The (Un)Domesticated Diva: Great Work Advice

By Jackie Hamilton, Austin, Texas

When I got out of college I was having a blast. I had that rare job that I loved, money to spend, and I was filled with the realization that if I wanted to do anything in the world, I could. No more asking my mom for anything. It was awesome. And then that ridiculous R word hit and my work life fell apart. I was told that I had a few months to find a new job. Countless hours of networking, pouring over my resume (thank you to everyone who tweaked it for me!), one job turned down (although the job was awesome, let’s be honest: my sister was paid more for her “just out of college” job in 1996), I finally landed a job with a Fortune 500 Company. 

While a lot of people would give their first born to work here, I was just happy to be employed! After the relief of not having to move back home with my parents wore off, I realized I just really don’t like my job, although my company is great. 

Apparently this is the consensus for our generation. We are so desperate to have work that we no longer care what we do. A good guy friend of mine once described this time in our life as the “Middle School of Life”. And it’s so true. We are at that awkward braces stage, where we don’t know what we want, how to get there, and are really embarrassed to have to rely on our parents. Only this time we have swapped the dreaded Mom Carpool Mini Van drop off with the equally discomforting, “Hi Mom, the most beautiful and best mom in the world, can I move back in with you?” Or better yet, “will you pleeeeease pay my rent Mommy Dear?”

On this journey of trying to find my career identity (affectionately explained by Christina Good as the quarter-life crisis), my boss has been really great about having me meet with different people throughout my company to see what career path suits me (this has been awesome- if you can, I would talk to your boss about this as well). I have had 30 minute meetings with people across the company to see which department I would best fit in (i.e. be the most profitable for them). 

In one of these meetings a couple of weeks ago, a colleague gave me a really great piece of advice. To have a folder entitled “Why I deserve a Raise”. Every time my boss sends me some sort of “Great Job!” email or I do something amazing or without him knowing, I put it in this folder. In 6 months, when I have a review, I can go to him with printed out examples of exactly why I deserve those extra pennies on my paycheck, or better yet that really fabulous promotion. 

 

So go into your Outlook, make that folder, and if you are having a bad workday, muse over the fact that you are way better than that annoying coworker in the cubicle to your left and you are going places. 

Oh! And the guy that gave me that piece of advice? He’s now my boss.

J.