Career / Life Advise Tread

DUUDE!!!

I just took a look at the end of this tread.

That's friggin awesome!

Same shit happened to me earlier thus year. Old job striping parking lots just went away. Lost my work truck, my only motor vehicle, too.

Went almost 2 months with nothing but little help from my sisters. Got EBT food card 1st time in my 60 yrs.

Then...

Dude next door has been renovating that 100+ yr old house for a yr. I walk over to say hi, etc. The contractor dude says he's short a coupla guys and do I want a job.

I've been working for him for months with no end in sight.

Multiple houses.

Doing what I've always wanted to do since I moved here.

Helping restore awesome historical houses, paver sidewalks, landscaping, etc

Paid cash money.

No shit, dude!

Rock on, homie!

Dang this is hard to do on a phone.

 

You gots the good karma, DP.

It's OK if the good guys win once in a while.

I work a few days a week for the contractor, on whatever house. Also a day or so for my neighbor doing stuff he wanted to do himself. Well, with me actually. We get along great.

New neighbor apparently cashed outa N Cali and bought the place next door. Nicest dude you're ever gonna meet. Seems his Cali $ are gonna go reeeal far here.

Both he and my new boss are about 70, served in Nam. Boss was a Marine. Crazy Connecticut Yankee who's always goin Warp 7.

Any who...

Shit works out.

 

A very good way of describing what often can be a devastating experience down deep. I’m still in the rip and it’s been an up and down battle but I keep faith that it’s all for a purpose and I’ll be better and stronger for it.
And as for DP?? I DID say he’d bounce back better than before didnt I ???? Yeeewwwwwww!

 

Yep. I’m like a busted fukkin watch - I’m right at least twice a day

 

This isn't so much me asking for advice, more of story time which relates to this thread.

Been working for my company for years. When i first started there was 3 guys on service. Now it's just me. Thing is, I'm a badass and get it done. So i can handle it, although i should be getting back up. I get back up every once in awhile, but from a guy whos to inexperienced. I run my calls while on ther phone with him figuring out his call. Literally playing puppet master, telling him not to check a switch or pressure's, but exactly where to put his test leads. Point being he knows next to nothing. Not his fault, he's inexperienced. He followed me around in the slower season as an attempt to build up his skills and he was learning a ton from me. But he always got pulled to help out someone else on an install or maintenance. Pulled from me to help some one who either didn't need help or already had help. As a service tech i didn't get paid terribly. Not bad but not great. Considering im single handedly running the entire service side of the company, i was waaaay under paid. I know it's a cliche saying, but in a manual labor blue collar job, it's literal. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into this. Iv busted my ass and took a beating. Coming in early and working late just to make sure i kept up with the busy season. While other guys on installs just do 8 hours.

Lots of issues with the company, mainly that they took advantage. They take what little help i get from me. On one hand it's a complement because they take that help away with confidence that i can handle the extreme work load. On the other hand it's frustrating that they expect me to take on this insane work load with no help or compensation. Straight up taking advantage.

My resume is out there, I'm always getting calls for interviews but iv been waiting for the right one. Got a call Friday. Monday night i was hired with a new company. 5 guys sharing the work load on service and 20K more just to start with my first raise coming after 3 months. I was pumped.

Put my 2 weeks in today. As much as this company took advantage of me, it did feel like family in some ways. Small company. Was always taken care of with Christmas bonuses, if i had to take a day off for somthing like my grandmother's funeral they didn't even take ther time off my PTO. Went about giving my 2 weeks with respect and professionalism. Thanked my boss for the opportunity, told him this wasn't easy, but i have an offer i can't refuse, timing is unfortunate and i apologized for that. He flipped the fudge out. Told me i was screwing him over. Which i do get, it is summer and it's busy. Told him i apologized about the timing but i had to do what was right for me. Wasn't having it. Told me id be laid off come winter with the new company (which i highly doubt, iv been selective with all the job offers iv recieved. This is a good one). Straight up screaming at me. Total disrespect.

On one hand im glad, this tells me i made the right choice. On the other im pretty hurt. I bent over backwards and i didn't get a thank you, good luck, a this sucks but i understand. Nothing. Just screamed at and disrespect.


Next two weeks are going to be pretty awkward. Going to continue to do what i do. If i deal with any disrespect I'll just say eff it and not finish my 2 weeks, i won't take that. But ofcourse i wanted/want a clean no hard feelings break. Very excited for the new job.

 

Bass,
Don't feel bad for one split second. Based on what you are saying, your employer was/is breaking every rule in the book by having you work so much--he put way too much weight on you, and by going elsewhere, you flagged him on it. Money is nice, but life is better. Balance is the key--you were overweighted on the work side. Now yo can say "hello" to your family and friends, and best of luck and success on your new job!!

 

Thanks guys. It was 100% the right move for me. I know that without a doubt. But at ther risk of sounding like a little girl, i can't lie.... my feelings are definitely hurt hahaha. Like i said there were definite issues but it did feel like family in some ways. After this there is no question, they only cared about themselves and had no respect for me. Loved my work and my output but not me.

I'll check back in and tell you how the new gig goes, I'm really excited. Besides the money and shared workload, it's not closer distance wise but time wise it is due to long island traffic. I now will be traveling ther opposite direction of the morning and evening traffic. Hours are better so i can fit more surfs in. Less on call shifts due to more guys. Pumped

 

I totally get that you are upset by his douchey behavior. At the same time, I would try not to take it personally. Yes, you have given your all to your soon-to-be former employer. However, your boss effed this up all on his own, and sounds like it was years in the making. He set himself up for failure by relying solely on you and your outstanding work ethic. He never planned for you leaving (e.g. what would he have done if you were injured on the job and were out for two or three weeks recovering?), and it sounds like never set up any sort of backup plan. You tendering your resignation brought all of that to the forefront all in one moment. By no means am I defending his asinine behavior - I'm just saying that sometimes people react to highly stressful situations by lashing out at others. I would keep that in mind over the next few days. At the same time, if he continues to be a d-bag then I'd chalk it up to him being a giant turd.

Either way, that's awesome that you are advancing your career! Well done

 

mo money mo surfing...very sound decision Bass! Good luck

 

Fu*k em... Don't feel bad about leaving. He had the opportunity to counter your new offer to try and keep you. If he didn't that's on him.

 

Wow Bass, you sound like my Right Coast Doppelganger. Got a very similar situation going on over on my end. Started floating resumes a couple of weeks ago and got several interested suitors, none of which are the right fit. Waiting for the right opportunity to jump ship and give my 2 weeks notice, the right way to do it.

I admire your work ethic and your integrity. You will be just fine in life with those 2 things going for you.

wish me luck, as I wish the same for you.

 

Yeah man, i take pride in my work and work ethic. Couple people told me i should use up my vacation time during these 2 weeks. Just not me man. There's work to do still.

I wish you the best of luck. Little tid bit of advice. I too was looking for that perfect job. Right location, pay, benefits, type of equipment. Almost had one reeled in but got screwed over. That's another story. Anyway I knocked my bar down just a smidge. A few weeks ago I probably wouldn't of even considered this job because it isn't union/pension. But in reality this place seems like the perfect fit. It checks all my boxes plus some. Seems to have an atmosphere I'll really enjoy. Boss is a cool guy and easy to talk to. My point is don't settle for less than you want/deserve but try not a be to critical either. Sometimes those jobs that don't look good at first glance are a great fit.


And mattinvb..... solid point. His own stupidity is at fault for not planning for this. I mean I speak my mind. They knew i wasn't happy. But he definitely took a gut shot with my 2 weeks notice. And man, the point about being injured..... so true. Can't tell you how many times I tweaked my back or knee or shoulder and really wanted to take a day to rest and heal knowing work would just aggravate the injury. But still came in because i knew if i even took one day off they would be flailing. Not a smart way to run a business

 

This ain't my first rodeo, dawg...but thanks for your sage advice.

 

Good on you for working until the end. It's good to have a clean resignation, because you never know when doing the opposite will end up biting you in the ass in the future. Especially if your previous boss can hold a grudge.

 

I've burned so many bridges, I might as well live on an island.