I got my first job at 16 and, except for some periods when I was a full-time student, have been working since then. I can't recall ever being fired. I've quit some jobs due to moving, or because the job no longer made any sense. I never made much above minimum wage in anything until I was 36, but since then it's been a lot better. Aside from needing to support myself, working is important to me, so I hope I can continue to do it.
My longest job was 5 years, 7 weeks. I loved it. Unfortunately, startups in general and IT in particular are high-risk lines of work. So after six months without pay as the company got into trouble, I had to leave. Ten years later I'm still paying off the debt my wife (then fiancee) didn't tell me we were getting into. $3,000 to go.
Other than that one I don't think I've ever held a job much more than two years. I've been laid off several times. Only left one job because it was too rigid. It once took me 4 days to do a project and six weeks to get the paperwork done on it. Another project was 20 minutes of actual work and 5 days for the paperwork. I went into consulting as an independent in November of 1999, the worst professional timing in recorded history.
I served as IT Manager for a manufacturing company that was building a new plant 900 mlies away. My department was on time and on budget. Everyone else was over budget by at least 40% and most were late by 100% or more. The company decided they didn't need an IT manager and eliminated the position. I guess they thought I made it look too easy or something.
My boss was miserable there and I have to assume he took some of that misery out on me. He took over the department, and in four consecutive weeks in December did this:
1. Assumed control of my department
2. Cancelled all our vacations
3. Left on his
4. Returned from his, announcing that he was leaving the company.
Great guy :roll:
iv only managed to get 3 jobs ever,..
6 months - a contract
3 days - fired for not talking enough (exact words)
1 month - another contract
im thinking of studying something again now, been unemployed 6 months since i last was studying,.. and the system is too hard,
its easier to get paid to study...
i told the job search agency i am uncomftable with talking on phones, so i could get my partner to call them if i cant make it...
and they sent me to an interview at a call centre...
i dont really want to work at all, just want to make music and draw and paint, and take photos.
I've never been fired, but my being young and moving often has meant that I've never held a job longer than three years. :/ I doubt that will change any time soon.
After a series of tiny-term jobs from which I was 'released' (usually sacked), I then entered the UK public sector. Have been there for over 20 years now, but not without problems on the way.
I've found myself the unwitting victim of workplace bullying several times over the years, including recently. It just seemed that I could never get along with many of my managers, but I never knew why because I was always pleasant, friendly and willing in my behaviour (so I thought).
I also find it hard to understand what is required of me, to concentrate in busy open-plan offices, to cope in meetings, to not let my body shut down and sleep when it's all hectic, to be able to communicate with others around me - and I'm stupidly terrified of my desk phone ringing! Nobody but my latest manager knows about this or about why. But, I've made it to my 21st year and am pleased about that.
I have the lucky bonus of being able to work from home for most of the week at the moment, and that's made a big difference.
After a series of tiny-term jobs from which I was 'released' (usually sacked), I then entered the UK public sector. Have been there for over 20 years now, but not without problems on the way.
Hi Moonwind, I've also found refuge in the UK public sector, just about to come up to 10 years service in the NHS.
It's not a bad place to work, you still have to manage with NTs that don't understand but at least the organisation shouldn't get rid of you just for being yourself, especially since AS was ruled to be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act.
As you're in the public sector, are you a member of UNISON?
Hi Moonwind, I've also found refuge in the UK public sector, just about to come up to 10 years service in the NHS.
It's not a bad place to work, you still have to manage with NTs that don't understand but at least the organisation shouldn't get rid of you just for being yourself, especially since AS was ruled to be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act.
As you're in the public sector, are you a member of UNISON?
You're absolutely right, DM Andy. I work in the Civil Service and am a member of PCS. I think it's only because of the "we don't sack on a whim" policy that I finally settled into various jobs. I've always been at my best with IT work which by its very nature seems to attract least interference from NTs.
3 months to the day, and counting. But then, working at QFC is my first serious job, prior to this I've only done odd jobs like mowing lawns and stuff.
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Currently Listening:I Mother Earth - The Mothers
2 and a half years max, most of the times due to social issues rendering me a sort of outcast at some point. I got fired 2 times: one time because the employer wanted to replace me for someone younger to save costs (and didn't extend my contract to make that happen) and another time because I wasn't compatible with the way of working; unless you were pretty experienced you did not have a clue what packages should be made at a given time.
This was caused by a serious lack of communication systems within the company, and smart mouth me was fired a day after I pointed out the failures and proposed something new (mind you, in the best non-nagging way I could bring it). I do have to say that it was my second day there, so I at least managed to pull some money out of a really bad experience.
But it does feel odd though, as I'm always devoted to do the best I can to be productive for my job. I never had complaints about that, but I've certainly learned that devotion apparently isn't always the most highly valued feature an employer looks for in a employee.
Oh, wow...that's rough, Stella!
I have kept jobs but I always hate them. I get so bored. I hate a lot of the stupid stuff that goes on, the petty chit-chat and gossip, the 'networking' ickiness and cliques. The endless day to day inane cubicle crap
* Sigh *
The longest I generally stay at a job is 1-2 years. I've been at my present job amost 3. I'm considering leaving in another year.
I have 'job hopped' and 'career hopped' most of my adult life. The absolute worst thing I could think of having happen to me is to be promoted into a position where I have tons of responsibility and have to oversee a lot of people
*Shudder*
So I never stick around long enough to 'rise' into such an esteemed position!
I've never really had a real job (with pay and all) but I did alot of volunteer work, usually when I participate in activities and such I work really hard and put so many hours in. I admit I'm pretty extreme I mean in sickness and in health I'm there.
My problem is basically boredom, once I reach the 'peak' so to speak (meaning a good positon) I end up leaving shortly after because I can't handle it any longer, it's not the work but it's just being bored and wanting to move to something else .. I think it's pretty sad that I always do that but I can't seem to control myself.
If this were a real job I'm sure I'd do the same, I could probably keep a job for max. 3 years if it was something I really enjoyed doing, after that I'd just get frustrated, if I needed the money then I'd just drag myself there everyday.
I've never really had a real job (with pay and all) but I did alot of volunteer work, usually when I participate in activities and such I work really hard and put so many hours in. I admit I'm pretty extreme I mean in sickness and in health I'm there.
My problem is basically boredom, once I reach the 'peak' so to speak (meaning a good positon) I end up leaving shortly after because I can't handle it any longer, it's not the work but it's just being bored and wanting to move to something else .. I think it's pretty sad that I always do that but I can't seem to control myself.
If this were a real job I'm sure I'd do the same, I could probably keep a job for max. 3 years if it was something I really enjoyed doing, after that I'd just get frustrated, if I needed the money then I'd just drag myself there everyday.
I'm a lot like that, actually, as is my husband. I've bounced around more in my career than is ideal (career wise) to keep interested and stimulated. In some fields that's OK, actually. You may not make as much money that way (at least I know I would have made more money if I had stuck with one specialty), and you certainly won't ever vest in a pension, but you can have a fun and interesting career. My max has been about 5 years, and to even get to that I have to do some switching and changing within the job.
Right now I'm doing contract work. I have some of my own clients, and I spend time at two different firms each week. It's an insane schedule, and it was only odd chance that I adapted it, but I've found I like it. It's DIFFERENT, and I get different stimulation at each place.
One thing that helps, is that I AM quite good at what I do. I get a lot of respect from those I work with, as my husband does. You can get away with a lot if you're good at what you do 
As I am a student I have only ever had a christmas retail job and office temping jobs, the longest they have ever last is about 2 months usually because the job was finished/ they no longer had the budget for a temp. I got fired once for not meeting my sales target.
I do however have more difficulty finding jobs. I went for a lot of interviews where I didn't get the job. One actually said it was because I 'didn't have enough personality' and a couple more said that 'I wasn't as strong as other candidates on the interview.'
My longest was 4½ years - I finished working in that job in January this year.
However, it was 4½ miserable and traumatic years overall, working virtually alone with two bosses who hardly ever spoke to me like I was a human being, and threatening me with the sack many many times.
Other jobs have lasted 2 years, that's the permanent ones. Have had temp jobs earlier on this year, but one lasted 1½ weeks, and prior to that, I had one where I lasted the grand total of one day.