What have I done...

I'm 18 and just started a service desk job about 5 months ago. I've just been fired from that job, and it was all my fault. It was last Friday, I was working the late shift and this person who is known as a difficult user calls. Anyway, call goes surprisingly well, however, while I was putting the phone down I called her a "f*****g b**ch. Turns out the phone wasn't down, and she heard it all. Anyway, she logs a complaint, management had to let me go. What have I done! Have I just ruined my career? Should I even bother applying for any future service desk jobs? It was going so well!

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Pseudonym

You're only 18. You can recover, but you might struggle to get someone to take a chance on you for a while. Just work your ass off to get another job and be patient and humble.

bigdogz

Question: If it was going so well, what was the problem?

Ok... this is a mistake. Now you know to check the phone. Remember the mute button may not work as well.
Start looking for another job and remember not to use your inside voice.

olaHalo

I wouldn't worry about it. Start applying for other jobs.
None of my previous employers have ever been contacted (or they lied to me).

You can make up whatever reason you want when you're asked why your'e not working there anymore.

With any luck you could probably get a better job now that you got some experience.

joelsfood

Certainly haven't ruined you career. Shake it off, and start applying for new jobs.

cyberguypr

Well, if you are going to be that stupid and keep calling people names, I would say don't bother applying anywhere. Now, if you are going to treat users like human beings and understand that sometimes they get irate when technology fails or are generally difficult, then mark this as a learning experience readjust your behavior/response, and move on as others said.

shochan

hahahaha, that's awesome...only because that happened early in my career during my helpdesk tenure...except, I sent an email to the mainframe ppl stating "everyone is bitchin" because of a Mainframe pushed an update that is affecting everyone in the company...then a Mainframe person decided to forward my email to the entire staff of 1300 ppl telling them sorry - but below that email was MY "Bitchin" email...talk about backlash!! I got written up, probably almost fired, but I apologized and all was good...I ended up applying elsewhere because I knew I wasn't gonna get a raise anytime soon due to the fact one of the HR ladies called me & asked if I was calling her the *****...LOL! I laugh about it nowadays, but you live & learn from those experiences...You just get more professional as you get seasoned in IT.

scaredoftests

Learn from this mistake and move on.

mikey88

bigdogz wrote: »

remember not to use your inside voice.

exactly.

LeBroke

I spent 5 minutes swearing along the lines of "F%$^ you stupid #$%@#$% why don't you F%$^#$@%G work!!" on a conference call with our client's (F500 company) IT director when I thought I was muted.

...He had a good chuckle once I realized everyone could hear me loud and clear and said I should get a drink to relax.

stryder144

First things, first...never, ever say things like that. If you must, wait until you've walked away from your desk. Second, learn from your mistake. You are 18. You can find another job. Own your mistake and let your prospective next employer know you screwed up and that you learned from it (if asked).

Now, remember you are young and guys like me expect you to have made stupid mistakes at your age. If you were in your mid-40s, then I would consider not hiring you as I would expect you to know how and when to vent. If need be, find a job at a local repair shop to rebuild/retool. Just remember to be honest but don't answer questions that are not asked (i.e. don't volunteer why you were let go...try not to use fired in interviews).

NetworkNewb

One of my first IT jobs was at a small company and there was only about 4 of us that made up the IT dept. The senior tech there was calling someone back about an issue they were having. He must of started talking to someone else while the phone was ringing, cause the user who he was calling back never answered the phone, and the senior tech started talking about the user while the phone call went to the user's answering machine. Talked about how this guy was stupid and annoying, always breaking things... All this was recorded in the voice mail message! The senior tech never really got into too much trouble and everyone thought it was pretty funny. (pretty laid back company) About a year later we had a company Christmas party at some banquet hall or ballroom and the guy with recording had us play the whole voice message over the loud speaker. Was pretty hilarious.

markulous

scaredoftests wrote: »

Learn from this mistake and move on.

This for sure.

Repo Man

stryder144 wrote: »

First things, first...never, ever say things like that. If you must, wait until you've walked away from your desk. Second, learn from your mistake. You are 18. You can find another job. Own your mistake and let your prospective next employer know you screwed up and that you learned from it (if asked).

Yeah, he should never bring this up to a future employer.

mzx380

You showed your age on that one which is a negative but in the end you come out on top. You're only 18 and can easily rebound from this so I wouldn't fret at all. If anything this teaches you a valuable lesson you can learn from.

TechGromit

cyberguypr wrote: »

Well, if you are going to be that stupid and keep calling people names, I would say don't bother applying anywhere. Now, if you are going to treat users like human beings and understand that sometimes they get irate when technology fails or are generally difficult, then mark this as a learning experience readjust your behavior/response, and move on as others said.

We all complained about clueless users one time or another, but you have to be very aware of your environment when complaining. You even have to very conscious what you say to users, even if joking. I was kidding around with a store manager in a casino I worked at, she said she had to look up a number, I jokingly said, "What you can't remember a 12 digit number?". She didn't find it funny and complained to my manager, while I didn't get fired over this, or even in trouble, my manager just said watch what you say to people.

I recall another incident a race track I worked for part time, There was some race horse owner that was difficult to work with, one of the guys in the video booth wrote Ms. XYZ is a F*ing B*t*h on the screen, joking around, and thought he erased it before they displayed the video feed on the public monitors, but he didn't. This displayed on all the monitors in the race track, (and other tracks simulcasting the event all over he country) he quickly stopped the feed, but it was too late. He got fired, security came in, escorted him off property and I believe the race track got sued, they had to settle for X number of dollars to make the matter go away. Never send emails or anything in writing that you wouldn't say to someone's face in public

blatini

As someone who has a criminal record from when they were younger - it's never over. It will be annoying getting your next job if you want to reference that position, but you'll find one. Then you'll never have to worry about it again. Just learn and move on.

PC509

Well, when you're 21 there is another solution.

Just learn from your mistake and move on.

bigdogz

shochan wrote: »

hahahaha, that's awesome...only because that happened early in my career during my helpdesk tenure...except, I sent an email to the mainframe ppl stating "everyone is bitchin" because of a Mainframe pushed an update that is affecting everyone in the company...then a Mainframe person decided to forward my email to the entire staff of 1300 ppl telling them sorry - but below that email was MY "Bitchin" email...talk about backlash!! I got written up, probably almost fired, but I apologized and all was good...I ended up applying elsewhere because I knew I wasn't gonna get a raise anytime soon due to the fact one of the HR ladies called me & asked if I was calling her the *****...LOL! I laugh about it nowadays, but you live & learn from those experiences...You just get more professional as you get seasoned in IT.

Your case is different that you were just saying people were complaining instead of calling / writing that someone was a B word. This still shows that you have to be professional in your email messages at all times. It avoids making fun of yourself and someone following up with 'at least you are not like John Smith' from a fellow employee.

bigdogz

TechGromit wrote: »

We all complained about clueless users one time or another, but you have to be very aware of your environment when complaining. You even have to very conscious what you say to users, even if joking. I was kidding around with a store manager in a casino I worked at, she said she had to look up a number, I jokingly said, "What you can't remember a 12 digit number?". She didn't find it funny and complained to my manager, while I didn't get fired over this, or even in trouble, my manager just said watch what you say to people.

I recall another incident a race track I worked for part time, There was some race horse owner that was difficult to work with, one of the guys in the video booth wrote Ms. XYZ is a F*ing B*t*h on the screen, joking around, and thought he erased it before they displayed the video feed on the public monitors, but he didn't. This displayed on all the monitors in the race track, (and other tracks simulcasting the event all over he country) he quickly stopped the feed, but it was too late. He got fired, security came in, escorted him off property and I believe the race track got sued, they had to settle for X number of dollars to make the matter go away. Never send emails or anything in writing that you wouldn't say to someone's face in public

In short, say it forget it, write it regret it.

JoJoCal19

You don't have to say why you left the position. If asked just say it wasn't a good fit. I thought there are laws where employers can only ask past employers to confirm work dates, job duties, and if they would hire you again.

Tibs

JoJoCal19 wrote: »

You don't have to say why you left the position. If asked just say it wasn't a good fit. I thought there are laws where employers can only ask past employers to confirm work dates, job duties, and if they would hire you again.

From my understanding this is true at least in the US. The common business practice is only to confirm dates employed and job positions. An interviewer may ask why you were only there for 5 months, however when a potential employer calls a past employer they are not supposed to ask if you were terminated or left on your own or give any reasons why (allegedly). So you could get away with saying "it wasn't a good fit" in interviews.

As all the others have said though, you are young. And lucky you, you now have at least 5 months of help desk experience under your belt... even though it is not a lot you will still get into interviews with that since help desk is entry level.

But more importantly moving forward; save your personal thoughts of the customers for those times you go home and your family/roommate asks "how was your day?". As much as we all want to call out stupid moments customers/users/co-workers have... we need to remember everyone sees and understands the world differently. The things that are simple and easy to most IT people are rather frustrating to everyone else, they will be upset not only because of the situation but also because they don't understand it. Think back to a time you didn't understand something and it was you who was frustrated... that's what they're going through; and it can commonly turn a normal or even positive person into a pain to assist.

Don't beat yourself up over this. In a few years what you see as a disaster now will probably be a funny story to tell friends later. Just make sure you do the things in life so that you can follow up that story with "despite being fired, I ended up doing <other_job> after and recovered."

joshuamurphy75

Being fired sucks. I've been there. Just keep working on improving yourself and doing your best, and you will recover from it.

LittleBIT

Love TE for just saying learn and move on.

We all have been in your spot (especially with calling a customer less than nice things while the phone was still on). I can definitely say I've been in your spot as well lol.

But yea, move on. Youre young, and can bounce back.

The service desk/help desk is a harsh mistress, but a rewarding one. Once you got that XP, move up.

TheFORCE

Forget about it, move on. 10 years from now you will find it funny when you talk about this experience.

Ertaz

This was a mistake, simple as that. Learn from it, then forgive yourself and move on.

volfkhat

My coworkers swear (about customers) on a daily basis; so i know where you're coming from

But, For what it's worth,
Maybe you should Stop associating Women with B3tches.
It's sexist; and it looks bad.

Think about it:
What if that caller had been Especially rude/irate/angry that day, except he was a Man...
would you have still ended the call with frukking B3tch?

Just sayin.

Personally, I dropped b3tch from my vocabulary.
In its place, I try to use azzwhole
(because everyone's got one)

That way, after a bad customer interaction,
i still go on a long, vocal swear-ridden rant/tirade/monologue; but my angst is never directed at the person's gender.
(instead, i am lambasting their character)

Break the Cycle my friend.
(just my 2 cents)

Oh, and
ALWAYS doubletap the speakerphone button after the call; so that you hear the DialTone

PJ_Sneakers

Bet you won't do that again.

clarkincnet

TechGromit wrote: »

Never send emails or anything in writing that you wouldn't say to someone's face in public

Exactly.

Fulcrum45

It only seems bad because it happened to you. A few months from now even the person on the other end of that phone call is going to forget about it- especially since you're no longer there. You'll be fine. Like the others are saying; 10 years from now it'll be a distant memory. Trust me, I did MUCH worse at work when I was 18.

PS: If the call was going so well why did you call her that?

kiki162

You are 18 - you have time. Take this as a major lesson learned and move on. In the meantime - GO TO SCHOOL! Find another job.

Remember help desk positions you will be dealing with people all day long. If you are not the social type, make it a point to work your @** off and get yourself into a better position.