Fired...need advice

[A6Stringer]

For the last couple years I've worked as a retail distribution supervisor in a warehouse. I always felt out of place, yet I was successful.

Two months ago I mad e a big step and took a new job in the same field at a much larger retailer. It was a nice promotion and pay raise etc.

Well, two days ago I was fired. The company I worked for is big on culture, personality fits etc. Things didn't mesh right away and it almost felt as they looked for an excuse to get rid of me. Oh well...now its time to pick up the pieces and move on.

So, I have tried to do some soul searching. Took a personality test and found out I am an INTJ. When reading the descriptions, they made sense. My wife read them and was constantly nodding her head in agreement as far as how she perceives me along with the descriptions etc.

Now, Here I am unemployed, and trying to figure out what to do next. I have a keen interest in business etc. However, with my budding new knowledge of personality type I feel its important I think this through and try to see if I can find a career in a field or position that is much more in line with my personality.

Anyone have any suggestions or advice. Anyone been down a similar road?

Thanks in advance.

[Danisty]

I've been fired more than once for the same personality reasons. My employers wanted social people and I wanted to be left alone to do my work. It always seems to come out of left field too because I think I'm doing okay. If you find a solution, pass it on. Right now I'm a housewife looking for a new direction. The only advice I can give is to not let it get you down.

[A6Stringer]

Yes, this is a new experience for me. Before the previous career, I was a military officer and although I didn't always fit the mold, I was always able to succeed. Thanks for this forum...hopefully it will get me pointed in the right direction.

[1OFMANY]

Let me take a guess...Air Force?

[Provoker]

I tend to divide people into three fundamental categories. They are people with a:

1)High need for power
2)High need for achievement
3)High need for affiliation

1. Power
People with a high need for power are often attracted to ranks and titles. They will be better suited for careers that facillitate growth in personal power such as the military or Wall st.

2. Achievement
People with a high need for achievement as very driven individuals. They make good brokers, real estate agents and entrepreneurs. They are not driven by power per se but by success. Careers that facillitate opportunity for accomplishment and success will be more suited to this type of person.

3. Affiliation
People with a high need for affiliation are driven by working and interacting with people. They make good teachers, social workers, etc. They are best suited for jobs that facillitate interacting with people. They are people's persons.

Personally, I am some combination of 1 and 2. I am applying to law school this year and want to eventually be a trial lawyer.

My gf is a combination of 2 and 3, she is studying to become a psychologist or social worker who helps children.

I think most INTJs typically are less driven by affiliation.

Anyways, which one (or combo) is you?

[1OFMANY]

success does not equal money however :)

[A6Stringer]

Let me take a guess...Air Force?

Is it that obvious?

[1OFMANY]

Only to me :) First off, welcome to the forum.

Second, Im kind of in the same boat, so I am going to school atm and Ill let you know how it goes when Im done :)

[ghmn]

Knowing you're an INTJ is great. Now you have an excuse for the insanity and why you can't stand social gatherings. But if you have a strong interest in something, say business, don't get too caught up on "well, do INTJs make good business ppl", you're still an individual. Sure you may think differently than 99% of the population. (But that's why we're smarter than 99% of the population :thumbsup:)

[MichaelH]

Remember that as an INTJ, you have the tools to succeed in any domain you put your mind to. In business, you will have to assume some surface conformity. For instance, small talk is a useful social interaction and doesn't have to take long. Its purpose is not to convey information, but to maintain the atmosphere of goodwill and connectedness. It doesn't have to be more than a few sentences.

You say you have a keen interest in business. You can be anything from a CEO to a strategist. You may have to make more of your own way at first than other personality types, but once you have some power, you get to make others adapt to you!

[Thistle]

Hmmmm, there is also something about gathering new tools & sharpening the ones you have.... I'd point you in the direction of Goldman & Emotional Intell. One of his books focuses on EQ in the workplace - It's full of anecdoes echoing your own reported experience.

[thod]

Remember that as an INTJ, you have the tools to succeed in any domain you put your mind to

The INTJ with his carefree attitude and talkative nature is always surrounded by crowds of wellwishers. This likeable nature makes him superb in any role involving persuasion or tact. Whenever someone is having problems in their relationships it is to the INTJ they will turn to first for advice. The INJ is also very concerned for others welfare, this compassion often leads him to selfless charitable work.

[elsdfr]

The INTJ with his carefree attitude and talkative nature is always surrounded by crowds of wellwishers. This likeable nature makes him superb in any role involving persuasion or tact. Whenever someone is having problems in their relationships it is to the INTJ they will turn to first for advice. The INJ is also very concerned for others welfare, this compassion often leads him to selfless charitable work.

^this should go straight to the Wiki ;)

[Freak]

A6Stringer:

If I were you, I would try to get as many job interviews as possible now. Then I would surface conform to organisational cultures of the interviewers and get the best deal available (to keep the wheels rolling...).

Then do a thorough soul searching vs. the skills/work experience that I have gained over the years and then decide about when I would go to the business route. But I would definitely and ultimately follow this route...(already following it myself !).

All the best for your future.

[Santana28]

It sucks, but unless you are working in a specialized field where a certain specialized skill set or knowledge is valued that you have, then you will probably lose more than a few jobs for personality reasons. I have been there, and it is very rough. I was very traumatized for a long time over the fact that i would work so hard and do such an amazing job (as far as efficiency of work and quality and quantity of work) but still face reprimands and get "talked to" for things completely unrelated to work performance. I had to teach myself how to "slack off" at certain times, because i realized that my 24/7 enthusiasm for doing things the *correct* way was causing other people to misinterpret my actions (noone ever does things the *correct* way 24/7 unless they are kissing up to a boss, or trying to make someone else look bad). Its simple human nature and i know that rationally i am in the right and i had to come to terms with the fact that most people are insecure about themselves when in the company of someone more capable, driven, talented, intelligent, etc. And if these people are in the position to hire/fire/boss you around - you have better watch out. I have been very lucky in that for a short period of time i worked for a boss who was not insecure and was only looking out for the bottom dollar - and he put me on any and every project i would take (which was quite a few). those days were short-lived however when he was laid off...

My best advice is to find a job that is very goal-oriented and has well-defined success standards, find a boss who is focused only on the bottom line and could care less about the people who work for him unless they are making him money, or learn to compensate for other peoples' insecurities and "play along."

If you take interest in someone else's stupid hobby, pretend you like it too - they will start to think you are "more human." If you slack off occasionally where they can see it, they will stop thinking that you are constantly trying to make them look bad (careful - do this from the beginning otherwise in cases of severe jealousy you will be held to higher standards than others and punished for something everyone else gets away with).

Just things i've learned the hard way... good luck. Civilian life must suck compared to what you had before.

[Motor Jax]

never been fired

but good luck anyways

and welcome

[hauteur]

An unfortunate evil is that you are going to find different companies have different cultures - each of which put varying levels of importance on different things. The company I work for now is one of those that places a lot of importance on just how political you can be.

When you watch the types of people that get promoted, it is often those that attend the most "happy hours" or can happily talk about college basketball for an hour. In this culture, it comes down to relationship building rather than effectiveness. In spite of this, I have done pretty well for myself here. I'm in the highest technical position there is. BUT, I am blocked from going any further without crossing over into management. When that opportunity came up, I was frankly told that "I didn't have the personality for it." Thems the breaks.

The best advice that I can give you is to try and guage the culture of any perspective company. One way to do this is to meet the manager that you will actually be working for and some of the people that will be your peers. If you find a good fit, great. If not, move on to the next.

In the meantime, you might think about looking at a career where you are more likely to be happy. But, of course, the bills have got to be paid.

[PRBori]

Hmm... I've never being fired, but I have quit and even resigned on the spot quite a few jobs... Some to move on on my career path others because of micro management...

All in all my suggestion to you is to analyze yourself deep inside, write down what you're good at and what you want in life. Write down your goals and the step-by-step methods you need to follow in order to achieve them and go from there.

At this time I can tell you that entering the IT Security field would be a great career choice, but you must like to read a lot and keep up with technology. That means understanding that learning will not stop after you finish a course, but that it will be continous. If you can do that, then you'll set yourself in a good path.

If you can't try to focus on careers that will survive a recession... investigate, do a search and see if there is anything of interest for you.

That's my 2 cents..