Happy Unemployment Day

[N801BH]

Sorry guys, didn't mean to drop that and not explain but I've been busy. The fiancé is in town and we are making the most of our time during her visit.

So in short: original trainer quit, second trainer lined up for another job on the airfield. No classroom training or training materials provided or even updated in years. Second trainer did not want to train and got stuck with me. Compared me to her kid and refused to answer questions after getting put to her after my first trainer because "You should know this by now". She loudly announced that I was "arguing" when asking for clarification since there was seriously no formal training process or standardization. She could not give answers to questions I felt she should know as a trainer.

In the interview process and my first day I was told that there would be a classroom setting to learn the massive amount of info required to do the job. Instead I got thrown on station and was expected to function without knowing who I was talking to or what for and my trainer for the latter half basically shut down and refused to help. The stress built up, I got frustrated at my trainer telling me I was arguing with her when I was asking essential info. We started snapping at each other. I admit I did it but nowhere on the level brought on by my trainer. She compared me to one of her kids and told me "I have one of you at home" and treated me as such.

About 2-3 weeks ago midway through my shift, I started to feel very different, in a bad way. I asked one of my supervisors if I could see a medic. One of the coworkers drove me to the hospital because I felt like my heart was stopping or slowing way down. Turns out I had my first ever panic attack. No history of anxiety.

We had a meeting with the boss and the boss boss and my trainer during the snow storm last week. Long story short my trainer threw me under the bus and despite me trying to show the progress I was making and the effort I was putting forth, I was given an ultimatum - improve or get fired. They told everyone to bring clothes and etc because they didn't plan on anyone leaving with how bad the storm would be. Bosses told me that I wasn't worth the money and they didn't want to pay to keep me overnight in the snow dorms or backup area. "The roads are fine". I live a long way away and fortunately my first trainer who quit invited me to stay at his place. 40 mins to get to work from 5-6 mi away.

I brought up to them at the end of the meeting that she wasn't a good trainer and wasn't giving me what I needed to succeed. It fell on deaf ears. She kept pushing her failure on me and telling them that she has done everything she can. The day after the meeting we had, i just stopped interacting with the trainer and did what I thought would be good and use what little I could did to study with. I did amazing on station that day and the next 5 days.

I thought my improvement was so marked that I'd be in the clear. Meanwhile a night time employee offered to train me because she saw what was happening. She talked to a boss, I was told I would switch to nights to slow down and learn. My trainer went in after me and negated that. I asked my trainer about something, she was uncooperative and accused of arguing, we got pulled aside by a supervisor, management got involved, I asked to go to nights again. They said they would work a training solution. Two days later I was fired. I asked for the time off to spend time with my fiancé who is flying in and it was approved. They fired me the day before so I got to explain to my fiance why I was jobless. I went on a tour to meet all the guards and they all knew my voice and politeness and looked forward to meeting me and then I went to clock out and they fired me. Sorry, stream of consciousness from my phone. I'll refine it later.

Chin up and keep positive... You will land on your feet....

As for the "trainer".....

When her personal life started getting interjected into your training, I would have turned on my phone and recorded her saying stuff like " I have a kid at home like you"....

And then played it back during the exit interview to show the conditions you endured.....

There is a real good chance you are not the only new employee she threw under the bus.. and not the last......

As for the "do I list this job on my resume".. I would say ... List it, and politely explain there was not a good fit...

Aviation is a small community and there is a good chance the interviewer has heard your story before from others that worked at DIA.... IMHO..

Ps.... Jackson Hole is now advertising a full time assistant airport operations director and a full time security director....

 

[overdrive148]

When her personal life started getting interjected into your training, I would have turned on my phone and recorded her saying stuff like " I have a kid at home like you"....

It was in response to her asking what I do at home and in my off time. I replied "stuff" because it's not really any of her business what I do outside of work. And then she threw that in there with a "Mmhm" in front.

There is a real good chance you are not the only new employee she threw under the bus.. and not the last......

Ps.... Jackson Hole is now advertising a full time assistant airport operations director and a full time security director....

The thing is, I don't think she has ever been a trainer. I had 3 trainers, a 4th was willing to take me and I was supposed to go with another before I got her. I'm not sure if they have qualified trainers.

Also, that would be awesome but:

Five years of management responsibilities and experience required.
Five years in aviation management or role of similar experience required.

I appreciate the continued feedback btw.

 

[Palmpilot]

...You should be able to stand up for yourself and negotiate. That's why unions are useless now, because workers can do that stuff themselves...

Maybe that's true in some lines of work, but it's definitely not true in all. There are some where the individual employee really has no negotiating power.

 

[denverpilot]

It was in response to her asking what I do at home and in my off time. I replied "stuff" because it's not really any of her business what I do outside of work. And then she threw that in there with a "Mmhm" in front.

Oh my. We need to teach you the art of messing with people in a way they won't mind. She was setting you up and you knew it.

Don't give her ammo.

Instead next time, "Well... Last night it was Tuesday the night I dust off the photos I keep on a special shelf of all of my best job trainers I've ever worked with..." And then shrug.

Make her come up with something better than asking a leading question she shouldn't be asking, with a hint that it's none of her business, wrapped in humor.

 

[Palmpilot]

"Running a pot farm." :wink2:

Seriously though, what would have been the downside of just answering her question?

 

[PaulS]

I disagree with the old-timers on that one. You can ask for time off, you can ask for clarification, and you can debate certain things. You should be able to stand up for yourself and negotiate. That's why unions are useless now, because workers can do that stuff themselves.

However, you gotta be able to do it politically, and avoid ****ing people off. That's where Nate's advice on using the old-timers to help push stuff where you could be risking your job comes in.

You don't have to be a push-over to stay employed. In fact, not being a "yes-man" is how you get ahead and get promoted, unless you are filling a rote position where just having a warm body is all that is needed. Challenging the status quo is a GREAT skill to have, despite what the pathetic Gen-Xers in attendance may think.

So the part about not being a pushover is right, but, not to beat a dead horse, asking for time off when your boss (the trainer) is saying you suck is not a wise thing to do, especially during your get acquainted period. (Overdrive, I understand your point about the schedules, I'm talking generalities.) Getting into a ****ing match with your boss over basically nothing, is not a wise thing to do.

I do think the poster quoted above is missing the point big time. There are appropriate times for different behaviors and exercising your skills. While learning a job you haven't done before isn't a time to get ornery with your trainer. Challenging the status quo before you know wtf you are doing is job suicide. Being a dick in your first few months generally doesn't work.

It's all about being smart. Overdrive seems to get it now, but putting it to practice will be the test.

 

[weilke]

The reason I asked him at all was because I had asked him a week before about how I go about doing it. And before the fiance booked the trip. He said that it would be fine since our schedules matched up, and that if it wasn't fine that I could talk to the supervisor and use the PTO I was given.

You have to learn that with women and bosses, the word 'fine' has a different meaning than what you think it has.

Man: 'Honey, I know we had ballet reservations for Friday night, Bob invited me to come out duck-hunting saturday and we'll have to drive out to his spot the night before.
Wife: 'Oh, that's fine, I'll just take one of my friends from knitting class.'

 

[SkyHog]

So the part about not being a pushover is right, but, not to beat a dead horse, asking for time off when your boss (the trainer) is saying you suck is not a wise thing to do, especially during your get acquainted period. (Overdrive, I understand your point about the schedules, I'm talking generalities.) Getting into a ****ing match with your boss over basically nothing, is not a wise thing to do.

I do think the poster quoted above is missing the point big time. There are appropriate times for different behaviors and exercising your skills. While learning a job you haven't done before isn't a time to get ornery with your trainer. Challenging the status quo before you know wtf you are doing is job suicide. Being a dick in your first few months generally doesn't work.

It's all about being smart. Overdrive seems to get it now, but putting it to practice will be the test.

Agreed 100%. I'm pointing out the folly of being a yes-man. Obviously, asking for time off was a bad move, but that doesn't mean you gotta go along to get along forever.

 

[denverpilot]

So any prospects OD? Doing ok?