2/17/10 7:05 PM
I’m sorry for not posting anything to the blog in recent months. I have been in transition for the past month. Not only have I got a new job, but today I started class up again. Lesley is also back in school and working hard at that and in the clinic. Lola has been her energetic self as always. We gave Lola a haircut. Besides looking really cute, she gets cold at night. She will burrow under the bed covers and sprawl out between Lesley and I. I’m so glad she does not shed! In the next couple of weeks we are going to invest in a king size bed. A king size will help Lesley avoid my flailing elbows and I can avoid Lesley’s crazy kicking legs.
As I had said earlier, I have changed jobs. It has been a great change in my life. Working at Paychex was terrible since I transferred to the Seattle branch. I really couldn’t stand the management. My direct supervisor was x-military and treated us like his little soldiers. He was direct, abrupt, rude, and crude. He lacked compassion and people skills. He is not a leader. He is a drill instructor. I moved desks and got another supervisor. She spoke to everybody as if they were 4 years old and it was their first day on the job. The branch manager was invisible to the branch and made everybody uncomfortable when he did interact with them. He is the manager that nobody dared joke with. The problem with the branch was the personnel crisis. The management was so concerned with client satisfaction that they completely forgot about employee satisfaction. There was a huge amount of employee turnover because most employees 1. Can’t stand management style. 2. Are 25 to 40 clients over budget. 3. Are covering terminated employees clients while management refused to fill vacancies.
I knew I had to change jobs when I noticed that I was consistently coming home from work in a bad mood. I would have a short temper with Lesley and the dog. It is hard for me to have a bad day because I try to maintain a happy and optimistic view of everything. I always try to create a healthy work environment. I had to get out of the company before I went bald from stress or it negatively impacted my personal life.
During the fall of 2009, I had been interviewing for sales positions at a few different companies but nothing felt right. My goal was to work for University of Phoenix. So I got on their website and searched for local jobs on a weekly basis. I submitted my resume like crazy. One day I finally got contacted them and got going on the interview process. The interview process went throughout December. I finally accepted a job offer to start on January 19th. I wrote a nice letter to Paychex management giving my two weeks notice. I thanked them for giving me many growth opportunities, etc. When I informed my direct supervisor, she didn’t even look at the letter. She criticized my job performance and then asked me if there was anything they could do to keep me. Hmmmm.
The next day, the branch manager finally made time to meet with me. He also didn’t read my letter. He just started by insulting my character calling me dishonest for going behind his back to look for another job. He told me I wasn’t a leader because I was leaving the company during the busiest time of the year. He also said that I was making a huge mistake in my career.
Once he had burned the bridge, I told him what I think about him and his management team. I confronted him when he insulted my character. I defended myself honestly and bluntly. I told him this would probably be the best career decision that I will make. I was surprised how I was treated especially when I had given 4 years of quality work to the company. I took nothing he said personally or seriously.
Working at the University of Phoenix has been great so far. I’m an enrollment advisor. I work with potential students and help them get financial aid and started in their desired degree program. It is more or less a sales job. I love the competition and results driven environment. Some days can be hard when you don’t have people progressing towards activity. (the same as it was in missionary work.) I am really excited to work at U of P because it includes great benefits. I get my tuition waived. This is a huge blessing, especially as I’m starting my masters program in 5 to 6 months.
To change subjects, Lesley and I are going to Maui for a week. We fly out this Saturday the 20th and will be returning the following Saturday the 27th. We are going with Lesley’s parents and siblings and their spouses. It is going to be an awesome trip. Lesley and I deserve a nice vacation. We have been working hard at work and school and are ready to relax. I’ll take lots of pictures.
Well, I just took a break and forgot what else I was going to write about. So I’ll end it by saying happy birthday to my pops on the 24th of February. Also, I need to congratulate Lesley for accepting a call to serve as the Young Women President in our ward! You go girl! I got your back. I’ll support you all the way. I gotta get working on homework so I don’t have to do any while I’m in Hawaii.
Much love,
Parker
