It’s been at least 2 years and 8 months since I could honestly say “I enjoy my job.” Three years ago (next month) I was laid off from a job that I LOVED. I was working for Graham Webb, a contract manufacturing company of professional hair care products, and had been for 5 years. Just before I started working there, they had been purchased by Wella/Sebastian, based out of Germany, but the operations were separate. I was hired on to handle sales meeting materials, literature mailings, and a few chain accounts. It evolved a few times and in the end I was managing a team of 11 fantastic people doing various things. We worked well together and at the end of those 5 years had developed all of our policies and procedures and were working like a well-oiled machine.
A year or two before the lay-off, P&G purchased the whole Wella family and positioned them as their North American Professional Line. Graham Webb, Wella and Sebastian all became part of the P&G family. (Just so you know – I don’t care what anyone says about P&G – they’re big, yes, but they take care of their people.) Not a lot changed at first. After a while, and slowly, different systems started to be introduced. They had an online training center where you could learn about different things. We switched from Lotus Notes for email to Outlook (which was awesome!). There were a few other minor changes too, but they were all good.
Then came the dozy. They made the decision to close the office in Carlsbad and move all Graham Webb operations to Woodland Hills, combining the Wella/Sebastian operations with Graham Webb’s. Everyone (that I know of) got an offer to move to LA and work in that office. Some took the offer, most didn’t. There were many extenuating circumstances in our life at that time so Jon and I decided that we would not move and that I would find another job.
I worked with a friend for a while and then got a call from a lady named Jane* asking me to interview for a Customer Service Manager position at a personal care product manufacturing company in Carlsbad. I interviewed and got the job (that is a looooong story itself which I will tell at some point). One bad thing after another happened while I was there for 2 years and 8 months. I met some really awesome people while I was working there. By the time I left, we had developed a great team of hardworking people. Unfortunately, by that time, it wasn’t enough to stay for.
During one random weekend a couple of weeks ago, a series of events took place that showed me that my Heavenly Father really is looking out for me.
- While working in the temple on Saturday, I got the distinct and urgent impression that I needed to get away from the company I was working for.
- On Sunday, during a Ward Council meeting, a random conversation began between the Employment Specialist, a member of the Bishopric and the YM President, during which was mentioned the opening for a position at the company where the YM Pres worked.
- My completely joking comment, “Ooo, I’ll take it!” to which he responded, “How serious are you?”
- An hour long conversation with the YM Pres about the position (later that day, not during the meeting) – only to find out that it’s almost exactly what I was doing at Graham Webb (minus the management part) – which meant that it was something I actually felt qualified to do.
- An interview scheduled for the following Friday.
- A random assigned (by the “old” company) trip on Wednesday to drive to Orange County to meet with an outside lab that was doing some work for them – the outside lab being literally 5 miles down the same street as the potential job.
- An impromptu interview on Wednesday instead of waiting until Friday.
- An official offer the following Monday, at which time I put in my 2 weeks notice.
So far, I love everything about the new job. I love the beautiful view from the train. I love the positive atmosphere. The sales people I’ve met are cool. My boss is great.
… and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)
*Name changed