Tips for getting back up on feet after being laid off 6

[MiataMan]

Hi all, i am a plumbing & fire protection engineer with 3 years experience in NYC. Like the title says i was unfortunately laid off just yesterday. I had left my last company of 3 years on very good terms to pursue a new position just a few weeks ago. However, after just 2 weeks of working the CEO terminated my employment stating that i "falsified" my qualifications. I don't agree with it. He had contacted me on Linkedin desperate to fill a position since his senior engineer with 15+ years experience was leaving soon (He was only there 2 months). After an interview with his associates, who were not in the plumbing & fire protection field and did not ask me any technical questions, he extended a very high offer to me which i could not refuse. However, upon starting the job i had soon realized that the department was in shambles and i could not handle the work they were giving me.

I'm already over it, i just want to move on with my life and be more wary of the offers im given in the future. Luckily i have supportive friends, family, and former coworkers are even reaching out to me. I live with my parents and have no loans thankfully. My questions are:

-I still have Cobra insurance to accept from my last job, but its very expensive, is there another option?
-When searching for a new job, should i even mention this job since it only lasted 2 weeks? The next employer would appreciate my honesty if i just straight up told them i wasn't the right fit for the position and was laid off. But i also don't want it to hurt my chances of gaining employment. I doubt i even qualify for unemployment at this point.
-I'm looking at this as an opportunity to start fresh. With plumbing & fire protection engineering experience, what other paths could i take? Finance? Anything in the healthcare field? Maybe work for MTA or ConEd/National Grid? I have my EIT, plenty of 2D CAD experience, and knowledge of NFPA/plumbing codes.

Thank you all in this time of need.

 

[MiataMan]

Good point GHartmann. Going back would definitely beat out having to go through the process of looking for a job again. I've been doing a lot of research, talking with people, applying to some jobs. And from what i see, although the economy is much better today, its probably still going to take some time to find a job again. I talked to some friends who went into finance instead. They're definitely making good money, decent work environment, but from what they're telling me it sounds like the work they do is pretty boring. And if they get laid off they don't really have much marketable skills to rebound. The other option im looking into is, hopefully getting my old job back and start taking pre-req classes to get into nursing or related school down the road. My brother is a nurse and he is quite satisfied with his career. I love engineering, but sometimes the industry really puts a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[MiataMan]

Welp, its come down to this. Had a talk with my boss. He knows i have an interview on Monday but he will not talk to the owners about bringing me back unless i cancel that interview. Tough situation, but i'll most likely just have to accept his offer at this point. I have no ground to stand on really.

 

[moon161]

Truth-telling is a time-honored and important norm. There are enough versions of the truth out there anyways, why generate knowingly invalid ones?

I also like the XIV (and last ever!) Dalai Lama, and this quote attributed to him:

“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”

Self and family interest is important too. Are you a significant or sole source of income for your family? Can you get by on $405 a week if you get unemployment sorted out?

Will your old boss be meeting with you at the same time as the interview?

I may be wrong, but it sounds like you have an offer to talk to the owners, and not a job offer from the old boss. Do they think you'll stay on the farm once you've tried to leave? Your old boss is asking you to be open to being screwed 2X (no old job, no new interview).

If he thinks (P1) you have cancelled the interview, he asks the owners to give you your job (P2). Chance you get your old job: P1*P2.

Chance to get new job: 0 if you cancel interview, P3 if you don't.

Maybe instead of view it as a yes/no game, change the plays.

Stick up for yourself- tell him that you don't think it's reasonable to be unconcerned about paying the rent or buying food. Ask him to imagine your circumstance.

Reschedule the interview. Can you reschedule the interview to give your old boss preference?

So I'd try to bend things here, unless you have a written offer for your old job. Too easy to be screwed 2X

 

[moon161]

Your old boss can also lose face here, if they get you your old job back, and you have a new one in 2 weeks, or turn the offer of the old job down, that looks bad too.

You might try to negotiate preference for the old job with your old boss. It's hard to expect a person sincere about their own self interest to pass up a good interview for a maybe with the old job. And it's a maybe until it's ink on paper.

 

[MiataMan]

It'll be fine. I figure i already took one risk and it completely blew up in my face, so i think the best thing for me right now is just to go back to my old job. Stick it out another year or so, get my PE, try real hard to learn as much as possible and figure it out from there. The economy is better but i don't think its good enough to the point where it'd be a good idea to be job hunting while unemployed. Regarding having the written offer in hand, normally i would but i trust my boss. I've known him for three years and he is a very good guy. He is a principal and one of the founding members of the firm so he can actually independently hire who he wants.

 

[rotw]

I really like stories with a happy ending ...

"If you want to acquire a knowledge or skill, read a book and practice the skill".

 

[Maui]

You are very fortunate to have an old job to go back to. Many don't.

Maui

 

[MiataMan]

I'm happy to say that im back at my old job, its a festivus miracle! If another opportunity ever lands on my lap again down the road, i will be sure to examine it much more thoroughly before making a decision. I'd like to thank you all for your helpful advice in what could have been a disaster in my career.