I have seen so many employees in the past get pushed out the door, in one form or another, by their Boss.  Some bosses moved to terminate their employees swiftly, while others let it painfully drag on, hoping the employee will just quit.  These employees needed to find a new job, and some realized it but others did not.

Conversely, I’ve worked with professionals who panicked about the “signs” they saw of being Fired in the near future.  Based on the facts and situations, the signs indicated that some were indeed on track to be fired, while others did not have to worry about an impending termination.

So, how do you determine if your job may be in jeopardy and whether you really need to find a new job Here are 8 telltale signs you probably are about to be fired and need a new job ASAP.

1. Poor feedback and reviews. If your boss sends you regular follow up emails pointing out the mistakes you have made, or if they indicate your performance is not up to par in your review, there’s a good chance you are about to be fired and need a new job.  Your boss is probably documenting all the reasons that justify getting rid of you, lining up the evidence they need to pull the trigger.
2. You’re given fewer projects and responsibilities. Any company will have its busy times and slow periods.  However, if you suddenly see that work is being taken away from you while your coworkers are up to their necks in work, something is probably amiss.  After all, when a boss is planning to fire someone, he or she is not likely to give them new work to do.  You may be given menial work for a period of time until they decide to terminate you.   If you see this, you probably need a new job!
3. You’re no longer included in important meetings. If you were previously privy to what’s going on at the company, you may be shut out from finding out.  You may be excluded from meetings with certain management team members or even your own team members.  When you’re about to be let go, it’s typical for managers to want to contain any confidential or sensitive information from reaching you.
4. Your relationship with your boss suddenly changes. If your boss steers clear of you and no longer has an open door for you, you probably need to look for a new job.  Bosses often avoid staff they are planning to fire because they either want to avoid conflict or want to avoid saying the wrong thing (that might impede the termination process). Also, if your boss suddenly becomes unfriendly to you or critical of your work — more than they have in the past — you might want to start looking for a new job.
5. Questions about how you do things. If your boss is planning to get rid of you, they probably will want to find out everything that you’re doing, and how you do it, in order to ensure continuity once you’re gone.  They may even have your peers or outside consultants come in and ask you about your projects and tasks. You may also be asked to hand over files or knowledge to other colleagues without an apparent reason.  If so, they are probably figuring out an action plan for when you’re no longer there.
6. Company has financial troubles. If you’re hearing in the news, in published financial reports,  or through the grapevine that the company is not doing well, it’s a good sign your job may be on the line.  When companies are not profitable, it puts positions at risk.  If your team does not add to the company’s bottom line, chances are you need to start looking for a new job.
7. Your colleagues are avoiding you. People talk in companies, and it’s not uncommon for your coworkers to see the writing on the wall that you’ll be gone soon. In order to protect their own viability, they may avoid you or any association with you.  If you find that your peers are suddenly ignoring or avoiding you, when they haven’t done so in the past, you may want to begin questioning why.
8. You feel like an outsider. If you suddenly feel like you don’t belong, your work goes unrecognized, or you are no longer included in the group—you should start to worry. When the philosophical decision has been made to fire you, there is often not much you can do to get your work recognized or feel valued. At that point of no return, you’ll know when you need to find a new job.