Should I Have Listened? AITA for Taking Job Friend Was Fired From?

AITA for taking a job my friend was fired from, despite her warnings? OP navigates toxic friendship dynamics to pursue career growth and faces backlash.

Damjan

Published in Interesting
26 Dec 2025

Should I Have Listened? AITA for Taking Job Friend Was Fired From?

In today's Reddit thread, we explore a situation in which personal ambition clashes with friendship, sparking a heated debate over loyalty and self-advocacy. A user in their late 20s found themselves out of work and jumped at the chance to fill a managerial position at a local coffee shop, an opportunity that seemed almost tailor-made for them.

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The role is conveniently close to home, offers a solid paycheck, and allows for professional growth. However, the twist is that this user’s friend was previously employed at the same café but was fired about a year ago due to a series of troubling behaviors.

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The friend has vehemently warned against taking the job, claiming it would be detrimental to the user’s mental health, and has expressed anger and resentment since the job was accepted. This friend’s history of being a problematic employee raises questions about their credibility and motives.

As the user revels in their newfound role, they face the dilemma of navigating this toxic friendship while asserting their right to pursue personal success. This thread invites readers to weigh in: Is the user in the wrong for taking a job that their friend lost, or is the friend’s reaction simply a manifestation of their own failings?

Join the discussion and share your thoughts on balancing personal aspirations with the complexities of friendship.

Original Post

I (late 20s) lost my job last month and applied for a manager position at a local coffee shop. It pays well, is super close to my house (which is essential since I don’t drive), and is a leadership role—so overall, a great opportunity for me.

The only issue? My friend used to work there and was fired about a year a go.

She told me not to take the job, saying it would "destroy my mental health" and that I would "definitely get fired too." Here’s the thing: I used to work with this friend at another store (where we met), and she was an **awful** employee. Bad attitude, rude to staff, thought she was better than everyone, and lacked basic skills.

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This is also the third job she’s been fired from. Our friendship is honestly really toxic.

I’ve tried to distance myself multiple times, but she love-bombs me, and I’m an autistic people-pleaser, so somehow, I’m now the maid of honor at her upcoming wedding (but that’s another thread). I’ve been at this job for a week now, and I love it.

The team is great, super supportive, and the location is ridiculously convenient. I’m someone who gets along with people and does my job efficiently, so I don’t usually have work conflicts, unlike my friend.

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Now she’s mad at me for taking the job and keeps saying I made a mistake. **So, AITA for ignoring her warnings and taking the job anyway?**