Fired for Googling? Man loses job because of “stupid” searches while at work. It’s not what you expect

A 26-year-old man, Josh Williams, was left jobless after spending hours looking for “stupid” things like turkey teeth and Simon Cowell’s botched Botox at work. His employer terminated his position as a customer service administrator, citing his frequent use of company time for personal searches and excessive sick days as reasons for the decision Mirror.

Williams, who had only been with the company for three months, admitted that his search habits were due to an inadequate workload. “I didn’t have enough to do, so I googled things like Simon Cowell’s Botox and turkey teeth,” he said, reflecting on how the situation spiraled out of control.

TikTok video fails after going viral

According to the MirrorNot only did Williams lose his job, but his attempt to capitalize on the incident by posting a TikTok video failed. The video in which he humorously reported on his dismissal quickly went viral. However, the newfound online attention was not without consequences. Josh was soon rejected from three potential jobs after interviewers discovered his video. “They told me that my values ​​didn’t align with their company, which was a pretty big blow,” he revealed.

While some TikTok users claimed Williams was “too old” to make such mistakes, others criticized him for using his work computer for personal searches. “Why didn’t you just use your phone?” wrote one commenter. The criticism, coupled with the negative professional repercussions, left Williams feeling “nonsense” about his actions. “I was really embarrassed and ashamed,” he admitted.

Financial problems and regrets

Despite the fallout, the video earned him around £450, which helped cover some of his rent. With no income and overdue bills, Williams saw TikTok as a potential source of income, but now he regrets keeping the video online. “I wanted to delete it after two days, but I kept it because of the money,” he explained.

Williams is now employed as a supply chain coordinator in the food industry and is anything but satisfied with his current role. He says the viral post forced him to quit office jobs altogether because of the recognition it brought. “I had to change careers because I didn’t want my face to be seen in interviews,” he said. Looking back on the experience, Williams regrets his decision to share his story online. “It was a heated thing and I didn’t think about how it might affect my future. I learned the hard way that you should really think before you post something online, especially if it could harm you.” “Career,” he warned. He is now focused on content creation as a long-term career, but continues to feel the pain of his past actions. “I suppose when you post something you have to expect criticism, but I didn’t realize how much it would affect my chances of getting another job,” he added.

The entire episode was a learning curve for Williams, who now advises others to be careful about their digital footprint. “It might seem funny at the time, but it’s probably one of the worst things you can do for your career. Be careful before posting anything online, even in the heat of the moment.”