This happens in Germany, but I’m curious to know what the situation is like in other countries.
My current contract with a division of a state-owned company expires at the end of May—in two months. My current division won’t be renewing it. I say “division” because I wasn’t fired; it’s more like I’ve been transferred to a different position, though I wouldn’t call it a demotion.
I didn’t ask why, because supervisors have lied to me in the past, and if a supervisor doesn’t want me, what good would it do to insist on knowing the reason? He made his mind up.
This came as a complete surprise to me. I found this job easy and enjoyable, and that’s all I could ask for in a job.
I’ve already received an offer from a former supervisor who somehow found out that I’m being “let go.” I don’t particularly like this person, but some of the colleagues there are really nice. That seems to be the easiest option right now.
I really don’t feel like working, and I don’t want to apply for jobs either. It’s so terribly exhausting.
Before you write that I should make an effort to show my company how good and motivated I am… nobody here cares about that. There are coworkers who call in sick several days a week in situations like this and still haven’t been fired. Why shouldn’t I be one of them?
I really don’t want to work.
If you have the time, put some resumes out before accepting the first thing to come along. I don’t know how things are in Germany, but I’ve always believed it’s easier to find a job while you are still working. That said, if the new position, pay and work culture seem good, taking the position for now may be a good choice. You can always job hunt later.
As for how you conduct yourself, I’d always suggest conducting yourself in a professional manner. While you may have zero intention of coming back to this organization, you never know when you are going to run across the people you work with again. And the next time they may be in a position to help or hurt you. For example, I worked for a company really early in my career which started falling apart quickly. Towards the end of my time there, they announced they were closing the office I worked at and basically gave my department a big “fuck you”. I could have gone out causing trouble or just worked my time until I left for greener pastures. I did the latter. Years latter, I was applying for a job I really wanted and an important member of the hiring team had worked with me at the first job. Not as my boss, just someone in another department. He remembered my work and work quality and had effectively said, “yup, hire this guy”. While I have long since left that job as well, his confidence in me changed the trajectory of my career.
Maybe it’s different over there, but I’ve always heard that “it’s who you know, not what you know” that gets you hired. And I’ve run into that in my own career. You don’t want to be a pushover, but keeping professional relationships professional can pay dividends down the line. Do the job you are paid for, don’t make messes for other people and at least try to be professional in your dealings with others. You may be able to climb the ladder quickly today by being an asshole, but you never know if the fingers you step on today will be attached to the hand you will need to help you tomorrow.