I'm doing 19 things
I’ve been gainfully employed for 14 yrs. at various places, hoping and waiting for the right employer to help me out with financial aid in the form of tuition reimbursement. At my first job (4 yrs.) they were privately owned and did not offer any assistance. My second and third jobs were only 1 year stints and did not last long enough to take advantage of the benefits (first was a temp job, second I was laid off – well my whole department was – during the last “recession” in 2001). I was unemployed for the better part a year after that…
Then I started at this small market research firm (30+ employees) in July of 2002. I was just turning 26 and had very high hopes. I stayed with the company (am still working for them currently – age 32), and slowly climbed what little ladder there was to climb. As Manager of Creative Services, I approached my CEO about helping me pay for online night courses to help further my career. He was supportive at first but then refused to help with finances. Thought I should go for it but wasn’t prepared to offer this assistance across the board so I was on my own. What I should’ve said to him at that point was “Everyone who works here already has their degrees! You’d be safe in offering this benefit because I’m the only one that would take advantage of it.” Clearly it was irrelevant because he had made up his mind.
So now that you have the background, let me give you the latest and greatest as to this major decision I’ve made…
At the end of every year the company gives out major end of year bonuses. This past year we got NADA – with NO warning. There goes nearly 20% of my yearly earnings out the window. Then they laid off 5 people in early Jan. So that brings us to last week – they laid off 7 more people and forced one more into retirement – leaving us with a grand total of 22 employees (only 3 females, btw). They let my entire department go – except for me (thankful for small favors I suppose) – so I’m now doing the work of 3 people. Additionally they’ve cut our salaries by 10% indefinitely. So in the last 2 years I’ve had a salary decrease of over 15%.
Since I’ve hit the ceiling here, they’re not willing to help me advance my skills, I don’t have a degree, we’re in a recession, there are no jobs for those who have massively better credentials than me, oh and did I mention that I’m single? Yeah – so to boot I’m going through this as a single professional woman trying to make ends meet.
THIS IS NOT WHAT I HAD PLANNED FOR MYSELF. So now’s the time to change it. I’m officially taking control of my life and making CHANGES. Major ones. Quit work and go to school is one of the highest priorities.
Thanks for reading and giving me the time to vent. Very cathartic for me…
Hopefully this item will be checked off come mid-August 2009. Stay tuned.
