrifying to think I came this far only to land someplace where it's just a bad personality fit, and I lose it all. I don't have connections, I got this far just through long hard work.

What do people do when they work this long to build a career only to lose it? How can you rebuild with that bad reference and tarnish on your resume?

the "hard work" was the 6 yrs school plus 3 yrs of jobs leading up to it... that's 9 years. No attitudes, please.

Answer 1

I believe all they can answer by law is to verify employment time and dates, not personality conflicts. My other advice would be to polish off the ol' resume, start shopping it around, and quit before they fire you. You're moving on to a more management friendly environment. You'd like to work for a place where you feel your work and skills are appreciated. Blah blah blah. Put a good spin on it. If they ask you why you quit, say you felt underutilized and feel that you have a lot more to give than the previous job and are ready to dive in and get going on *foo* project/job/whatever.

Spin a bad thing in a good direction!

Answer 2

I hardly call 4 months of work hard work towards a career. It is your first job. It's not like you've been there for 10 years, that is building a career. My father just recently left his job over differences with his boss after 22 years and he was able to get another job. Don't be so melodramatic. In the next two months I would not cause any trouble and just behave, and upon them terminating you just tell them that you are sorry it did not work out but you hope it would not effect them giving you a good recomendation. I would say it is not a big deal and just work well for the rest of the time you are there. Check out job sites like monster and get your resume out to other companies in your field. When you have other interviews don't blame personality conflict, but find some other reason, not an excuse but some reason why it may not have worked out. Don't lie about it.
Good luck.

Okay, is that job the only one you can get with the degree you have? I didn't think so. The work on the degree still stands and any other company will take notice of that. Building a career is being in a single company and working your way up the ladder for 10, 15, 20 years. Not going to school.