Topic: Lost job  (Read 9637 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Clark Kent

  • Guest
Lost job
« on: February 26, 2004, 08:21:44 pm »
Today I got a call from my supervisor letting me know I had been terminated for an incident that happened last week.  I was a security guard working at a school.  More specifically, I monitored the parking lot.  Definately not a prestigious job, but considering my recent track record, i was content with it.  The incident was a student wandering the lot.  When he bacme beligerant with my partner, i was sent after him.  I located him, wished him a good morning and asked if he could stop for a moment, to which he replied with a slew of threats and swear words.  I immediately called into the main office for back up, and got no response, which is normal at that job.  He continued to threaten me, and cuss me out, so I walked in front of him in rder to try to stop him without touching him.  He responded by shoving me out of the way, telling me not to touch him.  I stepped further infront of him, raise my hands laterally, both to avoid touching him and to impede his path, still getting no response from the main office.  he closed in on me (from a little past arm length) and began shoving me again, still telling me not to touch him.  Finally he seemed convinced to go back into the school so I followed, with him threatening me, yelling at me and cussing me out as we walked through the hallways.  Finally, after passing the main office, I was able to get somebody out to ID this kid.  The Assistant principal informed me not to talk to the kids, and let them treat me as they will, and also let me know not to venture inside the school or to even follow a student that is breaking the rules.  Everything seemed alright, until I got the call from my supervisor at the company that ousources to the school this afternoon, saying they were taking the student's side and that I was fired for assaulting the student.
On this job, I've been run over 3 times by parents and students and gunned for several times, as well as being cussed out, spit at, flicked off, pushed around like tated above and the list goes on.  I chose this job, thinking that I could avoid disputes because of the isolation I would be in at work, but it would appear that I was wrong.
This is by far not the first incident like this for me.  In fact, they seem to happen with a certain degree of regularity.  I've gotten past the point where I am trying to blame others, since the only constant seems to be me.  obviously there is something seriously wrong with me that I tend to attract such problems.  The problem is, that now I don't know where to go for jobs.  I seem to have a complete inability to get along with others, and I am unable to modify my behavior properly to change that.  Truthfully, I don't have any friends to talk to this about, or anything else for that matter which reinforces that point.  
Where does someone like me go to work?
CK

SL-Punisher

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2004, 08:28:43 pm »
What makes you think you did anything wrong?

Clark Kent

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2004, 08:29:41 pm »
Quote:

What makes you think you did anything wrong?  




because i was fired, and this type of thing happens to me alot.

SL-Punisher

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2004, 08:49:47 pm »
So you did something wrong? People haven't been fired for silly and stupid reasons? For the life of me I can't find a valid reason for your dismissal. Want to know the real reason? Some punk ass kid complained (Probably lied about the incident) and they dumped you due to fears of a lawsuit.

It's not your fault the school district doesn't have any balls.

I think you need to take this as an indicator that you shouldn't be working with idiots. If security is your cup of tea have you considered casinos, banks, etc --- areas where you don't screw around and you're fully authorized to smack someone upside the head if they get out of line.

JMM

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2004, 08:50:39 pm »
Clark, I do not know you, but it sounds like you tried to do the right thing. American kids (not all) but in general are spoiled brats, I'm currently seeing the trend happen here in Mexico as well, which saddens me greatly.

How old are you? Have you ever been in the military? Believe me, and other veterans of this forum, you might do very well in the army or marines, they love people who make a decision and act, wether it is right or wrong is not so important, at least they respect someone who can think and act and get the mission done. I remember being told by my NCOs "Jack, maybe you made the wrong decision in what you did, but at LEAST you made a decision instead of doing nothing like a lot of civilians do (Leda is like that, drives me nuts).

You would also do well in the police force.

Don't worry about your job history, when I was young (19), I had a kickbutt job in life insurance given to me by a friend of the family who owned a major Austin insurance company, yet the wine, women, and discos were more important, so I lost that great job and opportunity on almost my one year anniversary date.

If you could share your age and interests and stuff it might help us give advice to try to help you.

As far as job history and recommendations go, do not worry, your ex employers cannot say anything bad about you by Federal law (crazy huh?). When I was a VA work study for the Texas Workforce Comm, the one way you could get around that law was if you were a prospective employer calling an ex employer about a applicant, you would ask "If given the opportunity, would you hire this person again?" If they said yes, fine, if they said no, fine, it's all legit.  

JMM

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2004, 08:54:30 pm »
Give us the name and addresses of the school and the security company, this crazy desert storm part one vet will write some really nice letters telling them what I think of their school system and security company policies!  

A lot of us vets did not fight our country's battles for this BS to be going down!

BTW peeps, I know some of you have kids, I wasn't making personal attacks, but ya gotta admit, school policy is nothing like it was in our day, and the kids have way different values.  

Clark Kent

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2004, 09:00:52 pm »
I've tried the military, yes, and it was a bust.  I won't go into the details, but they were much worse than what I described above.  I'm 26, with only an associates in arts under my belt, hoping to go back to school this summer.  The plan is Civil Engineering, but as with everything else right now, i'm questioning that.
My interestests are extremely varied.  I am into computers, especially thsoe under the mac OS (I don't mean to start a mac vs PC debate, they are jsut what i like better), music (playing, not just listening), philosophy, history, writing, the list goes on.  
I went with security because my last job as the manager of a swimming pool went horribly wrong when my staff refused to do their jobs and my superiors didn't support me (hint: pattern).  I thought that since security is much like alot of what I did in the Army and there was so much isolation it would be a different story.
CK

JMM

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2004, 09:26:54 pm »
You sound like someone that enjoys hard work without BS, thought about any type of construction or studying construction or carpentry in college? I've been learning ceramic tilework here in Mexico and it really is interesting even though I have to take a lot of breaks due to fatigue. Had I become an expert in this stuff and had the contacts here for purchasing lots of ceramic tile (it's cheap here) before when I was a hard charger, I could have made a LOT more money in Austin than slaving away in an auto shop while the owners bufued the customers and techs whined about who got what work. I know some construction people that specialize in remodeling, they are their own bosses and NOBODY bothers them!

Auto teching is good work, but very competitive and not much teamwork, you gotta find a jedi master (Master ASE tech) that takes you under his wing and watch everything he does and learn the skills. Usually masters do not want an apprentice but I was lucky, I had two best friends at a Toyota/Honda/Acura shop that helped me learn more than other trainees, we just clicked.

Maybe some other forum members can give you advice on jobs where you have more latitude in decision making without BS being involved.

I also read an interesting article of a guy who placed flyers at people's houses for odd jobs like cleaning garages and attics, landscaping, detailing cars, you name it. He was so good at it he made over 50k his first year! I wish I had the magazine so I could mail it to you, but that was when I was auto teching (2001) and I was reading a story in the Austin newspaper in the employment section from Sunday as they feature a different career every week and even interview a worker in that field and post his/her foto, pretty cool eh?  

Clark Kent

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2004, 09:51:16 pm »
i don't know that I'd say I enjoy hard work, although there is alot of satisfaction is working hard.  I prefer to focus on a a job and do it right and do it well.  That's where I take pride, is if I know I did a job well.  you are right that I dislike the BS.  I don't like being in a position of authority, not having any authority.  Construction might be interesting, but I've swayed from it because I don't know of many people getting into at 26.  Most everyone I know who does it gets started in their teens.
CK

Sirgod

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2004, 11:16:26 pm »
this Is when I hate not having my own Company anymore. I would Hire you in an instant Clark. I have a few Family Members across the state's, Can you PM me your location, resume, etc.


Stephen

Sethan

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2004, 01:38:43 am »
Clark - a hint on job hunting.  

Low end, entry-level jobs often have poor management, and attact people with no work ethic.

People who end up supervising such positions are often people who get there through longevity or nepotism.  Neither is indicative of good management skills.

If all you go after are low end jobs, you are mostly going to run into the same sort of people - and if you let them walk over you, they will be more than happy to.

Aim higher, and you will find a better class of coworker, and often better management.

Minimum wage jobs attact minimum wage employees.

Toasty0

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2004, 02:38:49 am »
*spits tooth onto floor*

Thatss nawt twew. I'm pwoud of my gweetirs jwab here awt wal-mawt...  

JMM

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2004, 08:02:49 am »
 

Good God T, I do not think Clark would do well as a greeter, not because of his personality, but Wal-Fart employees and their so called "security" are famous for letting violence happen on their parking lots!  

On a side note Clark, I was a combat medic 91B in the army. I started college at 26 and started autoteching while at school. You could do it if you wanted, and if you can autotech at 26, you can easily learn construction skills aty a community college. The industrial arts site at Austin Community College was all grouped together, and a lot of those guys built some badarse buildings next to their classroom building (live fire training my man, it was impressive!). We had the same setup, except the cars came, got fixed or diagnosed, and left. I often worked on people's cars for free since ACC is a non profit city tax sponsored college, but hey, I did accept "tips" when people offered, and a lot of people did offer because they knew I worked my arse off in school and saved them a LOT of money.
   

Scott Allen Abfalter

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2004, 08:53:57 am »

Sounds like you were fired for doing your job correctly.   Too bad the incident was not taped, you would have had a case against your former employer.  

 

Clark Kent

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2004, 09:04:36 am »
Quote:

Clark - a hint on job hunting.  

Low end, entry-level jobs often have poor management, and attact people with no work ethic.

People who end up supervising such positions are often people who get there through longevity or nepotism.  Neither is indicative of good management skills.

If all you go after are low end jobs, you are mostly going to run into the same sort of people - and if you let them walk over you, they will be more than happy to.

Aim higher, and you will find a better class of coworker, and often better management.

Minimum wage jobs attact minimum wage employees.  




You are most likely right, however, what type of other job can I land with only an associates degree?  I thought that by being patient with everyone, no matter how badly they mistreated me i was doing the right thing, but I'm not so sure anymore.  I just can't believe that this happened.  The irony is that my former partner is always spouting off at the mouth, always treating people like crap, always spewing out racist remarks, and nothing happens to her.  The kids do as they like, and the school basically told me that that's how they want it to be.  But the fact remains that I'm the one that didn't fit in, and I'm the one that was unable to adapt.
CK

Sten

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #15 on: February 27, 2004, 10:14:50 am »
If your job was to monitor the parking lot. Your first mistake was getting in front of the kid to confront him.

You should have stayed off to one side and simply escorted the kid off the premises.

By repeatedly standing in front of the kid you made a target out of yourself. All the kid had to say was you were provoking him and he felt threatened by your actions.

I worked with trouble teeenagers in a state facility after I got out of the Army and more than once I was put in a position were a stupid 17 year old had decided he could take me when we were isolated.

Now sometimes reason worked and they walked away. Sometimes when I knew it was hopeless and Johnny was determined to do something stupid no matter what. I would present them with the opportunity, then drop the hammer on them. The state was good for putting us in a situation were the "kiddies" had weapons (shanks,knives,razor blades, steel bars) to use on us. Alot of guys got fired for being to confrontational and being way to overt in how they dealt with the little darlins.

In a politicaly correct world you have to learn what the rules are. How you defend yourself from these rules and how to use the rules to your benefit. Its not a one way street you have rights. Learn what they are and use them to the fullest.

One time I had a 16 year old High School wrestling champion tell me he was going to break my arm when he got the chance. When I wrote the threat up before hand I was told by the Unit Director the kid was just talking not to worry about it.

A couple of nights later Junior tried to hurt me. He was stupid and told me he was going to do and then he tried. At first I asked him to stop before someone got hurt. His reply was F*** You. So while we was trying to wrestle me to the ground I was using 14 years of being a grunt, with a  Karate background, I drove him first head first into the concrete wall and then I did a hip throw were I came down across him and his head knocking the wind out of him and pinning him.

By all rights that was NOT a theraputic defense on my part. So when the investigation started I flat out told the investigator the kid attacked me first (which he did) with the expressed intent on breaking my arm. I felt threatened by his actions and I defended myself accordingly to the best of my ability. I then told them I had the right to defend myself. They pushed I pushed back harder.

I filed charges against the kid at the local magastrates office for assault. That was when they got really mad at me. We had a nice sit down to resolve the problem. Aparrently Junior's family didn't want junior to do any jail time for assault so they and the Administration made nice nice to me. If I would just drop the charges.

You have to know your rights and be willing to defend yourself.

JMM

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #16 on: February 27, 2004, 10:39:12 am »
WTG Sten! We called it "wall to wall" counseling in the military. They learned real quick to toe the line and fly straight.    

Sten

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #17 on: February 27, 2004, 11:16:36 am »
Quote:

WTG Sten! We called it "wall to wall" counseling in the military. They learned real quick to toe the line and fly straight.    




Jack we called it wall to wall also.

They made me the 2nd Shift Supervisor at the hospital shortly thereafter. Because I was willing to stand up and fight for people. To bad they didn't realize I would fight for the kids rights also, and make the slackers work.

My Best one Jack was when I told everyone we were going to have a party tonight guys right after dinner. The staff were looking at my like I was crazy and wanting to know what was up.

I told the boys we were going to have a good old fashioned GI party. When I gave them toothbrushes and showed them the showers and restrooms that had to be cleaned, and then told the staff that I would be the inspector tonight and no one was doing anything until the ward was clean. Thought I had the staff and boys all wanting to fight.

The smartasses thought they had one on me that night. I had cleared everything through the Head Shrinks, and Unit Director ahead of time.

Now that I think about this maybe the shrink who interviewed me when I was getting out was right I do have an Authoritarian personality at times. Anyhow I worked there for two years before I got tired of working 7 days a week and burnt out. Went to work a high control Unit with the crimally insane after that for 3 years before I realised I was ready for College now at the age of 38.

Now I am working as the LAN administrator for a software company, I do local training on site, Desktop Support, and now I only fight trying not to laugh at some of the support calls I get at work or Chuut IM'ing me during support calls.

JMM

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #18 on: February 27, 2004, 12:02:17 pm »
Wow, were you a 91C or psych specialist? I was a 91B20 before I left. I was hardcore also, serious but I could have fun with the troopers too.

My worst case of being hardcore was at PLDC at Ft. Knox (MDW does not have a PLDC, they send you TDY to another post).

Anyways, you know how they switch people around playing squad leader, platoon leader, etc...? I was platoon leader (or plt. Sgt. whichever term you prefer). The guys and gals were taking a break in the field and instead of preparing for the mission coming up, some jokers were talking about "being in the hood" and drinking fortys and crap. Needless to say I made everyone get in formation (the instructors watched the whole show), stand at attention for a long time while I walked in front of them and chewed them a new one royally and said some of them did not belong in the army but out on the street! I said a lot more but cannot post on the forums. Needless to say when we got back to the bivouac (hope I spelled that right) area even some of my most loyal friends that I had made and the slackers were pissed. The instructors pulled me aside later and told me that I was right on the money but it was just school, and everyone including myself was learning.

Next morning I had to assign serving and cleaning duties for chow in the field kitchen, I put some trainee NCOs as well as my trouble makers on that detail, man were they glaring at me, but I put myself on the detail too so I was like WTF?

Graduated commandants list, my ex C.G. from 3rd AD was present commander of Knox at the time, and was going to promote me to Sgt in front of the whole school as he knew me when I got my EFMB and I was the brigade surgeon's asst. and driver after that, so I became friends with Col. Nash's driver as well as many other leaders of first bde, 3rd AD. My E.R. platoon sgt. at Ft. Belvoir was ecstatic that I did so well (you know hospital types, some hard chargers but a lot of slackers) that he recomm me for another AAM. My hospital commander was NOT pleased that I was going to get promoted by a General instead of him, so he downgraded me to a Cert of Achievement.  

I'll never forget after graduation, I will not mention race, but some of the troublemakers (females included) had the nerve to tell others behind my back that some people (like me) did not deserve to graduate commandant's list. Well, I wish I could have lost my military bearing and done a wall to wall on each of them, I had many guys to back me up if I wanted. It was the slackers own fault, while they BSed around, I studied everything and practiced drills with some of the hard chargers in my spare time, as I wanted to do well, but I also knew that it was only for 30 days, then back to good ole MEDDAC!  

Regarding non UCMJ punishment, I think what you did was great! I knew a Dentac NCO at Belvoir that was a hard charger, and he had a problem trooper. Guess what he did? You will love this one. All weekend long, and I mean all weekend he restricted his problem tooper to the barracks and hospital chow hall. Every hour on the hour for eight hours a day, he made him put on his dress greens (the NCO lived in the barracks too) and he inspected him with the magic millimeter/inches ruler for inspection. After inspection? He made him take off every ribbon from the uniform (he did not allow him to use the ribbon bars that make everything so much easier) and iron the uniform (top part) so the old holes would not show and he had to start from scratch, hehehehehehe. For every gig that he got? Another hourly inspection tacked on to the 8. Needless to say, that trooper never gave that Sgt or staff any more problems.    

Sten

  • Guest
Re: Lost job
« Reply #19 on: February 27, 2004, 01:01:17 pm »
Well Jack were highjacking this thread a tad.

I was an IIB Infantryman.

Earned EIB when I had about 8 months in the Army. Cut the cast off my right leg the night before I did the 12 mile road march.

Graduated PNCOC,BNCOC,ANCOC, as either the Distinguished Honor Grad or on the Commadants list.

I had a team leader I did the TA-50 layout with in greens inspection once and I lived 20 miles away from the barracks.

The GI party was after I got out of the Army. I got fed up with the ward being dirty and umkept and decided to do something about it. I figured if the staff weren't going to make the boys clean thier rooms or make their beds I would give them a life lesson staff included.

Cutting the cast off was my crowning moment of stupity