Just started a new job recently after being let go by my previous one due to “performance” but I have a feeling it was due to a reduction in force even though I got along with mostly everyone, the company was having high turnover and low retention so maybe it was for the best. The supervisor for some reason lowkey hated me, that's how I felt and probably found a way to get me fired.
Fast forward to recently, I started my new job at another legal firm. I got an offer and I accepted it because this job market is questionable and I just wanted to find a job. The pay was very low, under $20 an hour, literally close to the minimum wage in the state around $16-17. I was just tired of getting ghosted and did not want to wait too long to find a new role. The first few days were just training: learning terminology, doing reports, and getting used to the systems. I thought it was the one. After I finished the fourth day, the supervisor and the HR rep called me into their office.
“After going over your training and what we observed, we have decided to part ways with you because we feel you can succeed much better at another firm and I feel we can't offer the potential here at this firm. You are a smart guy, however, but I just feel you can succeed and reach your full potential somewhere else.” the supervisor said. In my mind, I was shocked and flabbergasted and asked myself, “What? Again?” From what I interpreted, it feels that I can reach my potential elsewhere and not at this firm.
I also ask myself, “Why did you offer me the job… just to let me go?” I asked if it was a performance issue, and they said no because all the reports they got from the case managers were positive. I am bummed because it was close to me but I just feel devastated about going back to the job hunt. They said they were willing to write me a reference for a job and the HR rep was encouraging me to reach out and ask questions. I genuinely feel like a failure since it's almost going to be a year since I graduated college and it feels like… a nightmare. Maybe it isn't the field to be or maybe I am just dealing with flawed management. I have a theory that they can't either afford me, they decided to replace me with a nepo baby, I didn't fit in or they just did me a favor. I have to admit it, a 30-minute lunch and clocking in at sporadic times felt so off.
Has this ever happened to anyone? Being let go for a positive reason rather than a negative one? To be honest, evaluating an employee after 4 days… and making a conclusion based on training feels off.
TL;DR: Job market is questionable, became too desperate and started a new job after being let go from the previous one with low pay, was tired of getting ghosted, and didn't want to wait too long to find a new role. Trained for four days, and got let go because they feel that I can succeed elsewhere and it wasn't because of a performance issue, willing to write references on my behalf despite the short time where, theorize if I wasn't a good fit, replacing me with a nepo baby or they couldn't afford to keep me and realize that I will ask for a raise eventually.