10 Years

 

10 years ago this was my view.  I had just started a new job as a Sales Operations Analyst.

10 years later this is my view.

I'm still a Sales Operation Analyst.   And I technically/sort of work for the same company.

How it began:  I interviewed with the president of the company; which was part of a (small) corporation.  The interview went well.  I thought we would work well together.  Quickly (which was pretty amazing), I was called back to meet with the head of HR.  That went well too.  Then I was asked to come back one more time to meet with the VP of Sales & Marketing.  (It's important to note that I would not be working for him, but we would interact.)  This interview went, okay.  I didn't get the same "feel."  I remember thinking if I don't get this job, it's going to be because of him.

I got the job.

I started on June 28th, 2016 in a medium sized office suite that also housed other companies that the corporation owned.  At the time I worked with an admin who had a cubicle across the aisle from me.  (It is important to note that these cubicles were HUGE.  (The below photo doesn't really it do it justice.)

There was also a Marketing Manager who sat behind me.  (Although he worked a different schedule than I did...coming in later in the morning or early afternoon and staying late.  I thought it was a corporate thing...turns out it wasn't and from what I understand he was doing some shady things which led to him being terminated on afternoon...an afternoon where my boss, the President of the company, had me leave early so that I would not witness the event in case there was any violence.  There wasn't but I was called later and told that this person had been let go and if he ever came to the premises not to let him in and to alert HR right away!)

Through the years people came and went.  I did some work for other divisions, but mainly stayed with the company that hired me.  My position was very much like a project manager at the time; I stayed on top  of our sales team, making sure projects were moving forward as expected and projecting what percentage would launch on time and what would be delayed.

This changed at the end of 2019 when we were acquired by a HUGE corporation that is known for purchasing other corporations; some which were in the pharmaceutical field (which is where I was) and others elsewhere.  I would now fall under the "professional" side of the corporation's medical/pharmaceutical division (the consumer side is very well known).  Everything would stay the same...until it didn't.

My boss, the former president of the company, the one who hired me, told me I would now be working for someone else who was headquartered in NYC.  I was assured I would not have to work in the city.  I went in the city (way out of my comfort zone) twice for meetings and then...COVID.

So it was work from home.  Go in to the office if you want.  (No one was there; not in the suite, not in the building...I managed maybe 40 minutes before I went home.)  We're closing the office; work from home.  We're opening a new office in Newark, keep working from home.  You have a new manager!  Come into the office in Newark one day a week.  Come in to the office 3 days a week (your choice of days).  Come into the office on these three days.

Then a co-worker was let go.  It wasn't a surprise. She wasn't happy.  Our manager...well...the two of them didn't along.  This all made me nervous.  I told my manager I was nervous and I told HER manager as well...but I was assured all was okay.  I wasn't feeling it.

We moved (mostly) to the Poconos.  I was told I still had to be in the office three days a week.  (Even though others on the team only had to come in once a week or less because of where they lived...I was a NJ employee and as such had to be in the office 3 days a week.)  I spoke to HR.  I negotiated.  I got a 2 day a week "trial" for 3 months.  Three months came and went.  Six months came and went...

I went in one day for a 3rd day (because I was in NJ)...and no one was there.  Hmmm...

New people were hired.  They were young enough to be my sons or daughters.  New people moved on.  More new people were hired.  I heard my manager say to someone that all NJ based employees had to be in 2 days a week.  (When did that happen?  Glad I fought for it.)

My title is still the same.  I don't do the same work I once did.  Things continue to change and evolve. There are "Sr" Sales Operations Analysts, I know I will never be one.  Awards have been given.  I know I will never get one. To be honest, I know that while I do my job well, I'm not on the top of the favored list.  It's just the way it is.

My 10th year will come and go without any fanfare.  That's okay.

I wrote to the man who hired me 10 years ago.  (Yes, he still works for he company.  He's no longer President.  I think they want him to retire.  He hasn't and he keeps plugging along and annoying certain people...but not me.) 

"This Sunday (the 28th) marks my 10th year working for/with you, and I wanted to say thank you.  (And not on a corporate platform.)...The first couple of years (before the corporate buyout), were definitely the best.  Working with you one on one was a wonderful experience and I LOVED that you used problems/issues/events as "teachable moments."  I think I can still be taught, but it will never be the same as it was with you...I'm sorry that we don't have more of a chance to work together...Thank you for giving me the opportunity 10 years ago. I will always be grateful to you for getting me on this path."

10 years...I never would have thought.  But as the song goes...

"Good times and bum times

I've seen them all and, my dear

I'm still here

Plush velvet sometimes

Sometimes just pretzels and beer

But I'm here

I have run the gamut

A to Z

Three cheers and dammit

C'est la vie

I got through all of last year

And I'm here

Christ knows, at least I was there

And I'm here!

Look who's here!

I'm still here!"

At least for now I am...