Hey folks, quick story here. I feel like we all learn a lot and become more perceptive of BS at the workplace as we go along. This is one of those stories and to also, bet on yourself.
I worked at my previous job for nearly 4 years. I work in tech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and mediate sales between contracted clients. I was building and working the same account at a previous job that had a 25 year relationship with the major account and this position I took was just starting out with them: loved the challenge and opportunity to use my network to build an account from $0 to a solid number.
Our team was me and my program manager….for 3 of those years. Because he was fresh out of college and I am just a hungry account manager, we were perfect for the roles. The company promised me several things, in writing as well, that were never followed through upon.
My direct boss and I were the only people on our account as our site manager is incompetent and only liked to focus on his account and not provide any attention or support for ours. Long story short, we built this program from $0 to $5 million in less than 5years. This is where it gets interesting.
My direct manager and I noticed we aren’t getting commission like promised, I’ve noticed they consistently lie about why they can’t pay me ‘X’ salary when I was working so much OT that they were paying me far more than I was asking. I was rarely acknowledged in my office or out (job was remote after Covid) so I moved from CA to Austin (where my entire team was) to really show my worth (and also have a better quality of life).
After YEARS of bullshit and zero accountability, I recognized I overdelivered and got nothing in return. I recognize pride and wanting to “reach a goal” blinded me from the fact I was far more invested in my company than they were in me.
I slowly stopped doing any work, nobody noticed. My direct manager put in his 2 weeks and that’s when I had no point in staying with company. They expected me to take his job at same bogus pay (they’re about 30-40k off market pricing for the position and play favorites). I put in my 2 weeks almost immediately. I had been grifted 1000% and that’s on me, doesn’t mean I can’t take the power back.
They wanted me to train the guy taking my position, I did so and was transparent and honest about his concerns; he quit too. I didn’t have any job lined up but used my time pounding pavement everyday where within a month I found a company who values me, is invested in my goals, and pays me more than double my last job with incentives. I don’t suggest people do the flight or flight mode of not having something lined up but I’m grateful when I finally saw words and actions didn’t and weren’t ever going to line up, I made the right choice instead of participating in more insanity. If you believe there’s better out there, go search for it because it’s there!