Getting Fired On TikTok Is The New Trend For Gen Zers

Did you know that that getting fired on TikTok is the latest trend among Gen Zers?

There are very few things in life that are as rough as getting fired. Sometimes you see it coming, sometimes you do not. Once it happens, a variety of emotions can overwhelm you. If it was a job you loved, you could feel anger, or sadness. If you didn't have the savings you need, you could experience fear.  On the other hand, if it was a job you didn't like you could experience relief. Getting fired could be the kick in the butt you needed to find a better job suited for you! One may even experience the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance.

One Gen Zer named Brittany Pietsch, 27, told the Wall Street Journal she has no regrets about posting the video and has been flooded with responses congratulating her on sticking up for herself.

Pietsch feels she was unfairly terminated after getting praise from management. Her recorded termination post has gotten millions of views on TIKTOK.

In the post Covid, work at home world we live in, the days of getting called into the bosses office has changed. Now, with Zoom, workers are getting a digital pink slip. Especially with large corporate downsizing these days, many, sadly are losing their job via a Zoom call. Hopefully, you get a heads-up from your supervisor. Then, you get the Zoom invite from HR, followed by a transition tutorial. You really don't know what hit you, because it's so structured. But it happens more than you know.

So it maybe no surprise to hear that the first fully digital native generation known as Gen Z, or Gen Zers, are fighting back in a way no one has ever seen.

According to CBS, getting fired on TikTok is the latest trend among Gen Zers:

"What's important is that many of the young people we see that post this on TikTok — remember, they've grown up on TikTok. They shared their setbacks, they've shared their breakthroughs — it could be a break-up with somebody, it could be getting into college." 

"For many of them, [it's] the very first time they've ever been laid off. So of course they want everybody to know and then wait for the feedback to tell them whether or not it was the right decision."

It seems that TikTok has become a shoulder to lean on during a rough time for the Gen Z group. Add to that, to them, it's easier to share vulnerability on text or technology rather than face to face.

While the in-the-moment decision could make one feel that "this is the video that will go viral and make me rich" the chances are, it won't. While it may feel good to get the initial "you'll be ok" feedback from friends and followers, recording a company meeting and then posting it may break your personal services contract, or your company at-will contract. If one breaches the contract or violates company policy, your last day of work may end even worse. You may lose any transition benefits, like severance, or Cobra rights.

Even if you get away with it initially, and your social media influencer money doesn't show up, you'll need a new job. Potential employers may view your video and feel that you may not be a fit. They may never see your true greatness, as a result from your revenge, or public need for short term comfort.

Getting fired sucks. But as Napoleon Hill wrote:

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. 

Just so you know, that famous and powerful quote was written way before TikTok.

The traditional bachelor's degree just isn't for everyone. In fact, there are a big group of people who opt to skip the traditional college route and still make very good money. There are plenty of jobs out there that don't requite a four-year bachelor's degree but still make $100K or more per year. No, it's not too good to be true. Let's get into some of these high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Before we get into those high-paying jobs, let's talk about how to land your dream job. Indeed.com has a great checklist of things to do when you're on the job hunt. One major thing is to create a good resume. They suggest to tailor that resume to every job to which you're applying, so that it fits the job perfectly. Make one "master" copy of your resume, and then use that as a template to create special resumes for each of the jobs for which you're applying. So, how do you tailer for resume? "When deciding what to include in your resume, choose actionable items that would capture an employer's interest," they suggest. "Along with including qualitative results in your work experience section, you can also add in some quantifiable data." They also say that numbers and statistics and numbers look good on a resume, so include those.

FlexJobs.com suggests to "research companies, rather than jobs." They say to "pursue companies that mirror your values to narrow your search, and to, "seek out organizations with a strong culture fit and a mission that aligns with yours." That's a great tip so that you're finding a company with the same values and ethics that you possess. Of course, it doesn't hurt to look for actual jobs on search sites such as FlexJobs.com and Indeed.com, too. Keep an eye out for opening at your desired company that pop up.

Now, let's get into some high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Careerkarma.com has Technology Sales Manager listed as the job without a college degree that makes the most money. Average salary is $161,920. Sound good, right? Minimum job requirements are, "Experience as a sales representative and a high-school diploma."

Another high-paying job without a degree, according to Careerkarma.com, is a Computer and Information Systems Manager. They make an average of $159,010 a year. You need computer science knowledge and 5 to 10 years of management experience, they state.

Here's an interesting one. A fire chief is on Indeed's list of high-paying jobs without a degree. They state, "Fire chiefs are responsible for overseeing and managing fire departments, which involves supervising personnel, developing budgets and planning emergency responses." National average salary is $105,287 per year.

Another job on Indeed list of high-paying jobs without a degree is Product Manager. So, what is that? "They may develop and implement the large and small business strategies that fuel the product development process and manage the launch of the product's features," they explain.

This is a really interesting one: Professional Sports Referee. The top salary per year is $210,000. But, they can make as little as $21,000 per year, too, as that's the average salary. So, you have to get a bigger gig to make more than 100K for this job. This is according to Resumeviking.com. They state, "No academic background is necessary, apart from obtaining a referee certification in the sport you want to referee. The stakes are high, but so is the return if you have the nerves for putting it all out there with no guarantees of ever gaining enough recognition to join in on this multi-billion-dollar industry!"

The national salary for a Senior Real Estate Manager is $133,076 per year," according to Indeed. They state, "Senior real estate managers oversee the daily operations of a property like an apartment complex or commercial building. They typically manage maintenance teams, ensure tenants pay rent on time and fill vacancies." They suggest to "gain experience in entry-level positions and work your way up to this job."

A Court Reporter makes an average salary of $103,270, according to Careerkarma.com. The job is to take notes on legal proceedings in court. "To land a court reporter job with no degree, you’ll need to take the exam for Registered Professional Reporter certification," they note. "This requires good listening skills, the ability to type quickly, and some knowledge of common legal terms."

Executive Assistant is No. 1 on US News and World Report's list of the highest-paying jobs without a degree. "Executive assistants support high-level executives in public offices and private companies," they state. "They may manage the executive’s schedule, make travel arrangements, prioritize the executive’s emails, and sometimes act as a receptionist or gatekeeper, serving as the liaison between the executive and anyone who wishes to meet with them."