How Would You Say/Explain This?

[giramomma]

Background:

So, I was sort of downsized from one of my part time jobs in October. I say sort of, because my job duties were being changed from teaching to more administrative. So, I did what I was tasked to do in October and November. Work assignments dropped off in December. Fine. To be expected. I have not heard from my boss in 4 months-not even to clear up issues between my pay stub and W-2. I'm assuming I've been let go. I've never been fired from a job. I would expect if I was fired, it wouldn't have been like this.

Situation:
I'm running into folks that know about this organization and/or my involvement with it. They are asking me the organization, how my work there is going, etc.  It's a small connected world that I live in.

If I start applying for other (teaching) jobs, I'm sure the question will be asked as to why I'm no longer with this organization. If I acknowledge that I used to work for this organization, the question usually comes up as to why I don't.

So, what kind of pat answer can I give that saves face for both me and the director of the organization? The director is well known locally, regionally, and nationally.

I know that I really shouldn't giving the truth (I was let go for a variety of reasons-the only one legitimately being financial), and I'm not good at wordsmithing an elegant lie. I'm more a "call it as I see it" girl, which obviously isn't good in this situation.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

ETA: I've been with this organization for almost a decade. So leaving it off my resume is not an option.

[Deleted]

The only thing you should refer to are the financial reasons. They couldn't afford to keep you. Not a big deal.

[NancysSummerSip]

I think it's OK to say you were downsized out of your position. Saves face for everyone, and it has some measure of truth to it. FWIW, I think your boss is an SOB for not contacting you in four months to clear up the issues you have. He/She may be a boss, but they suck as a manager.
If possible, get a letter of recommendation from someone in the organization (likely won't be the boss, since you have not been contacted about the financial issues, which are pretty important). At least you'll have the letter to use for another shot at employment.

[TheHaitian]

Just say the company was downsizing... Everyone knows what it means without actually having to say they were too broke to afford me.

[giramomma]

Mar 13, 2015 12:52:28 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

I think it's OK to say you were downsized out of your position. Saves face for everyone, and it has some measure of truth to it. FWIW, I think your boss is an SOB for not contacting you in four months to clear up the issues you have. He/She may be a boss, but they suck as a manager.
If possible, get a letter of recommendation from someone in the organization (likely won't be the boss, since you have not been contacted about the financial issues, which are pretty important). At least you'll have the letter to use for another shot at employment.

This organization was a one horse show.

It was one of my part time gigs, so, while it does hurt for many reasons, this isn't insurmountable. We're actually doing better than I thought.

[hoops902]

Mar 13, 2015 12:55:23 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Just say the company was downsizing... Everyone knows what it means without actually having to say they were too broke to afford me.

Do they?  Because around here "the company was downsizing" OFTEN means "the company was downsizing, so they got rid of the shitty workers".  It's also pretty synonymous with "I got fired, but let's call it something else".  Our company almost always just "downsizes" people in groups, because it's less messy than firing people.

[ArchietheDragon]

How do you know you have been fired? Are you still getting paid?

[Opti]

Mar 13, 2015 13:05:16 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

Mar 13, 2015 12:55:23 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Just say the company was downsizing... Everyone knows what it means without actually having to say they were too broke to afford me.

Do they?  Because around here "the company was downsizing" OFTEN means "the company was downsizing, so they got rid of the shitty workers".  It's also pretty synonymous with "I got fired, but let's call it something else".  Our company almost always just "downsizes" people in groups, because it's less messy than firing people.

I guess we all have different experiences. My experience is the company is downsizing

usually means my area of the company will cease to exist and at best be out-sourced.

Everyone will lose their job unless they are lucky or can jump to something new.

Downsizing is laying off generally. I suppose you can call it firing, but technically its firing usually

for cause and the company is keeping the position not the person. It is downsizing/layoffs if the

positions and the people are expected to be gone long term.

[shanendoah]

If I am reading this right (and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, giramomma), this is a small, non-profit organization, run by one person, for which gira did some part time teaching over the last decade.

Since this is not your main gig, while you don't leave it off your resume, it doesn't need to have a huge place of prominence. You simply list the years you worked with the organization and your duties. IF asked about why your work there ended, you answer honestly - Due to changes in the organization, the need for your skill set went away. In order to help out the director, you spent a couple of months working on administrative duties, but for the most part, your work with them ended in September. The parting was amicable on both sides, and you hope that you might be able to work with the director again at some point in the future.
People who know about the organization will know it was a one horse show and not be surprised. People who don't know about the organization won't know anything other than what you tell them.

[giramomma]

Mar 13, 2015 13:22:33 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

If I am reading this right (and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, giramomma), this is a small, non-profit organization, run by one person, for which gira did some part time teaching over the last decade.

Since this is not your main gig, while you don't leave it off your resume, it doesn't need to have a huge place of prominence. You simply list the years you worked with the organization and your duties. IF asked about why your work there ended, you answer honestly - Due to changes in the organization, the need for your skill set went away. In order to help out the director, you spent a couple of months working on administrative duties, but for the most part, your work with them ended in September. The parting was amicable on both sides, and you hope that you might be able to work with the director again at some point in the future.
People who know about the organization will know it was a one horse show and not be surprised. People who don't know about the organization won't know anything other than what you tell them.

You are absolutely right.

And I love what I bolded.

Thank you!

[bean29]

GIRAMOMA,

Did they possibly lose the contract and not want to admit it?  Maybe they are still trying to save it?  Could they have been sanctioned financially?

Exactly what are the differences between your pay stubs and W-2?  Were you taxes withheld reported correctly?  If you had a 401K/type program was everything withheld from you paycheck forwarded to the 401K plan in a timely manner?

In my experience, people connected within the CBO network usually have their own channels to gather info.  You just have to find a way to get them to tell you what they know. 

[giramomma]

Mar 13, 2015 15:13:48 GMT -5 bean29 said:

GIRAMOMA,

Did they possibly lose the contract and not want to admit it?  Maybe they are still trying to save it?  Could they have been sanctioned financially?

Exactly what are the differences between your pay stubs and W-2?  Were you taxes withheld reported correctly?  If you had a 401K/type program was everything withheld from you paycheck forwarded to the 401K plan in a timely manner?

In my experience, people connected within the CBO network usually have their own channels to gather info.  You just have to find a way to get them to tell you what they know. 

It's a part time job. No benefits, just pay. Non-profit.

 My reported earnings on my W-2 doesn't match my earnings reported on the last paystub I got. It's not much. The W-2 states I earned $100ish more than I really did per my pay stub. But, I know things should be equal. I've never heard why the $$ don't match up. I made less than 4K the whole year, so...not lots of money.

I don't feel like it's worth my time to really push the issue. Burning bridges and really upsetting people would not be in my best interest.

[bean29]

I worked for a non-profit with adult education thru Gateway Technical College, MATC and an Alternative HS. My job was eliminated. DH worked there about a year after I left. Both DH and I have gotten stellar job references from the Director. We see him socially occasionally. They say never burn your bridges, both DH and I had a case that we were screwed by financial circumstances, we never said anything bad about management, they got DH his next 3 jobs including his current career path, and I got a stellar reference for my current job. By the time they gave the reference I was gone from there 12-15 years.

[weltschmerz]

Tell them that killing your boss with a shovel in the parking lot was probably not your best idea. Then walk away.

[bean29]

Mar 14, 2015 14:08:21 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Tell them that killing your boss with a shovel in the parking lot was probably not your best idea. Then walk away.

LOL, well maybe not such a good idea.