Getting fired can be a real shock to the system.
But there are usually signs that your termination is pending. You’ve just got to know where to look.
Maybe your boss is out to get you. Maybe you’ve been embroiled in some recent controversy at work. Or maybe your organization is undergoing a massive transition or merger.
Either way, it helps to be prepared.
You receive a bad performance review (or two, or three)
A negative evaluation is not always synonymous with being fired, but, in conjunction with other bad feedback, it can mean trouble, says Taylor. “Your employer needs to create a paper trail, so along with warnings, your employer will use a performance review to document the problem areas.”
More than one poor performance review in a row is an especially bad sign, adds Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of “The Humor Advantage.”
“Depending on how bad your first performance review was, you may be given a chance to make corrections and improve, but a series of critical performance reviews could be a major sign that your job is in jeopardy,” Kerr tells Business Insider.
If it‘s because of a lack of experience or lack of training in a certain area, then there‘s always a chance to fix it. But critical phrases to be mindful of during performance reviews include, “You‘re not a good fit for our culture,“ “You‘re not a team player,“ “Your personality or style doesn‘t seem to mesh with the team,“ or “You have a major attitude problem.“
“If you hear any of these types of criticisms then it‘s time to break out your résumé, since it‘s often assumed that attitudinal issues are deeply engrained and unfixable,” he says.
You’re left out of the loop
If it’s suddenly hard to access important data that would help you perform well in your job, or you’re not invited to important meetings or included on key emails, a pink slip may be coming your way, says Taylor.
“There could be other reasons for this happening, but certainly one may be that your leadership has lost the trust or confidence in your abilities, making you vulnerable when and if layoffs happen,” Kerr says.
Your job has become mission impossible
“When you first assumed the role, you had your marching orders and could accomplish them. Now it seems that you’re tasked with projects akin to climbing Mount Everest blindfolded,” says Taylor.
“You’re being set up to fail,” Kerr explains. “Sometimes this is due to lousy leadership, but occasionally it can be because a company wants to get rid of you, but they need solid evidence to do so, and setting you up for disaster is one way of getting the ‘proof’ you longer belong there.”
Your boss has ‘warned’ you (more than once)
Formal warnings are never a good thing. “You may have received a verbal warning, a written warning, and maybe even a second written warning,” says Taylor. If you have, know that more bad news may be coming your way.
Your relationship with your boss has deteriorated
You used to be friends (or friendly, at least) — but now there’s tension whenever you’re in the same room. “Once your relationship has deteriorated to the point of being toxic, then how your boss treats you — from ignoring you to publicly berating you — can be obvious signs that your job might be in peril,” says Kerr.
You’re asked to provide detailed reports about time or expenses
“Increased scrutiny is a phenomenon that is rarely initiated by the accounting department,” Robert Dilenschneider, author of “50 Plus!: Critical Career Decisions for the Rest of Your Life,” tells Business Insider. “The boss believes that you have wasted time or inflated expenses. Even if you are 100% innocent, it doesn’t matter. Find out if you are the only person being scrutinized.”
Fewer projects are coming your way
Here’s a bad sign: You suddenly have a lot of time on your hands because not a lot of work is being assigned to you. “As you try to secure normal work, it seems it’s hard to get cooperation from your boss and other managers,” Taylor says. “They’re suddenly making your work life difficult.”
Teamwork isn’t your strong suit
It’s important to fit into the company’s culture. That means taking one for the team sometimes, as HR consultant Laurie Ruettimann tells Reader’s Digest: “If we ask you to travel for your job or attend a conference, it’s not really a question. Say no, and it can be career-ending.”
You’ve lost resources
When you lose staff, budgets, and access to certain outside services and/or office space — or any number of tools that would enhance your performance — it could be because your employer is trying to push you out.
Your boss is on your case all the time
Are you constantly being asked for progress reports? Do you find that your boss constantly monitors your work?
If so, you may want to start looking for a new job, says Dilenschneider.
You’re being micromanaged or ignored
It seems that you’re working in extremes. Either your boss is watching your every step, or they’re nowhere to be found. “Either way, it makes for a highly uncomfortable