I got the job. My mother kills me...lol.

[miraclesrule]

Whooohooooo, as priceless as a MasterCard commercial!!

jas...that plumbing comment was hysterical!!

Do you hope they accept your resignation and ask you to leave early, but continue to pay you? We do that a lot in our organization, and it''s like a free two week vacation!!

I am sooooooooo thrilled for you.

 

[AmberGretchen]

See - I think the fact that you are so happy clearly shows that you made the right choice

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah. I promise you MY company will NOT being doing that... I'm giggling hysterically at the thought!!! They are more likely to terminate me early by accusing me of working for a competitor and tell me that they are concerned with my giving way confidential information.

For the record new company is NOT even in the same industry as old company... let alone a competitor.

 

[FrekeChild]

I am so glad you're going to be out of there soon Gyps.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/29/2008 11:32:52 PM
Author: FrekeChild
I am so glad you''re going to be out of there soon Gyps.

Ditto. The place sounds positively toxic.

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah. Me too. I''ve had a smile on my face for two days. Um... I think the natives are starting to notice.

Demon Boss has been distant and cool. YAY!

 

[Miranda]

Yay Gypsy! WTF, they DEMAND loyalty! Are you kidding? Because they are so loyal to their employees? This mentality cracks me up. DH worked for a company like that. Are you gonna flip the bird HIGH as you walk out that door, or what?!

Marin is gorgeous! My BIL has family there. My sister loves going up for Thanksgiving. What an exciting time for you!

 

[Gypsy]

It is exciting. And yes, they demand loyalty. But do very little to inspire it.

You are going to laugh but one of the things I'm looking forward to is the brand new enviromentally friendly climate controlled offices I'll be working in.

The building where I work now has these huge windows that have no weather stripping, the gardner uses the leaf blower outside, and the blinds rattle INSIDE. And yet despite this,one of thier cost cutting measures was to shut off the heat (it was set to 62 degrees?) this last winter and everyone was freezing, we all wore layers, people brought blankets to work and wore gloves while typing. In the summer we're just scr*wed. We aren't allowed individual fans (or heaters for the winter) or anything (though I have a fan under my desk). And they wondered why eveyone was sick this winter!

Sad thing is, with a little investment on their parts in some weather stripping, etc... these older buildings could have been comfortably climate controled and energy efficient. And their workers happy.

And we are the second largest companyin our industry. And multi-billion dollar company. So it's not like I work for a dinky company. Our CEO just doesn't care.

 

[omieluv]

Date: 5/28/2008 1:10:48 AM
Author: Gypsy
She's not a lawyer Miracles. Neither is the other peer. Or the hiring manager. The position when posted called for 6 years of contract experience minimum. My degree counts toward that as I have less than 2 years experience with contracts. And the last 2 lawyers they had in this position... one is with their legal department now, and the other is now in a position the equivalent to the hiring managers. Makes you think.

It makes me think that there is room for mobility within the organization, which is definitely a good thing! Now I understand why that woman was grilling you so much about your degree, she is afraid you will not stay in the role too long.

Your current company does sound very toxic and abusive for that matter, it is good that you are going to make a change, especially since your current industry is so narrow. Sometimes people have a difficult time switching to a different industry, so this move sounds like it could be a step in the right direction for your career. Money is always a great motivator, but I really like that you will gain valuable work experince from this new opportunity too. Also, I also like that you will be moving to an area you will enjoy. Though you might have a more costly commute to see your mother, living in an area you love is wonderful.

Congrats on the offer! It will take you a while to get over your PTSD from your last job. Be prepared for plenty of dreams of your old boss (I am speaking from personal experience).

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 5/28/2008 7:12:08 PM
Author: Gypsy
Ooooh. Kay. So I didn''t tell Demon Boss yet. I wanted to tell my VP, informally, first. He''s been very supportive of me, and I owe him some loyalty. He was PISSED.
''If you leave, you aren''t coming back.''

Okay.

So, by the time I had done that, DB had left for the day so I''m giving notice tomorrow. Morning.

YAY. *snort*

I''m just catching up with this thread. Congrats Gypsy!!! Why on earth would he be mad at you for taking another opportunity? I''ve never understood why bosses act like this. It''s happened to a few friends of mine as well.

Okay, I need to keep reading...

 

[mercoledi]

Man, how did I miss this? Congratulations! Good luck with the new job but really, how could it be worse?

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 5/30/2008 1:54:28 PM
Author: omieluv


It makes me think that there is room for mobility within the organization, which is definitely a good thing! Now I understand why that woman was grilling you so much about your degree, she is afraid you will not stay in the role too long.

Your current company does sound very toxic and abusive for that matter, it is good that you are going to make a change, especially since your current industry is so narrow. Sometimes people have a difficult time switching to a different industry, so this move sounds like it could be a step in the right direction for your career. Money is always a great motivator, but I really like that you will gain valuable work experince from this new opportunity too. Also, I also like that you will be moving to an area you will enjoy. Though you might have a more costly commute to see your mother, living in an area you love is wonderful.

Congrats on the offer! It will take you a while to get over your PTSD from your last job. Be prepared for plenty of dreams of your old boss (I am speaking from personal experience).

I was wondering about the PTSD. I was so relaxed and happy yesterday, and I had nightmares all last night! It''s weird. I''m happy to know that it''s somewhat normal!

Yeah, I do understand why she was grilling me, to a point. But again, she was the most junior person interviewing me, and her boss had covered that with me first thing. Just a chip on her shoulder, or a competitive desire to "ace" her interviewing skills. Who knows. I''ll figure it out, I''m sure.

I really am looking forward to the different industry, and the expansion of experience. When I was telling my VP that its one of the reasons I''m leaving I could feel the excitement of that building in me. I love learning new things.

Zoe, I''m not sure I understand it either. When I told our GC he was so gracious. Told me to keep his cell number and call him if I needed advice while transitioning as he knows it can be tough. Told me he was really sorry to see me go. But excited for me. Just wonderful.

The strangest conversation I''ve had though has been with Senior Counsel, the attorney who is my ''cross functional team partner'' he was hysterical. I act as a buffer between him and demon boss and now he''ll have to deal with her directly. It took me 10 minutes to calm him down (hysterical) and even then he said he was going to start looking for other jobs ASAP.

Thank you Mercoledi!!

 

[omieluv]

Date: 5/30/2008 4:17:55 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 5/30/2008 1:54:28 PM
Author: omieluv

Congrats on the offer! It will take you a while to get over your PTSD from your last job. Be prepared for plenty of dreams of your old boss (I am speaking from personal experience).

I was wondering about the PTSD. I was so relaxed and happy yesterday, and I had nightmares all last night! It''s weird. I''m happy to know that it''s somewhat normal!

I worked in a job I hated for about 5 years and I literally turned into an emotional zombie toward the end of it. After I was finally able to land a new role (about 2 years ago), I think I went into some sort of emotional shock. The new job was a complete 180 degree change and it took me a long time to learn to trust and relax. I compare it to an abused animal adjusting to a loving home.

Anyway, for about a year, I had dreams and even nightmares about my previous employer. Now finally after 2 years those dreams have gone away and I feel so much better. I am still working through what I went through, but now I can finally laugh about the experience, rather than dwell in pitty about it. Of course, you might not have it as bad as I did, just wanted to let you know that I understand what you are going through to some extent.

Are u taking a break before starting the new job? I took a week off in between and it made such a difference, so if you can, please take a break!

 

[MoonWater]

Late to the party as well but I was reading since you went on the interview. CONGRATULATIONS! It can be rough leaving a bad job but you feel sooooo goood once you put in notice. We had actually nicknamed my demon boss Deviline which was a spin on her actual name. A co-worker and I (we were both screwed by this woman) put notice in on the same exact day. We were singing in the halls together! Good luck with the new job!!!

 

[Gypsy]

I'm sorry Omi!! 5 years!! Yeah that would seriously take its toll. There are a few other things about this job that I can't post about, that were very bad. So I think it is going to take some time. But hopefully since I wasn't here for as long as you were there, it won't take as long. But, I do think its going to take a while to trust again. And to just... let go a bit.
I'm only taking one day off-- turning the weekend before I start into a 3 day weekend. That's it. BUT I get the week of 4th of July off. So, that's why I'm not taking a week upfront. Otherwise I would have.

Hi Moonwater! Good for you for singing in the halls! I feel like it at times. It's just cracking me up. She's 'poor me-ing' every chance she gets. Poor me, my ONLY employee is leaving me and I can't attending this seminar because its the end of the quarter... poor me, I can't figure out how to change door knobs in my house, so I need to hire someone to do that and change my toilets (because they are ugly) and I can't do it until July because my ONLY employee is leaving. Poor me. It's all I can do not to chortle. I've given her another excuse to play the martyr... she's in HEAVEN!

 

[omieluv]

Date: 5/30/2008 4:47:12 PM
Author: Gypsy
I''m sorry Omi!! 5 years!! Yeah that would seriously take its toll. There are a few other things about this job that I can''t post about, that were very bad. So I think it is going to take some time. But hopefully since I wasn''t here for as long as you were there, it won''t take as long. But, I do think its going to take a while to trust again. And to just... let go a bit.
I''m only taking one day off-- turning the weekend before I start into a 3 day weekend. That''s it. BUT I get the week of 4th of July off. So, that''s why I''m not taking a week upfront. Otherwise I would have.

Each person is different, so it might not take you as long as it took me to get back to normal (whatever that is). I tend to be more of a sensitive person, so that might be why it took me so long. Trust is difficult to build and I had to keep reminding myself that I am not in company X anymore, so I need to keep my mind open until there is reason not to. It sounds crazy, but reminding yourself you do not work for your former employer will help you to see clearly through your knee jerk reactions you have to situations in your new job. For instance, whenever I was called into my bosses office from my former place of employment it was always bad. However, in my new place, completely different experience. Initially, I thought the worst when being called into the office, but most often, she would call me in to just say hi and talk about my weekend. Like I said, complete 180 degree change.


I did do something terrible though at the end. Normally it is proper to give 2 weeks notice when leaving a company, but I really needed a break. So what I did was give 1 week notice and use the other week for my break. I know, I know, terrible, but I had not had a vacation in so long (I had 180 hours of PTO that was unused). I just told my boss that I could only give a week because my new employer had to get me on the next pay cycle, otherwise I would have to wait twice as long for my 1st check. I am not sure if she believed me, not sure she did...oh well.

 

[Gypsy]

Oh please. You had 22.5 days of PTO saved up!!! You deserved a vacation woman!!! It sounds like they really abused you so, forgetaboutit!

You have to look out for you first, they won''t.

 

[omieluv]

Date: 5/30/2008 5:32:11 PM
Author: Gypsy
Oh please. You had 22.5 days of PTO saved up!!! You deserved a vacation woman!!! It sounds like they really abused you so, forgetaboutit!

You have to look out for you first, they won't.

I know, I think I felt guilty for like 5 seconds, but explaining to friends/family they were kinda not so understanding. After I left, I gave myself a month or so for a pitty party, but then wanted to move forward with my new job and get on with it. It took a while for the dreams to stop, but I could not control those anyway. The point was, I really made an effort to move forward when I was awake!

You should be excited though and I am very happy that you are getting out of your current place of work. I know, it is going to be an adjustment, but from what you have described it sounds pretty good and of course nothing is perfect, I do not have to tell you that.

 

[Gypsy]

5 seconds is right. I will make an concious effort and follow your example. Thank you Omi... your story really helps me.

Ugh! Families. Mine was trying to tell me I should give them 3 weeks notice. I was like... are you high? If I worked for someone like the GC... I might have. But Demon Boss??? On NO.

Okay. So I succumbed to a little singing and dancing. Demon Boss left (you know it's 4 pm... she'll turn into a human if she stays around longer) and I just hopped into a co-workers office (one who sits near me and understands just what she is like) and I whisper sang "Ding, dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead, the witch is dead" ... complete with a little hip shimmy!

 

[zoebartlett]

Okay, so I just finished reading this -- I am so happy for you Gypsy! Do you feel lighter, like a weight''s been lifted off you? I''ve been in a similar position as you before and it was so freeing to give my notice and know there was an end in sight.

Best wishes!! Can you tell us a little about the new company and your new position? If it''s too personal and/or you rather not, that''s okay. Just curious.

 

[Gypsy]

HI Zoe...
Yes, much lighter. So much so I think I''ll leave in a few. I just finished my last redline for this week. WHEW.

The new company is a software company (YAY). They have been booming and their contracts department is fairly new. I will still be supply side, but the range of contracts I''ll be looking at will be much more varied. I will work with a team... cross functional (like here, in a way). They don''t push their own paper yet and are just setting up contract templates, so I''m going to be helping with that. I prefer to be proactive instead of reactive. Since the department isn''t an established one they needed someone who can adjust to change, work in chaos, but help them move toward a more controlled, organized environment. I had a few suggestions just talking to the hiring manager which seemed to interest him. So, I''m hoping it was more than just him being polite. We''ll see.

Cross your fingers for me and if you''ve got any to spare, sprinkle me with dust.

 

[zoebartlett]

sprinkle, sprinkle, POOF! There -- I hope that made it ''cross country.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 5/30/2008 7:45:15 PM
Author: ZoeBartlett
sprinkle, sprinkle, POOF! There -- I hope that made it ''cross country.

YAY! I''m tingling!! Thank you Zoe!

 

[omieluv]

So, what are you thinking of rewarding yourself with??

 

[Rhea]

Congratulations! I was worried when I read about the interview but things have progressed since then, how wonderful! I''m glad that you found a good job for you.

 

[Ellen]

Gypsy, congrats girly, you did it!!