Recently transferred to a new group from my old one that I’ve been at for 2 years. At my old one, I wasn’t paid particularly well, but I knew every aspect of my job, management liked me and I got along with all my coworkers. I had a nice routine going. I could be on my phone half the day and still be able to carry out all my job duties. Everything was great.
Of course, everybody within <organization> always speaks highly of this other group. “They pay x% better!” “They hardly do any work!” Etc. This mantra is beat into our head the day we’re hired. So when the opportunity comes up to join this group, I knew it would be irresponsible to turn it down.
I made my bittersweet goodbyes and left my old group. I wouldn’t have left this group otherwise; every aspect besides the pay was practically perfect for me.
But I still feel like I made a mistake. I’ve only been at this new group for a week but it’s just a huge disconnect. Everyone here is ready to bust your chops over any mistake. The work culture is absolutely more corporate. I worked with <PMC position>’s in my previous job but they were all down to earth and friendly; their job is more aligned with blue-collar work compared to my current group. The PMC’s I work for now are Ivy-league, top 10 <PMC> university alumni. I can’t relate to these folks with their rich people hobbies. These are literally the labor aristocracy, the top 5% at least.
I know I’m lucky to even be in this position but I can’t help but detest it. I made this jump because it pays extremely well but I can’t retire here. I would’ve eventually made a sustainable wage at my previous group, over a much longer period of time, but even then it couldn’t match my current wage. After my degree, I would much rather take a pay-cut and work for my previous group as <PMC position>…
I just needed to get this off my chest. I don’t expect users here to have much sympathy for me, as I know plenty here struggle with surviving the day. For the pay, I should suck it up, even if its a toxic work environment. But I miss my old desk and coworkers.
Just wanted to say I can relate, friend. You can be fortunate enough to make good money in society as it exists now but if the conditions are alienating then they're alienating.
Any chance you could endure the new conditions long enough to set up a triumphant return to your old group?
It would be a minimum of two years to close out my degree, but there isn’t really a situation where I can return sadly. I could move into <a division> related to my old group that has a similar work culture, which is good enough for me.
I hate that we have to make decisions like these. I wish I could stay working at one place for my working years. Hell, I think I was good at my old job and it was a net benefit to society. I can’t get into it under risk of self-doxxing, but I think most here would agree it is.
agree about decisions and self doxxing, don't do that.
I hope things will settle down in your new situation, it's totally valid* to feel the way you do, but don't forget you just had a big culture shock ... maybe things will calm down with more time as you work on your degree. sounds like you have an exit plan already which is good. best time to look for a job is while you have one, after all. in the meantime may even better options come your way.
*it's actually good - not to be too glib but it's a sign your psyche is resisting the PMC exposure. stay strong. be a class traitor if it comes down to it
Very true… maybe I won’t hate it as time goes on. I don’t respond well to change, evidently. Thanks for the kind words.
Work sucks, that's why they gotta pay you to be there.
I left an underpaying easy job with chill coworkers for a $12k/yr raise at a similar job. The coworkers are way more stuffy (replaced cool alt gen x'ers with suburban conservative big white dads), which sucks.
All the cool people are stuck in the underpaying jobs, which makes leaving even more bittersweet.