I recently left a five-year position with a company.

9 Comments

1. Dr. Patty GrossAugust 14,2025 at 2:12PM UTC

   Since you are probably under a probationary period, there is probably nothing you can do in this case, especially if you are in a right-to-work state. Even other states have few protections for probationary employees, so check with your state's Department of Labor.

   On another note, did the recruiter come "out of the blue" or was it an internal recruiter in response to a job you applied for? If it was an outside recruiter, take the time to leave them a scathing review on every platform available, as they probably got paid for it, and likely knew ahead of time that the company was circling the drain. If it was an internal recruiter, blast the company on Glassdoor, Indeed, and LinkedIn, or wherever you got the job reference.

   Then pick up your job search and do what you can to move forward. It is too easy to fall into the pit and stay there, and that can be dangerous if you don't have a nest egg to fall back on.

2. AnonymousAugust 17,2025 at 9:11PM UTC

   Patty,

   I was approached by an agency. I was apprised of the financial situation to a point. I was told they were in a recovery process. What I didn't expect was them trying to get me to quit starting day one. We are at will however, I don't think that protects a company from being shady. Thank you very much for your thoughts. I appreciate this forum.

3. AnonymousAugust 18,2025 at 2:18PM UTC

   I have never had a credible agency approach me out of the blue. Their approach was glowing language about skills I did not have or a job that did not match my career objectives (clearly stated in my summary statement). I hate to think where I would be today if I had followed one of those. It has caused me to dig deep into any agency I get a "solicitation" from.

4. AnonymousAugust 27,2025 at 1:00PM UTC

   I, too, have had recruiters contact me about jobs that I had ZERO qualifications for. When I inform them of this they passively dismiss it and normally say things along the lines of "Oh, don't worry, this is just a basic guideline, they provide training." Really??? They are going to train me to become a "doctor"? (Just an example of some of the outrageous jobs I have been contacted with).

   It's really become ridiculous and I no longer respond to them.

5. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 18,2025 at 6:01PM UTC

   If it was an external recruiter, no - they most probably were not paid for the placement in just a week. The recruiting firm may not even had time to generate an invoice - nevermind receive payment. And if the the jobseeker had been there longer than a week and they had been paid, there is typically a guarantee period. Where the recruiting firm would either have to replace the candidate at no charge or refund the fee - depending on agreed-upon terms.

   I would not be quite so confident that the recruiter "likely knew ahead of time that the company was circling the drain" - from personal exprience when I was on the agency side, I would never work with a company that there was a risk I might not get paid and I would never knowingly send a candidate into a company in serious financial trouble.

   What makes you so confident that the employer was completely truthful with the recruiter?

   To the OP - I would be cautious about "blasting the company on Glassdoor, Indeed, and LinkedIn, or wherever you got the job reference."

   It is not recommended that jobseekers "blast" their former employers, no matter how short the stint. It can reflect poorly on the jobseeker and most companies don't want to hire folks who "blast" their former employers all over social media.

6. Dr. Patty GrossAugust 19,2025 at 12:26AM UTC

   Joan,

   I apologize, and I know there are many reputable recruiting companies out there; however, I have not had a positive experience. Only one I worked with in the past several years was an executive placement firm, and you're right, they knew very little about the company they were representing, including the timetable or any details about the hiring process. They didn't even know if it required a full board or executive committee approval. The length of time it took them to get back to me showed me that it was the whole board. The only other ones I've seen have been scams, and the BBB has verified that after some exhaustive search. When the skills and job description don't align with me or who I am, I generally hit the delete key quickly. Any other one that showed promise, the company wasn't specified, a generic industry, or didn't exist, and/or the BBB showed the recruiting firm as connected to phishing scams.

   I get angry when people prey on desperate people. While this specific scenario does not meet the level of the scammer that drains a person's life savings by getting just enough information to do so, the OP still suffered a severe trauma and a setback in her job search.

   Again, I apologize for going a bit overboard with my vengeance.

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 18,2025 at 5:52PM UTC

   You wrote: "I had received an accelerated degree and certifications and was not properly compensated for them"

   I'm not exactly sure what you mean here. Did your former company have a specific policy that stated you would be paid more if you received a degree and/or certs?

8. AnonymousAugust 27,2025 at 1:17PM UTC

   First and foremost, I'm sorry this happened to you. It's happened to most of us at some point in our careers—and it is unfair. While looking for your next opportunity, reflect on what prompted you to leave your previous one. As an outsider who has been in your shoes, I will share my experience.

   1) I had to challenge myself at my job by proactively taking on assignments and offering to contribute to work that benefited the company. My boss was not hired to challenge me. I considered myself fortunate when a boss took the time to have one-on-one meetings. The key takeaway is that you have to reset expectations in the workplace. While companies aim to follow their values, they don’t always succeed. Show you're willing to put in a little extra effort to demonstrate you want to be there, and try not to take everything personally.

   2) Being yelled at, ignored, and disrespected is never healthy. Most likely, one of two things happened here: either you made a mistake and your boss lacks communication skills and the ability to mentor employees toward success, or if it was an error that impacted the business, their response was poor. Take it as a lesson: feelings are not facts. Yes, your feelings might have been hurt, but identify the facts—did you make a mistake? Was the disrespect justified? If not, chalk it up to poor management style and move forward.

   3) Legally, what are your options for the new job? Not many—other than learning that the grass isn’t always greener. If you’re in a probationary period (which many companies use to dismiss employees for various reasons in a specific time period) and most states are at-will employment states, all the paperwork you signed probably states that they can fire you for any reason.

   I considered myself—and many of my employers did as well—an exceptional employee. The hardest lessons to learn are often the ones hardest to accept: your degrees may get you in the door, but you're not a unicorn. Virtually everyone in the company has similar credentials. And many don't. They were promoted through hard work, collaboration, and professionalism. The grass seems greener when you’re feeling down.

   4) Regarding compensation, companies prefer you show that you are worthy of a salary increase. A salary increase is extended because employees see that you can perform the duties of someone worthy of an increase. Giving you compensation you believe you should receive due to an advanced degree and certification is your responsibility to use as a negotiation tactic when discussing your salary. It may not be an important factor in their salary/bonus structure. Just don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

   Try and find gratitude in learning this early on. You’ve learned an important lesson: if it truly is a horrible situation with your boss and you cannot perform your job, update your resume and start looking. Otherwise, five years at the same company is impressive these days. It's a significant achievement that will look good on your resume. As I said previously, “Feelings are not facts.” You mentioned feeling disrespected—look into why. If it's because your boss is a jerk, research ways to handle it. This may not solve everything, but I'm sharing my experience. I hope at least one suggestion helped, and good luck with your search!!

9. Vivian LeeSeptember 14,2025 at 5:36PM UTC

   I am sorry to read this happened to you. Could an appeal be filed for your termination? Especially at 7 days with zero write ups and warnings.

   Have you applied for employment insurance about your situation? Especially for the hostile environment discovered on the first day of the new job.

   In the meantime, maximize all your networks and the local employment centre to land the next opportunity. Even getting a temporary or part time job as it will be easier to land a job while employed.