Still in Shock

I try terribly hard to not blog about my work life however, I must share.  I've been at my current job/department for a little over four years.  I've seen many comings/goings, changes in personnel, tears, elation, you name it.  I have also been on the receiving end of wrath.  I've been the golden child for quite some time now.  I've earned this status because I made a conscious decision one day to completely change my attitude.  I have been the one to raise my hand in a meeting and volunteer to get something done.  When someone left the department I was the one who jumped in and took on their duties until they could be shuffled or assigned to the replacement.  Although my co-workers were the ones hiding their heads when a new task arose and I was the one adding it to my plate, it did not prevent them from drinking gallons of Hatorade when I received special privileges.  Don't get me wrong and start assuming that my time at this job has been nothing but privilege since the attitude change.  They did not allow me to work flex hours even though I'm the employee who arrives before the building is opened.  They also did not drastically change the amount I see on my check.  These have been my two beefs.  That is now changing.

The story goes like this:

August 1st we had a changing of the guard in terms of the chairman of the department.  The new chairman is the same guy who nominated me for the staff excellence award which added $1,000 to my pocket plus tickets to on-campus events.  Well, $600 after taxes and I offer my thanks to the IRS since I really wouldn't know what to do with an additional $400.  The new chair recently bought me a new computer (smaller than the new girl's) that I've been begging for since I started working here.  He also had promised to increase my salary drastically once "the dust settles."  In the meantime, one of my coworkers took a job in a different department.  They did an internal posting for her job and customized it to slide me into it, should I be the top candidate.  Prior to them posting this job and many promises that never came to fruition, I sent out two resumes across campus.  Both landed me an interview and I knew that both would be offered to me.  In the meantime, Mr. Internal posting opened up.  Yikes!  Talk about nerves.  My body has been breaking out in spots that I didn't know I had pores.  I knew that a big game was fixin' to begin.  (How's that for Texas slang?)  I did a phone interview which landed me a face-to-face, meet all the players interview for this coming Friday.  Sounds pretty promising.  I interviewed for Mr. Internal last Friday and interviewed for the job 1/2 the distance from home this past Monday.  During the Monday interview, I laid my cards on the table and asked them when they planned on making a decision because I have 2 other offers on the table and I have already held them off in order to interview for their opening.  They asked what I thought of the salary and I told them that it would have to come in above their posting maximum.  The following day they offered me the job at $2k above their maximum. 

Let me precede the next part with an insight into my personality.  I'm a principle person.  I will cut off my nose to spite my face if a principle is involved.  I think it has to do with the way I was raised since my DSeester is cut from the same cloth.  During internal interview I told them that the money would be the biggest factor in my decision.  I felt lucky to be in the bird's eye seat making my own set of rules to the game.  I also told them that I wouldn't play the game of proving that someone else thinks I'm more valuable and willing to pay me more thus giving internal an opportunity to match it.  "You know my work, they don't and they're willing to get off the cash to bring me to their team."  So, when 1/2 the distance called and I told Ms. Boss Lady that I'll be turning in my resignation, I saw her drawers filling up.  I'm not talking about an oops, a huge turd was in her pants.  She just laid her head down on her desk.  I went back to my desk and began the letter.  This was quickly interrupted with, "he just wants to talk to you."  This started all the whining and begging  --- it was amazing, like a mirror-image of when I desperately needed more money.  The difference was that the words came pouring out of their mouths and not mine.  They talked about "matching" and I was like, "Hello, 1/2 my drive which equals time and gas money."  This is one time I was thankful for the price of fuel -- thank you oh head-of-rags.  Then they moved to "Name your price."  Hmm, sure wish I could think like DH and have said, "You don't print enough money."  Instead I told them that I'm thinking an additional $2k.  Then came the question of whether or not I'd take it if they went to bat and tried to get me that $.  I told them that I'd have to think about it and would tell them in the morning.

Today is that morning.  Drawers full yesterday?  Wait until you smell the office today.  I will not be accepting internal's offer to "try" and get me a better offer.  Ms. Principle is not willing to fight for money every time she has  earned it.  I could just hear it come annual review, "we gave you that big increase last time so we'll throw you a bone this time."  Sorry guys but I've been getting the bone for four years now and it really isn't the bone I chose.

So, here's to me and my new job at 1/2 the distance, Cheers!