18 Months Until I Am Fired. What Now?

July 12, 2012 5:46 PM

I am getting fired in 18 months, what should I do now to prepare?

Six months ago I was hired as a full-time employee at a small non-profit to be the director a project funded by a grant. This is my first job in my dream industry and really helped me get my foot in the door in the non-profit world (something that is actually very difficult to do).

This week I learned that in 18 months — when the project ends — I will be let go. There are no if's, and's, or but's. In 18 months, I am out.

I have no hard feelings about my impending job loss, while nobody during the interview process explicitly mentioned it was a 24 month position, I was aware that this might be the case. It is/was a great job and it is/was a great experience. But now I need to look for the future a bit.

I have 1.5 years until my unemployment, so my question is this: What I should do now to prepare?

posted by Spurious to work & money (23 answers total)

keep acting like its a regular job. don't view yourself as waiting to be fired, you're just on a 2 year contract. doing good at this could lead to another job at that firm or at another, a good recommendation, etc.

have you been to grad school, and if not is that something you want to do? now is a good time to start studying for entrance exams and other prep work to get in. the best part about being in a job that is going to let you willingly into the outside world in a couple of years is that you can talk openly about your further ambitions and enlist their help- whether that be grad school or other jobs. otherwise you'd have to keep your mouth shut.

basically get rid of the negative spin on how you're viewing this and start reaping the advantages.
posted by saraindc at 5:51 PM on July 12, 2012 [12 favorites]

Are there certifications that depend on current work experience that you can get in that time? I am a member of a professional group with a certification program that requires a certain number of professional hours to acquire.

Also I would network in the industry now, while you still have a job. Build your relationships before you have to start looking for work in earnest.
posted by winna at 5:52 PM on July 12, 2012 [3 favorites]

Again, I'm an absolute broken record, but because the end of the contract (I agree with thinking of it as "I was hired on a 2-year non-renewable contract" and not as "I am getting fired after 2 years") gives you a nice external deadline, I would save money like a boss for the next 18 months. That's a nice long lead time on a goal like a house down payment, grad school tuition, etc, but mostly it will allow you to weather the end of the contract if you have a few months between when it ends and your next gig.

I agree with the advice to do grad school prep if you haven't already or some other kind of "future prep" like picking up a new skill outside of work (computer stuff, some kind of certification, etc).
posted by Snarl Furillo at 6:00 PM on July 12, 2012 [7 favorites]

You're not getting fired; it's just a term contract. This is not feel-good, positive-thinking spin, by the way, it's just the way it is. I've worked for non-profits in the past, and getting hired as core staff is really, really hard to do.

Keep in mind that it takes about 1 month of job search for every $10k in salary, and then add a multiplier because of the ongoing recession + the nature of your industry.

So, why not spend six months researching and doing informational interviews, and another year in the job search.
posted by KokuRyu at 6:01 PM on July 12, 2012 [13 favorites]

Be amazing at your job and meet as many people as possible and let them know that you will be coming available in 18 months.
posted by seesom at 6:05 PM on July 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

In addition to the above excellent advice, if you really like this position/project and it's going well, perhaps you could write a proposal for continued funding from the current source or other sources.
posted by she's not there at 6:06 PM on July 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

Echoing the not-fired comments above. Lose the word Fired. It isn't true, so don't use it. Saying you'll be fired when, in fact, it's a contact ending just makes you look bad, especially since you knew it was a 2 year contract going in... though, of course you were hoping to be hired on afterward. Still, you're not being fired.

A few things to do:

#1. Excel at your job. You have a job for the next 18 months. Be awesome at it! Treat it not just as a job, but also as a chance to learn and to build a reputation. Be awesome.

#2. Any chance you get, NETWORK with others in your field, even if it's just meeting somebody for drinks. Get to know people, even people who won't have a job to offer you. You never know when a positive word gets around. Who knows... maybe there will be an opening somewhere that somebody you're networking with will know about. They say in business it's all about who you know. Get to know people.

Good luck!
posted by 2oh1 at 6:13 PM on July 12, 2012 [5 favorites]

You're not getting fired. Your grant-funded contract is coming to an end. This is the best of all possible worlds--you can actively look for a job while still having a job, with the total awareness and (presumably) support of your supervisor and colleagues.

So it's a beautiful thing. I don't want to be all "turn that frown upside down" but this is quite common in the not-for-profit world and it has a lot of advantages.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:16 PM on July 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yeah, you're not getting fired. It's just a fixed term contract. this is how grant-based project work,

So:

1. Work hard, and do well. You're a pro. Act like it.

2. Build your network, cultivate contacts. You can do this, in part, by doing (1). Establish a good reputation with your employer, and in the industry.

3. Acquire new skills, and develop your existing skills. Put your hand up for the big projects, grab any training that's on offer.

4. Save. If you end up having a fallow period at the end of this contract, then the savings will help. If you don't, then bonus! You have a bunch of cash.

4. In 6 - 12 months, update your resume, and start looking around. Starting early means that there's less pressure. Consider whether where you want your next move to be. Start reaching out to your contacts. Keep an eye out for any alternative positions with your existing employer. If those aren't available, reach out to your internal contacts - they may no longer have a job for you, but they might know someone who does, or be willing to give you some industry specific advice. Good managers want to help their staff to develop. Pros keep on good terms with their former employers and staff, especially in small industries, where those people might be helpful contacts to have in future.

Remember, in another 18 months, you'll have 2 years in the industry under your belt. You won't be a newbie anymore. The job search will likely be easier.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:17 PM on July 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

So many typos. Stupid Ipad. Sorry.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:18 PM on July 12, 2012

Lucky you! Most people lose jobs with two weeks notice, you've got a year and a half to make the best of this situation. Network! Learn! Be extraordinary!
posted by HuronBob at 6:23 PM on July 12, 2012 [5 favorites]

What you just said was, "I am bad at my job and am going to be terminated for poor performance. In a year and a half."

Do not go around telling everyone that you are bad at your job and are going to be terminated for poor performance. That will not help you find employment once your contract ends.

Nobody who gets "fired" gets a year and a half of notice. Fired people are removed from their posts as quickly as they can be, because the issues that made it necessary to fire them also make it necessary to get them out before they can do any more damage.

It's great that you're on such a long term. Most people on fixed term contracts are getting six mothers these days. I don't understand why they recruited you into a permanent position without telling you this or why your contract didn't state that it was fixed term, but whatever. In one year's time, start looking for your next contract, and say your reason for leaving is the end of your fixed term contract, and not that your performance was so destructive to the company that they had to take the drastic step of firing you but are still inexplicably keeping you around for six more months.
posted by tel3path at 6:32 PM on July 12, 2012 [6 favorites]

Also, I assume you are on a grant now, so keep your eye out for another grant you could apply for that would build on what you are doing right now, and start writing a grant. If you write (or significantly contribute to) the grant and it gets approved, then you will certainly be staying on longer. And even if not, if you plan on staying in non-profits, you should start learning to write grants.
posted by rockindata at 6:36 PM on July 12, 2012

I hope that you have a wonderful opportunity after your current contract ends -- but look now to see if all the ducks are lined up for you to be eligible for unemployment, just in case.
posted by yohko at 6:43 PM on July 12, 2012

It's hard to know what to tell you...I missed the part in which you said what you want. You want to stay in the same, non-profit industry? Obviously, you'll want to build a network of contacts within that world and hopefully you can make at least a lateral move when you quit. But most places, even if they like you, will not know now whether they can use you in a year and a half. Also, you want your current boss to give you a nice, shining reference for when you move on--this may be the most important thing for you right now. In fact, you'll probably want two or even more people who will be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you. Talk to those people now, and in 18 months it'll be all the easier to say "Hey, remember that letter I asked about last year? It's time."

Repeat after me: network, connections, network, connections, network, connections....this is how most people find jobs, through who you know.
posted by zardoz at 7:22 PM on July 12, 2012

You aren't getting fired. As for what to do, well, you could start submitting grant applications. I'd be somewhat surprised if "no ifs ands or buts," really applies if you bring in money for a relevant project.
posted by Good Brain at 8:45 PM on July 12, 2012

Is there anything special you can do to network with other people doing similar work? conventions, blogging, volunteering, ? Doing a great job on this project and making good connections where you're at will certainly help.
posted by Golden Eternity at 9:26 PM on July 12, 2012

One thing that occurs to me: unlike most people, you can be open about trying to figure out what your next job will be, since there's no need to pretend you'll be in your current position forever.
posted by nebulawindphone at 9:49 PM on July 12, 2012

Again, network network network. Go to every conference and event you can, take every opportunity to speak. Perhaps start using twitter if you're not already, or start a blog about your project. Make sure your linkedin profile is in good shape.

Also, work out where you would like to work next, and target that place.
posted by Touchstone at 11:24 PM on July 12, 2012

> What you just said was, "I am bad at my job and am going to be terminated for poor performance. In a year and a half." Do not go around telling everyone that you are bad at your job and are going to be terminated for poor performance. That will not help you find employment once your contract ends. Nobody who gets "fired" gets a year and a half of notice. Fired people are removed from their posts as quickly as they can be, because the issues that made it necessary to fire them also make it necessary to get them out before they can do any more damage.

Yep, seconding all of this. If you frame this as "fired" to anyone who understands your field even a tiny bit or has ever hired a contract worker, you run the risk of sounding very weirdly naive. You're not being fired. Your contract is ending. It's a big freaking difference.
posted by desuetude at 12:49 AM on July 13, 2012 [9 favorites]

Save like you're getting fired, work like you aren't. (and yeah, you're not getting fired, your contract is ending)

If you were hired to do a specific job on a specific project this might be different but my Dad works for a non-profit and nobody has a contract longer than 2 years because they can't guarantee to have funding for the position. Of course every year they do get the funding and most people get their contract renewed but for legal purposes they are all on fixed duration contracts.

Work your hardest and when the contract ends and people move on to other projects they might think of hiring you.
posted by missmagenta at 4:37 AM on July 13, 2012

Any position at a non-profit, that is grant funded, is a contract. Period, end of discussion. That's kind of the nature of the beast. So you're not fired. Stop saying it, stop thinking it.

Milk the job for all it's worth, but keep an eye peeled for your next job, and don't be afraid to jump if one pops up.

You don't owe anyone, anything. You are paid to do a job, it's merely a transaction. So if something comes up in 6 months, jump.

If it's important to you to have a more stabile, permanant position, then you're going to need to find something that's not grant-funded.

I will point this out, the era of cradle-to-grave employment is over. Even a full-time, permanent job may end sooner than you expect. NOW is the time to realize that you work for yourself FIRST. No matter how happy you are in your current situation, you should always be looking for your next job.

There is no shame in moving for money. There is no shame in moving to gain experience. There is no shame in making yourself your number one priority.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:23 AM on July 13, 2012 [4 favorites]

I once had a job on an 18-month contract. Don't do what I did. Don't get to month 15 and think "Why am *I* being let go when *they* are still here and they are clearly incompetent at their job? Life is unfair! Waaaah!"

I made it miserable for myself and was ultimately let go early because of my negative attitude.
posted by tacodave at 3:57 PM on July 13, 2012