Not An Easy Ride

I've almost reached another milestone in my life. In less than a month, I'll have been working 2 jobs, 7 days a week, averaging anywhere from 50-70 hours per week for an entire year. To say it's been an adventure would be an understatement. Working these hours has affected my life in so many ways that not even this blog entry could do justice in relaying how many things I've learned about myself, society, and the world.

When first applying for these jobs I thought it would be a cakewalk finding one, because I had a pretty decent resume for my age already. But by some miracle, I couldn't even get a job at a Taco Bell or even Subway. So when I applied for the 2 I have now, I'll admit my hopes weren't very high. Amazingly, the first place I heard back from was Tokyo Joes. The position, although very entry level, was perfect. Full-time during the week with weekends off? I couldn't have asked for a better schedule. The day after accepting that position, I got a call from west elm offering a position that was scheduled only on the weekends. I must have done something good recently, because it seemed as if karma were shining back on me. I accepted the position with west elm, filling my 7 day work schedule.

Most people probably thought I was crazy for accepting 2 jobs at the same time and scheduling my entire week for work. I'll admit I probably was, at least a little. But I needed the money, because at the time I was paying the mortgage for a townhouse that wasn't even in my name- but that's another story.

Over the course of the year, I had found out how much easier it was to get promoted, and consequently raises, at one company while it was nearly impossible at the other. Although I wasn't getting promoted at the other, I still accepted more responsibilities. Hoping that it would eventually show my capability to hold a higher position. Alas, even with how much work, time, and effort I put into that second job, I soon figured out there was nothing I could do that would let the upper management promote me.

On a Saturday in early February, I had asked one of my managers at the second job to sit down with me. We discussed all of my dilemmas, mainly how quickly I've been able to move up at my other job compared to my inability at this one. He sensed the upcoming ultimatum that I was about to give and preemptively gave me a counter offer. But sadly, he couldn't make an offer that compared to what I was, and soon would be, making at the other job.

With that, instead of offering a 2 weeks notice, I respectfully allowed them the opportunity to hire and train a replacement before I would leave. They were informed that I would stay as long as possible, but if a few months down the road they had not found someone, I would inevitably have to put in my notice. It's now been nearly 3 months, so regrettably I will be putting in that notice this upcoming weekend.

It's a decision that was very difficult for me to make, because I do respect and enjoy my colleagues there, but it was also a decision that is best for my future. Being able to focus on that one job will allow me not only to progress quicker up the ladder, but also give me the time off every week to relax and refresh myself which I haven't had this entire past year. I do plan on keeping in touch with a handful of the people I met and worked with while there, and am looking forward to seeing them outside of the workplace.

Here's to actually having a summer this year.




Currently listening to: NPR - All Things Considered 3/13/2012