While nothing particularly bad has happened at work over the past year, I had come to think recently that I was not very appreciated there anymore. Part of this was due to a few things that I was told would happen that didn't come to pass, part was due to recent hires seemingly being treated better than I in ways, and the rest was really just that intuition-y feeling that I sometimes get but can't describe. (I should say though that my intuition, which over the last several years I've come to believe is really God prodding at me, usually proves to be right).
I was fed up enough that I applied for a few job listings. Out of three online applications, two of them contacted me. I had phone interviews with both, and even went for an in-person interview with one of the companies. In the end, I was that company's second choice, and their first choice accepted the job offer. I learned this even before the company followed up with me by looking up the position on LinkedIn. Through that, I learned that their top choice had been out of work for a few months already due to her prior employer going bankrupt and that she had a very similar professional background compared to me. She was of course able to start right away. I have no idea of the salary offered, or if her ability to quickly start when I said in the interview I'd need about one month due to giving notice and scheduled vacation time had anything to do with it, but everything I learned certainly made me not resent her getting the job over me.
The other company asked to schedule an in-person interview, but over the course of the phone conversation, I learned that it was even farther away than my current job's commute, without the opportunity to work from home with any regularity. I already rush out of the office sometimes just in time to grab one kid or the other and get to their activities, and I work from home on their most activity-filled days whenever possible. I knew I could not do all that AND manage an even longer commute and potentially more stress-filled job. But, I also felt a real connection with the hiring manager, who did the phone interview with me herself (rather than the first company that screened me through their recruiting department). She asked to connect with me on LinkedIn even though I declined the in-person interview. She suggested a local women's business group that I should join, and perhaps even become part of their market research committee. Since one of my hopes and goals this year has been for networking opportunities and even the opportunity to make additional friends and put down roots in Indy, it almost seemed like this was quite possibly the main reason I'd felt compelled to apply for other jobs, especially that job in particular.
Meanwhile, things have also turned around somewhat for my current job. I recently moved back over the (cube) wall to marketing, which seems like a better all-around fit for me, just like I thought it was. My now fourth manager since starting this job is not only someone I respect, but also someone I believe understands the value and complexity of the work I do AND will "have my back" so to speak at work, which is most of what I need a manager for anyway at this point in my career. It isn't that I've disliked my other managers there, but just that this seems the best fit for me, and I really hope it is. Also, after a few months of frustration at not being allowed to spend any money on projects and being idle enough that I felt like I had to search for and create work for myself, I'm busy at work again lately. I even received a small award at work. Not that it was anything big, but it's amazing how much knowing that folks appreciate you (and getting a $25 Starbucks gift card) does to renew enthusiasm.
I don't expect that where I currently work will be the company I retire from, but it has some great benefits that I've decided I'm not in a hurry to give up. I've changed my primary "career improvement focus" to networking and also finding a way to get more training. And that decision feels right right now, which is all I can really hope for anyway.
Is there something better for me out there either now or down the road? Maybe. Maybe even probably. But being satisfied right now feels very good. And that's good enough for me (at least for now).
Full disclosure: There's also a slight chance I feel more content lately due to seeing sights like this for a week straight...
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