I was so excited start a new career.  I knew it would be hard but I had gotten my foot in the door as a temporary worker assigned to my job for six weeks.  To some this may be discouraging to only be allotted a short period of time but I felt it as my opportunity to prove myself.  This job would be a great opportunity for me.  This job had a great benefit package.

My supervisor, Margaret, was very hard to read. She was quick to pass judgment on others and hold a grudge over something that may be minor or plan her revenge on something that was greater. I am a quite person who keeps to my self a lot. I did my best to learn my job and to perform it well.  I tried to keep my direct dealings with Margret to a minimum to avoid any conflict. There was one employee that I reported to directly, her name was Jennifer. Jennifer was very impressed with my work and expressed her feeling on my work to Margret on many occasion.  However, Jennifer and Margret did not get along well, so I was not sure if this was a good or bad thing.  I was soon informed that the position I was in was becoming available for a full time permanent position.  I interview for the position and was not given the job, I was devastated. Margret stated to other employees that she did not feel any of the candidates she interviewed were qualified.  She in return offered me another six week extension. I felt like it was a stab in the back that she would in on breath say I was not qualified yet ask me to stay and continue doing the job she did not feel I was qualified to do. Jennifer felt Margaret’s not hiring me was her revenge to her because she knew how well we worked together and the amount of work I saved Jennifer.  I refused the six week extension and returned to my previous place of employment where there were no fringe benefits but you didn’t have to tip toe around anyone.

About three months had passed when I received a telephone call from Margaret. She was offering me a long term temp position to come back to work. I refused telling her that I was looking for employment where I had a benefit package and health insurance in which being a temp did not offer me. She was so nice and convincing to me, telling that Jennifer may be going off on sick leave for a while and she was so impressed with my work if I would come back for six weeks she would reopen the position and interview me again. I gave in to her and went back.

When I returned I learned that Jennifer was pregnant and did not know if she would be returning after her child’s birth. Margaret did as she said she would, I re-interviewed and this time Margret hired me. I was so happy. The weeks went on and Jennifer left work and did not return after the baby was born. Margaret approached me concerning Jennifer’s position and encouraged me to apply for this team leader position. I felt it was a great honor coming from her. I spent many hours working overtime, studying and reviewing any procedures that I needed to learn. After the passing of a few weeks Jennifer’s position opened and I applied was promoted. Now this left my assistant position open.

After I had gotten everything switched over and started my new job. Margaret informed me that she would not be filling my old position. I would in return be working by myself. This was the start of a bad dream. I worked many long hours just to be able to keep up and not fall behind. As if the work load alone was not enough, in my new position I had to directly deal with other team leaders. This did not bother me because I enjoy working with others and feel that I am an easy person to get along with. However, Margret soon informed me of the teams that she liked as well as the ones she did not. She expected me to follow her lead treat certain teams with more respect than others. I hated this; it was not me and not my personality or belief to treat people the way she did. I followed her lead as much as I could to keep my job but it soon came to a point that I was so miserable in my job that I hated to go to work. It took a lot of time and weighing my option, but soon I knew that I could not keep going on like this everyday. I did not want to loose my benefits, so I started applying for any position in the company that was open. I did not care if I had to take a pay cut or not, working like this was not worth it. In a few weeks I transferred position. Margaret was very upset with me, telling me how much time and effort she had put into me. The day I left I felt like myself again, all the negative feelings where gone. My new position is great and I realized I do not have to sacrifice my beliefs and values to advance in a career.