Not part of the clique
Age: 25
Location: Dallas, Texas
Position: Software Sales Rep
I was employed by a major technology firm from 2007 to 2009 and I feel like a large part of the reason I was laid off was due to not being a team player and participating in group activities like birthday parties, happy hours and co-ed sports teams. One of my managers came up to me and said, "we like the work you're doing but you need to be more involved in extracurricular activities." I was too busy working to make my sales quota for the quarter, as that was my job description -- not organizing a happy hour and gossiping with people.
I liked my coworkers but it's Friday afternoon and I want to go home -- I don't know why that's looked down upon. I even won '"Rep of the Quarter" the month before being laid off and I cannot help but feel like if I had been more clique-ish with my co-workers, I might still have a job. I have since gone on to start my own business. It feels fantastic to be away from that now.
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