The Thanksgiving Epiphany

25 Nov

**courtesy of

No matter how hard I try, I cannot sleep past 7:30 am on Sundays.  So, here I am at 7:43 am blogging about my career status epiphany. 

The epiphany came to me 3 years ago but I placed the thought into the wee back corner of my mind.  During my layoff I spent a lot of time studying industry updates in order to become more marketable. After endless months of lackluster leads and disappointments, I knew that I was in a dead-end job.  I had known this for quite some time. I’ve asked myself many times, “what next?”.

My work is somewhat niche and LA is not a big market for this type of industry. Would I invite the idea of moving to another big city to do the same type of work? No. Did I notice how the same companies always advertise job leads within 3-6 months? Yes. Did I notice how hard and competitive it was to get another job in this field while unemployed? Yes. Would I want to go through that again? Fuck no.

This past Tuesday, I worked into early Wednesday. I had been up since 5 am.  As I blankly stared at spreadsheets, I realized that I had worked the same type of job for a looooonnnng time. Thoughts of why I continued on the same path began taunting me. 

The passion is not there. I don’t think there was ever a true, real passion. I came into my industry by chance as I think most people do.  What I liked was the creative part and analyzing data.  I still do, but I’m bored.  Now that I have a better job, the type of work still bores me. It was boring me 3 years ago too. Hence, the Thanksgiving epiphany.

What started as a temp job, became a career with decent pay, but no movement other than management or high tech.

Now that I’ve succumb to my boredom, I’m taking steps to prepare for a new start in a different career.  It’s time and long overdue. 

The boredom doesn’t affect my work and it will continue to stay that way. However, it feels good knowing that I’ve admitted what I knew all along.  And just like I took the steps to get out of a bad work environment, I will take the same steps switching careers.

Happy Sunday!

Tags: , , , , , ,

I Quit This Bitch aka Job Update

18 Nov

**courtesy of 
Holy hell, I cannot believe that the end of 2012 is nigh! Lately I’ve had a touch of nostalgia.  Around this time last year, I was dealing with the death of my grandmother and issues with lingering unemployment.

Two months ago, I was depressed, confused and angry about my new job. Four months into it, I realized that it wasn’t a good fit. Near the end of September, I made the decision to resign after 4 months.

Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision accepting the offer.  Ironically this company reached out to me a year ago, then rejected me after I leaked my former salary.  One year later, they reached out again and I declined.  After a heart to heart with a long-termed unemployed, I changed my mind and reached out to them about the position. They welcomed me into their home and it was back to being employed.

What I witnessed was rude, condescending and backbiting attitudes. Along with that came a horrible commute and a low salary. My salary was worth the amount I received starting out in my industry 8 years ago.  Mentally, I couldn’t wait for Friday and I dreaded Sundays. There was a lot and I do mean A LOT of work for low pay.  Since I’ve left, more have started to jump ship.

The good news is that I made the decision to leave with a new job waiting for me.  I’m still busy as ever, but with a pay increase and slightly better commute.

Now I’m beginning to realize that my “career” is cycling through a slow death.  My passion for it is chipping off in larger chunks now.  My industry is also small and incestuous — I want to get away from that. The truth is that I’ve been bored for years now and it’s time to close a certain career chapter.

Let 2013 be onward to the new.

Tags: , , , , ,

I Hate My Job Update

12 Sep

**courtesy of ghostisblunted**

I’ve really needed to get back into putting my thoughts back into the digital space.  Due to the fuckery that goes on at my current employer, I’m always too mentally burnt to have anything worth writing about.

Note to yourself – If a job zaps your energy to enjoy activities that normally bring you joy, you need to look for another job/employer.

Since I entered the workforce again in May, it’s been one hell of an interesting summer.  Not in a good sense either.   The past 3 months have taught me what one could possibly expect in a new job.  What I’ve witnessed is so bizarre that there are times when I repeatedly have to tell myself that I’m not crazy. I’m actually witnessing toxic boss behavior in action.  This is the type of shit I read on other blogs or career advice articles.

Note to yourself – If you feel anxious on Sunday nights, start feeling depressed and can’t enjoy activities your normally enjoy, it’s time to start looking for a new employer.

On some positive news, I have an interview. There were many disappointments last year during my job search, so this time around I’m staying mentally balanced.  All I can say right now is that when fate happens, sometimes you have to grab that chance. And that’s what I’m doing.

More news at 11……

Tags: , , , , , ,

I Hate My Job

6 Aug

 

work_monday-morning

courtesy of sangrea.net

 

It’s been some time since I’ve written a post.  Creating this blog was meant to be a mental release for me when I was dealing with unemployment. 

I’ve been at my new job for 3 months now and I absolutely HATE it.  Other than a telemarketing job in high school, I can’t think of any other job where I’ve had this much disgust.  It’s not a good thing either.  When your mood drops from 10 to 1 in one month, that’s a serious issue. 

On Friday, I took a mental health day because I woke up with anxiety.  The past couple of weeks I’ve searched for articles on how to recognize that you are working in a toxic workplace culture.  I’m truly in one and I have to get out.  I don’t think I will last there 2 more months.   I noticed subtle signs earlier on because a now former (new) co-worker was covertly bullied by peers on my team and management. I’m working in a serious hostile work environment with incompetent management.

When you begin questioning your competence, especially when you’ve been in a certain field for years, that’s a problem.  There will be more to discuss later. I’m mentally preparing myself to go in today.

I’m planning an exit and I never thought I would say this but…  I am reconsidering applying at my former employer.  They’ve had issues keeping external hires so now they are looking for former employees that are looking for work.  Compared to my current job, this would be a dream situation, plus more money.

The grass is not green on my side.  It’s back to the job hunt once again.

Tags: , , , , ,

Passive Aggressive Clients

16 Jul

Last week was the worst week on the job.  Maybe I’m overblowing it.  I can analyze things to the nth degree. Still new on the job and learning, I lost a client.  It came out of nowhere and it lingered on my mind all weekend.

After a client pulled a covert passive aggressive move, my ego took a bit of a hit.  I’m often wonder how long I want to continue in this career.

There must have been a miscommunication. Maybe I misheard something?  Who knows, but a client became concerned about me working with his account.  He told my boss that he wasn’t sure if I understood his business model or account.  Then I remembered bits of our discussion.  He kept making statements that he didn’t know if I understood his type of business.  I won’t even share what it is.  It’s insulting.

Hmmmm… I’m don’t recall saying that to him. Maybe I misheard?  We spoke about his latest project, I’m aware of what’s in his account.  My boss replied that stuff like this happens all the time with certain clients.  It was Friday the 13th and my mood was shot for the rest of the day.

That evening I vented to boyfriend about my shitty week and day.   Mid-sentence he stopped me and says.  “All that stuff you’re telling me about this and that goes over my head.  I know what it is. The client was passive aggressive, ” he says.

Huh?  He went on to explain that because I’m new and took over his account, the client was probably taking notes.  Perhaps I did something he did not like and he was waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.  The client, for whatever reason, did not want me working with his account.  I stressed that he could have called me out on the phone or asked me to reiterate.  “It doesn’t matter. He just did not want you to work on his account,”.

When you work in sales, you’re bound to come across a client like this.  Later, I took to the Nets to do some research on business fuckery.

Here’s  a nice article on how to identify and deal with different types of clients. For those struggling in customer service, read it, savor it.

Here’s hoping to a better week. Happy job hunting…..

Tags: , , , , ,

My Date With CA EDD Appeals Court

14 Jul
Rant long and loud
Repeat ’til you’re blue in the face
Ever get the feeling you’re always on a losing streak?
source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/n/napalmdeathlyrics/silenceisdeafeninglyrics.html

I wasn’t finished with CA EDD. No way, uh-uh.  At the end of May, I received a letter from EDD stating that they overpaid me $450. I was given the infamous 1080 form that states if one is overpaid funds not owed to them, they would have to pay EDD back the money.  Payback includes a 30% interest fee as well.

I started my new gig during the last pay week of my bi-weekly claim.  Rushing around the apartment one morning, I accidentally filled out the form incorrectly.  The wage box was left empty and I put 8 hours instead of 32.  A week later I called EDD’s Vietnamese line to speak with a rep.  Have you heard about the Vietnamese line? That’s another tale for another day.

The rep stated that I was overpaid funds and they were sending a 1080 form.  Oh lord…here we go.  He was right. I was overpaid and that’s the honest truth.  Let me back this up.  After I incorrectly filled out form 1, EDD sent another form that was filled out correctly.  Wages were in the box and hours corrected.  EDD sent a  full two weeks worth accidentally. It was their hiccup.  I should have been paid for one week.

In April, I had a different issue with EDD, so I thought the extra funds had to do with back payment.

“Oh. Wait. Um, you need to appeal that,” the rep said.  “I can see that you filled out how much you made on the form. It’s our fault,”.  Yup, the rep admitted that EDD made the mistake and advised me to appeal.

So I did.  The employment appeals court system wasn’t bad at all.  I was extra pissed about using my flex time though.

When you go, there’s a waiting area for claimants.  The TV displays the hearing process and you wait for the judge to call you.  Everything is recorded and a Judge reads over any evidence she has in the file.

The right hand was raised, I answered yes/no and was given time to explain my case.  I told her what I’m telling you here and that was the end of it.  It was over in 10 minutes.

Hopefully this is the end of dealing with the EDD minions.  They are capable of giving you a serious mental disorder.  Not sure what the outcome will be, but I should find out in a few weeks.

The lesson in this story?  FYI, EDD can and will make mistakes. Photocopy your claim forms.  Luckily evidence was on my side.

Happy job hunting!

Tags: , , , , , , ,

The Quest For A Career Mentor

9 Jul

**courtesy of GrungeRiver

Lately I’ve been thinking about career mentoring.  I’ve never experienced having a career mentor.  There has been unemployed career counseling, but not mentoring.

Do companies offer to mentor employees anymore?  Analyzing accounts at work today, I began thinking about the failed mentoring program at my former employer.   Things were getting really stale and I was constantly telling  myself to look elsewhere but never did.

Every year we had to fill out a 360 degree feedback review.  We gave ourselves feedback, stated our next year goals, went over past goals and management improvement.  I’ll assume that mentoring was in the top 3 on the reviews because management got the grand idea to start a program.

Everyone was excited and eager to sign up.  The program involved signing up for a mentor in a different department.  Those that signed up were matched with a mentor for 1-day a week mentoring time.  Three months into the program, I realized that no one ever discussed it.  During a meeting in month 6, someone brought it up.  Did anyone sign up for a mentor? What happened to that program?  A few hands were raised.  One team member stated that his “mentor” set up a meeting and then failed to show up.  The boss awkwardly stated that no one offered to be her mentor.   The program bombed and there was no mention of it for the rest of the year.

Fast forward three years later and my need for a mentor is strong.  I think I’m beginning to lose my passion for the work I used to do and currently doing.  Searching  1.5 years for work in the same industry somewhat sucked me dry.  It was the realization that my so-called niche industry may not have much going on in LA.  It was the thought of 20 years down the road do I see myself continuing with this type of work.  The thought of what the fuck am I doing.  The thought of still not having a clue about the type of career I want when I grow up.  The realization that I need to start making changes, taking classes and begin a transition. 

At this moment, I’m on a quest for a mentor.

Tags: , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

%d bloggers like this: