Back in October when they came to me about this new role - I brought up the job description that I received and mentioned I had questions. This is when I was told that the job description was a “formality”. The President himself had said that a lot of the duties on the piece of paper were no longer applicable. That was one of the main reasons for me saying yes to taking this on. I was told that there would be flexibility in my schedule, and an option to work remotely if needed, and this job was supposed to be very similar to what I was already doing at my previous place of employment. Just with a “better work/life balance”. And while the nonprofit was a part of the university - it didn’t function under the same rules which gave us more wiggle room for our attire and the mandatory school functions staff are expected to attend. So, I felt like this was an opportunity I should at least give a shot. And when I received my former boss's support - I accepted.
Now, when I arrived at my new job, I felt pretty excited! This felt like a "big girl" job. Since I was a tad nervous I arrived about 15 minutes early on my first day. I wanted to get a jump start on my day, make a good impression, and I really wanted to meet the team. Only - no one was there. I waited another 15 minutes before I received a text that someone was running behind but one of my new coworkers would be there soon to let me in. So, color me surprised when that coworker, the person who I later found out would be in charge of training me, had no clue I had even been hired. Our greeting was rushed and since they had no idea I would be there, they had no game plan for the day. That's when the Executive Assistant showed up, who was technically off for the week, but wanted to help me get things going. So, what was already going to be a chaotic day was quickly turning into more of a cluster. But these things happen - so I just ran with it. I had already assumed that the first week would be a little rough.
During my first half week, I had about 6 meetings in total. I received a very disorganized crash course on daily operations. And then as I sat down with different members of each division I would be working closely with - it dawned on me that each one had a different expectation of what my job was going to be. And each one was claiming that their version was the right version. In between all of that, I had to find time to organize my office. Because it was previously used as storage so there were boxes upon boxes stacked in all corners. Office supplies were bursting from the shelves, and there were so many outdated supplies that I had no use for but couldn't be thrown away. The filing system was also hard to make sense of and I found paperwork dating back to the ’60s. By the time the half week was over - I was ready for the break.
Then came my first full week. We were still having issues with my credentials for certain software, and I was having to cram for finals so we pushed off my "formal" training to the next week. In the meantime, I would be helping out here and there. Learning a few nonjob-specific things. Attending more meetings and doing lunch with several different groups. And this is when people started to really tell me what was going on. This is when I started to get a real feel of who people were too. I officially met the “popular” group and the “mean” ones. The employees that kept to themselves, and those that were excluded from everything. I was informed of the motives behind my hiring. Of the people being pushed out. Plans that someone else had for me to move to a different department. And that the job description I was originally given, along with the conversation I had had with several members, was not aligned with what my role would eventually turn into. In fact, it was heading in the completely opposite direction. I wrapped that week up with a few lessons and a lot more insight into how this particular department worked.
As I entered my second full week - I was asking myself, "What did you get yourself into?" I mean, nothing was turning out as it originally seemed. I met with the Vice President and brought up my concerns, and opinions because it’s what was asked. I left that room feeling very dismissed and my questions had been skirted around without any actual answers being given. Then came the “forced early retirement” of a director. Followed by the bombshell that my supervisor had given their notice just hours before our weekly meeting. And that there would be three people stepping up to take his place. Then the EA that had been so helpful when I started, officially announced that they was moving out of that role. This was all interwoven with gossip and rumors that had been circulating in the office all week. And once I was pulled aside by an Assistant Vice President - I was made aware that the majority of the directors had the opinion that the person training me was not a valuable member of the team. When I attempted to broach the subject - the person training me already knew. "They've had this plan for years. As soon as you are trained - I'll be let go." And this is the main reason why they wanted to bring someone in a lot sooner than they had originally planned. So, after everything I've experienced in the three weeks that I've been here, it looks and sounds like the expectation is for me to run this entire nonprofit as soon as they can get this other person out. And there will be no other employees brought on board to help. So, as you might have gathered by now, this is NOT what I signed up for.
