October | 2008 |

Last week, my most recent former employer (The WANT ADvertiser) closed their doors. It was pretty obvious it was coming, which is why they became my former employer a month ago. And every time it happens, I think about the fact that, for new employers, checking my references is an exercise in frustration. I mean, let’s look at the list:

Bradlees – closed

Some cleaning company in New Milford – gone

Cablevision of New Milford – bought up in a series of mergers, I think it’s now part of Charter

Roy Rogers – my 3-day excursion into fast food. There’s still a few technically, but for all intents and purposes, they’re gone

Office Max – Okay, they’re still around.

Staples – The other survivor

Service Merchandise – was well into the descent when I got there. (Hint: if you fire someone for theft, don’t rehire them at Christmas. Just saying.)

Gateway Country Stores – I was part of their first layoff. Then they closed the stores and got bought up by Acer.

And now The WANT AD. That was the closest – it was barely a month from when I left until they packed it up. I won’t go into my thoughts on what happened but suffice it to say, it could have been avoided.

A few links to other people’s thoughts on their closing:

Metrowest Daily News article