Getting Laid Off Within A Month of Getting Hired…

I was so ecstatic. I finally landed my first job at 17 years old, at a movie theater — a movie theater! I was so excited to work somewhere I really wanted to work. I knew it would be a while before I would get a hang of everything. Learning where all the concession items are, how to prepare them, etc., but I was so ready to finally become more responsible for myself. I was 17 with no paid work experience, no car, and no money. I finally landed an incredible job and I was proud of myself for taking the next step to becoming independent and responsible.
There were downsides to the job, of course. The movie theater itself wasn’t in the best condition. It’s an old building near the very old and run-down town mall. It was placed in the heart of the elderly population, so the movie theater reputation was basically known for attracting the older crowd. But that wasn’t reality. We got good business from people of all ages. Young families, young couples, old couples, you name it. It was just as good as any movie theater with good prices, just probably not the best accommodations.

Nonetheless, a job is a job and I would take what I could get at the time. I knew getting the job there would mean a bit of teasing from my friends because they didn’t feel as though I was getting a secure job, mainly because nobody knew how long the movie theater would last. However, my heart was set on taking the job after a long and struggling years of job hunting.

That was only 3 1/2 weeks ago. Today, I got the horrible call from the manager letting me know they were going to let me go. There were quite a few signs to where I felt this was coming very shortly. It was only a matter of time of when it was going to happen. I didn’t get put on the schedule sent out for the week. I noticed there were a few other employees in the same boat as I was. I didn’t look much into the situation as my availability was pretty limited to begin with, so they were only scheduling me when they could, if at all. I understood that completely.

Anyways, I don’t think I still fully understand why it was that they decided to let me go. I can be a quick learner through repetition, but I must not have learned quick enough. I felt as though I was progressing in the job nicely; going slow but steady, but at a good pace, providing a friendly & welcoming face to everyone, and of course getting the job done.

Working the concessions got me the most because it is the most fast-paced position there. You have to understand that I probably didn’t work more than 30 hours total since I got hired. My hours were all over the place and mainly just one day a week, probably 3 or 6 hours. This did not give me the time I needed to get used to the environment, find my pace on what to do or how to do it, or transition into the job properly. For this reason, I surely do not hope that I was let go because I was “too slow” or “not fast enough” at my position because I was still new. That’s what employers expect in new employees — to be slow at first and after a while get a hang of the job.

I was let down easy, and I was assured I was not the only one losing their job, as if that should have been of any comfort. They let me know I was not at the right job and how they’re working on some cut backs. I like to believe that they let me go due to the fact that they simply just could not afford me and took on more staff than they thought they could handle. While I do not know the specific reason I lost the job I can only be appreciative for the time I had there and befriending a great guy I now call my best friend. I will take from this experience as the knowledge of understanding that working there was just not fit for me. As much as I loved it, and as much as it injured me (blisters from mopping & sweeping, burns from the popcorn machine), I enjoyed every moment of it.

This day has opened me up to looking for new and exciting opportunities I have been meaning to take on for a while. I will now have the time to focus on photography that I have set aside for a while now, so I am looking forward to getting back behind the lens again. I am also looking into contacting some interior designers and asking about any possible opportunities to shadow a designer or internship for a few days. I am definitely keeping my options open in possible career paths. So, if anyone is in a similar situation as I was today, I really hope you do not see getting laid off, or fired, as a negative, just know that when one door closes, a million more open. You just have to find the one that will lead you to where you need to go.

Stay positive,
Lexi*