For so long, I hated Corporate America. I always loved my co-workers, but otherwise it seems like each job always had some awful aspect that made it almost unbearable. Either a bad boss, horrible executives, poor management and admininstration, stressful work, low pay & benefits… you get the idea. For so long I prayed for a better job. And many seemingly ideal opportunities narrowly missed my grasp, usually when I was most desperate. It was torturous! But once I finally gave up, this job landed in my lap.
I have to say – I know now why God took so long to answer my prayer. A) This job had to become available; and B) He wanted me to really appreciate it once I got it. What a blessing! Here are the top 10 things I love about this job:
10) Flex time
9) Federal holidays (hello, Veterans’ Day!)
8 ) Bank benefits (generous insurance, retirement, paid maternity leave, even paid in vetro for those who need it!)
7) I have always loved to give my co-workers holiday treats (like the Easter bouquets here), and now that my local group is smaller, I can still do them despite having a rather high-needs baby. Plus they can now be more elaborate without breaking the bank.
6) My boss. Cindy actually wants me to succeed, unlike some of my previous bosses. She has many strengths that I can learn from – she’s a strong woman, very articulate, assertive, quick, hard-working, and savvy. Yet she is also utterly kind, caring, and understands that work-life balance. Like when my cat died shortly after I started the job last fall, she told me to take the rest of the day off. She has even offered to babysit so Brad and I can go out for dinner!
5) I love what I do. I’ve gotten to learn an interesting new industry, develop new skills, feel what it’s like to work in the tallest building in Dallas, learn to work in a “virtual company” where everyone is located literally across the globe (lots of video & web conferences and IM’ing)… it’s been a fun adventure so far.
4) My co-workers love what I do. I make their lives easier, and they show their appreciation for my help.
3) Everyone I’ve met so far is extremely professional, articulate, helpful, hard-working and kind. They celebrate life events here. In my first week, I noticed a stack of “Happy Retirement” napkins in the break room. What company even has any employees retire, say nothing about celebrating the event? And even though I’d only been here a few months when I had Levi, my co-workers gave me generous baby gifts without insinuating a contractual obligation to enthusiastically return to work 6 weeks later. Our insurance company even sent us a baby basket!
2) My pay is great, and in my first 8 months I’ve already been given a bonus, a raise, and “Spirit Points” so I can buy a digital camera from the company catalog.
1) Wardrobe of PJ’s: $0. Commute: $0. Getting to work from home: priceless.
Can you believe it? What a dream job!!!
I’m so happy for you! I know the feeling too! I am nodding along with all of your top 10s (except federal holidays). VarTec gave us two very important things: the appreciation of a great job once you have it and great friendships!