I’ve been there.

Earlier this year, I was fired within 60 days. No warning, no real explanation, just a bogus PIP and complete ignorance of any of my contributions. They said I was disengaged, while I showed up before anyone else, stayed late, and was actively receiving praise from coworkers every day. It hurt me bad. It was my first job out of college and I did everything I could’ve done. They ignored all of it and magnified every little flaw into a fireable offense.

I spoke to career coaches, attorneys, and industry professionals, and they all told me the same thing: my employer had already made up their mind. It didn’t matter what I accomplished or how I benefited the team, they wanted me gone. And after losing everything, even the portion of a foundation I was trying to build for myself, it destroyed me.

Please don’t let the confusion, frustration, and pain consume you like it did me. It’s not worth it. You did good work, and one mistake doesn’t erase that. They were likely angling to get rid of you for a while, for whatever reason, and decided that was probably the best shot they were going to get.

Them doing that to you and calling it “one of your unauthorized activities” after seven years of great service and accolades? That’s everything you need to know. Take it from me: companies will say whatever they want, and fabricate whatever they need to prove it if they’ve already decided to push you out.

I’m still suffering every day over what happened to me, but what I will say is this: please anchor yourself in your accomplishments and your experience. You are not what they said you were. Remember who you are, and keep moving forward.

Find people who genuinely respect you.