A year and a half ago I moved 1700 miles to what I thought was going to be the coolest and best job I could possibly get. I’m a machinist and started to machine satellite and other space program parts for a government contractor. What I walked into was this cascading road of just horrible situation and experience after horrible situation and experience. Management oriented, team oriented, just as toxic as toxic can be. From the 25 year old female manager trying to fuck anyone under the age of 45, to my team just leaving me with all the work, and realizing I’m the only one in my corner and it’s me against even management, I was the enemy. After being accused of stealing company time by my 7th manager last week, I found a new job super quick and put in my two weeks, which really just turned into one week because I wasn’t allowed to use personal time after notice, and I’m pretty sure they just knew exactly how done I really was with that company.
Today was my last day. Drove in singing “fuck this place”, barely worked two hours, did my exit interview with HR, and the same manager asked when I wanted to leave, he inspected my toolbox for company property (standard policy), and off I went. I got home all giddy, took the pup out to pee, and just sat down and cried. I worked so hard to get to this goal and end up in aerospace at the exact company I wanted, took the debt of trade school all for the sake of getting uncomfortable before that job search began, and moved my life so far away. It fucking hurts to have been let down so hard after all I invest, both time, money, and the rawest dedication I’ve ever had outside of getting sober.
My now 1 year old cane corso licked my tears and nudged me toys, only making me cry harder. She knows everything. She knew what that place was doing to me and knows the sweet part of it being bitter sweet. I fucking love what I do for work, and to have a company just exploit peoples love for their work in the worst way sucks. The new job isn’t much of an upgrade, but I’ll get a little more money and different experience, and everyone seemed cool, it felt good being there, but I’ll never give up searching for the exact right place to hone my craft of CNC machining.