I'm #2! I'm #2!

For a very long time, I was jealous of those people who enjoyed their jobs.  Those people who didn't mind so much walking into their workplace.  Those people who didn't lay in bed every morning with a sinking feeling of dread mixed in with a sprinkling of complete defeat. 

For a very long time, I felt like I was running a race where the finish line was up head yet that too kept on moving further and further away from me.  It was the scene out of Poltergeist  where the mother kept trying to run down the hallway to get to her children but she just couldn't reach the door. 

In today's world, I always find it necessary to preface any job hunting story of woe with the acknowledgement that I was 100% grateful to have the benefit of looking for a new job while actually having a job.  I was not out-of-work like so many people were and like so many people still are.  That in itself should stop me from complaining but the reality of it is, I was job hunting for 3 years and it walloped my self esteem into the garbage.  There was a 1-2 combo of being punched in the face by my employer and then walloped in the stomach by the job search.

I received one job offer that I had to turn down because it would have been a drastic pay cut.  A $10 pay cut would have been too much let alone a $5000 one.  Besides that there was a whole lot of resume sending, interviewing, 2nd interviews, and even 3rd interviews but for whatever reason, I was never that final candidate.  I wasn't even the final candidate for the job that I am currently at!  I still pass by a couple of places that I thought I had the job in the bag and I flip them off in anger for stringing me along and then stumping on my hands.

Then it happened.  I passed the phone interview.  I passed the 2nd phone interview.  I met with managers and supervisors in person.  For this job, it was a dual role - one role I had lots of experience, the other part, not so much.  I received a lovely email from HR saying that although they enjoyed meeting with me, they decided to go with someone more qualified.  Same ol story.  But this time, I did something different.  I did a bit of follow up.  I wanted to know what the hell I was doing wrong.  I emailed HR and the 2 people who interviewed me.  Thanking them for their time, I just asked for any feedback so I could go forward and improve myself for future job interviews.  I received lovely messages back saying that it was only that I lacked experience in that one part of the role.  I respected that. I understood.  I was able to put closure to this job prospect.

Weeks go by and I received a phone call.  Call it destiny, fate, luck or just life but it was said company offering me the job.  The other person didn't work out so I got the "Come on Down".  Was I put off?  Upset that they only called me when the other person let them down?  Nope!  Remember: Ego. Garbage. Me.  I had never been so happy to be second choice.

Now, 5 months later, I am where I am supposed to be.  That other job role where I didn't have the experience? Yea, that continues to be a thorn in my side.  I understand why I wasn't first choice now.  But in all other aspects I have fallen into place with complete comfort and understanding.

I have been working with the COO of the hospital on a project and my previously stomped upon ego has been completely reinflated by her.  She is introducing me to important people, including me in director level meetings, and has told me that I have a bright future here.  Last week she wanted to introduce me to someone from another organization but then was scared (jokingly so) that this other person would try to steal me away and there was no way she would let that happen.

I am like a giddy teenager who just had the cute boy come to my locker and talk to me.  I have not felt this way about a job in my life.  I have confidence in myself and the future.  I am working so hard to live up to my COO's expectations because I will make something out of myself here.  And quite frankly, I want to do it fast.  I'm ready for my promotion.