I got asked to resign?

Your call really, if they have told you up front you don't have a position moving forward, negotiate a good severance and move on voluntarily IMO. It will be better for you in the long run. Being fired doesn't have major negative connotations like prior generations dealt with, but it also doesn't come with great benefits. Also unemployment can be more difficult if you don't have 12 months or prior employment in the state (across all employers). Check out the state rules if you are seriously thinking of going the "fired" route and understand the benefits. You most likely will get a tiny percentage of your annual salary and it won't be worth it.

One point, they are being douche bags in this scenario if the only fact is a company asking for a degree and dropping you because of it. When I had my consultancy we would occasionally have clients make a stupid demand about degrees and we always found ways around it. Many times it is a company "vendor manager" going down a checklist and once you challenge it they just skip it. We even had some government work that dropped it once we challenged it (mostly), in one case they just said we needed people in certain rolls to prove education which those made sense for what they were doing, but none were software/data people. I guess my point saying all that is to say make sure you are seeing/hearing the true facts and not just taking someone's excuse, cause if you need to improve in some way that is important to know.

Good Luck!

*edit - removed a word

Depends on the state law. CA is generally an at will employment state. AFAIK, you are not eligible for unemployment if you resign in CA. If the severance being offered is more than you could make from unemployment benefits then you should get the severance check first and then resign. Otherwise don’t feel any obligation to resign.

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. Please consult an employment lawyer if you feel that you really need definitive answers.

This sucks, and I have been there as well.

I really doubt a employment lawyer is going to do anything other than take your money.

Your time would better well spent, looking for the next thing. Doing better is the best revenge.

I wouldn’t worry to much about imposter syndrome, nobody nobody really knows what they are doing. Some are just better at concealing their fear. :)

It sucks but I don't think they are doing it out of spite. They are doing what they need to do to survive since they don't want to risk losing this one large client and having the entire consultancy go under.

Approach the situation with grace and tact. Tell them you understand their position. Either you or the company should propose the terms. Ideal terms to me would be (if you were full time)

1. Company treats it as a layoff and you are able to claim unemployment insurance. However you need to check the rules in your state for how this might work.

2. You get some severance. Standard is a week for every year of employment. Honestly you'd be lucky to get any but 1-2 weeks worth would be reasonable.

Talk to an employment lawyer asap

Any details on what kind of client is asking for this requirement? Government contract?

Give them 2 months notice for your resignation

I don't believe they have any reason to fire me for cause.

Also throwaway account for obvious reasons.

Are they willing to put their request in written form?

Bizarre. Take the money and run

Now might be a good time to go get those advanced degrees you don't have so this won't happen again.