Not a secret anymore

I forgot to tell you that while I was working the sale, one of my old coworkers was in the line up and came up to me to see what I was doing. I couldn’t lie and pretend I wasn’t working there so I fessed up. We had already planned to meet up last night before my accidental big reveal. It was all good. She was never really one of the chatty ones and has promised to keep my workplace confidential.

A different coworker wanted to meet for lunch and when I told her I was unavailable, it came out that I got a job.

She has since told others.

I’m OK with people knowing that I am working. I just don’t want anyone to know where. Reason being, the manager that hired me, that was let go last year was sent a cease and desist letter from the head office for breach of contract. Now her case is a little more cut and dry that mine as she started up a company in the same industry. But it would not surprise me if someone where I used to work was feeling extra vindictive and came after me, since my new job has a lot of shared customers as the old one.

It’s a headache I am hoping to avoid.

My lunch buddy is a nosy, chatty one and I would prefer to keep where I am working from her as long as possible. I did reach out to her last night and told her I got a job but I down played it and surprisingly she didn’t push. Funny thing is she used to work where I am now working.

Plus, I also find that when people find out you’ve moved on they want to know if you can get them a job wherever it is that you are now at. Like you have some say in the hiring process of the company you just got to.

Does that sound bad?

Not a secret anymore

Most in my office are now aware of my departure. The feedback has been both happy for me and mad that I’m leaving as I get along with all of my coworkers. There is an underlying feeling of jealousy that I am leaving the mad house.

I was able to tell my friend I have lunch with ever day before the news hit the streets. She is upset that I am going as we spend a lot of time together. I have been more frequently talking her off the ledge as the stress is getting to her. Then it hit her that I have accounts that will need to be transitioned and her face fell.

My manager continues to look stressed and overwhelmed. My heart goes out to her. I have made a bad situation much worse. The VP has scheduled a one on one with my lunch friend next week. I think this is a temperature check and a bid to convince her not to jump ship. I hope my friend can parlay this into some financial gain. It may help ease her pain.

I am glad that everyone now knows. It was interesting to see how fast news travels. My manager had a meeting with our team of 5 to make the announcement. At the end of the meeting she eluded that it was not anyone else’s business but mine to share this news. By the time I got back to my desk, 2 people who were not in the meeting were asking me where I was going. *smh*

8 more work days to go.

Work update

Sometimes I really love my friends. One of my oldest friends sent me a text last week to let me know her workplace is hiring. I immediately sent her my resume. We went back and forth regarding some of the details of the job and the company. I told her my salary range and that I was flexible and the HR rep from her company still sent me an email inquiring about coming in for an interview.

I am fairly sure the position will pay less than my current gig. How much less remains to  be seen. I am trying to figure out how much of a salary cut I am willing to do. My main focus is the ability to grow, short term pain for long term gain. 😉

There are other benefits that might make a pay cut acceptable, such as retirement contributions matching and profit sharing. It is further away (20 mins vs my current 10) and would take me back to 2 weeks vacation …

I have given either Tuesday or Wednesday as options for the interview and will probably take the day off. I need a break. Last week was incredibly frustrating as it was determined that I must get a laptop even though I will never take it home. I live 10 minutes away and am a workaholic. I don’t see a time/day that I could not make it into work. What I can reasonably see is that I would start working from home and making my days even longer. No thanks.

Back to the new laptop which was not set up when I came into work … 😡 Couple that with we are doing renovations and needed to pack up and empty our desks so the new carpet could be installed over the weekend. I took everything I owned home. I am mentally done.

I hope when I get my next job offer I can give more than two weeks notice as it does take long to find acceptable candidates. One of my team members is leaving and has told our manager. My manager can not start interviewing until my coworker hands in her written resignation.

The madness continues. I hope this week’s interview will being positive results. Wish me luck!

 

I started a cult

I went to work yesterday raving about jumping on the zoodles bandwagon and my roomie went to get this one on sale from the local kitchen supply store.

 (Source)

Well she came to work today raving about how awesome the zoodles are. She cooked 4 big zucchinis to feed her daughter and son’s girlfriend and had no leftovers.

She went back to the store today to buy 6 more!!! 4 other coworkers wanted in on the $5 deal. And she picked up one for her aunt and son’s girlfriend.

I’m shocked at how many of my coworkers thought this was a great idea.

If ever I doubted the power of personal recommendations, this experience would have changed my mind.