It is always confusing to be pushed away from something that chased you.

The professional world can prove to be odd and unpredictable sometimes. We have come to accept that a lot of those LinkedIn cold messages from recruiters will turn into nothing, and that a lot of the job postings you see online are likely to be fake. What we are often less prepared for, though, is dealing with a workplace that turns on us after seemingly accepting us with open arms.

With the 21st century workplace being what it is, we probably shouldn’t be so surprised that companies can run hot and cold with their employees. Business plans change, profits fluctuate, and managers take a dislike to people. There are few industries in which your position is a truly secure one, and most workers get an uncomfortable reminder of that at least once in their careers.

That said, we usually expect some kind of grace period between starting a new job and facing the reality that you are not wanted there anymore. Probation periods exist for a reason. Getting rejected straight out of the gate is a rarer and more disorienting experience to deal with.