The Stages of Accepting a New Job
1. Disbelief
A few weeks ago I decided to randomly look around at possible library jobs in my area. I do that sometimes; I have only been in my current job for a year and was planning on staying longer, but I am always curious about what is available out there. Weird, I know. I saw a job listed at the other university library (not the one I work at). It was in an area of the library that I had not ever worked in before and I wasn't sure if my experience would be applicable, but the pay scale was better and it looked like it was something that would be interesting and that I would be good at. I filled out the application online and then got called in for an interview the next week.
I felt like the interview went well; I used to be pretty bad at interviews, but I have gotten a lot better as the years have gone by. It also helps that I have been doing some interviewing at my current job so now I have a better perspective on what works well and what doesn't. I interviewed on a Wednesday and they told me I should hear back from them some time early in the next week. That Friday I heard from one of my references that she had been contacted by them and I started to get excited. Then, I didn't hear anything at all for the next week and assumed that I didn't get the job after all.
Well, then my phone rang this past Tuesday morning and I recognized the number. I still thought I was getting a courtesy call turning me down; instead, they offered me the job and a higher salary than I had expected.
2. Excitement
First of all, I was really excited. It feels really good to know that my hard work and my experience has been validated by someone picking me to work for them. From my experience with the interview, it seems like a good place to work, and this particular university is where I have always wanted to have a job someday. I spent a lot of time running around telling everyone that I got a new job and was super excited about it.
3. Guilt
I do feel a little bit of guilt about leaving my old job. I'm sure this is natural with any transition. I had planned on staying there for a while and there are projects that I'm leaving unfinished. I'm trying my best to pass stuff off to other people and hope it will eventually get picked up again. I'm confident this is the right move for me, but still worry a little about the stuff I'm leaving behind.
4. Anxiety
Right now I mostly feel anxiety about the new job. First there are the usual worries about performance--did I oversell myself in the interview? Can I really do what they need me to do? Am I the right fit for the office and the work environment? And then the worries about learning something new, being the new person and not knowing anyone's names, messing stuff up because I don't know what I'm doing.
The schedule for this new position is also different and it is a bit further from my house as well. Right now I have somewhat flexible hours and I can get from my house to my desk in as little as 15 minutes. Neither of those things are true at my new job; that doesn't make it a bad thing, but I have to make some adjustments to my schedule and to our childcare arrangements. The good news is that I won't have anymore weekend or evening work, but I also won't have any days where I go in to work later in the day so my mornings are going to get even crazier. Plus the week I need to start my new job is the week when Mr. Fob is going to be out of town so childcare feels particularly stressful at the moment.
I have faith that everything will work out; right now it seems somewhat unreal. A few weeks ago I was planning on being in my current position for a while and enjoying the fact that after a year I was really feeling settled in. I felt like I should take a leap, and I'm glad I did, but it will be a little while until I find my footing again.
A few weeks ago I decided to randomly look around at possible library jobs in my area. I do that sometimes; I have only been in my current job for a year and was planning on staying longer, but I am always curious about what is available out there. Weird, I know. I saw a job listed at the other university library (not the one I work at). It was in an area of the library that I had not ever worked in before and I wasn't sure if my experience would be applicable, but the pay scale was better and it looked like it was something that would be interesting and that I would be good at. I filled out the application online and then got called in for an interview the next week.
I felt like the interview went well; I used to be pretty bad at interviews, but I have gotten a lot better as the years have gone by. It also helps that I have been doing some interviewing at my current job so now I have a better perspective on what works well and what doesn't. I interviewed on a Wednesday and they told me I should hear back from them some time early in the next week. That Friday I heard from one of my references that she had been contacted by them and I started to get excited. Then, I didn't hear anything at all for the next week and assumed that I didn't get the job after all.
Well, then my phone rang this past Tuesday morning and I recognized the number. I still thought I was getting a courtesy call turning me down; instead, they offered me the job and a higher salary than I had expected.
2. Excitement
First of all, I was really excited. It feels really good to know that my hard work and my experience has been validated by someone picking me to work for them. From my experience with the interview, it seems like a good place to work, and this particular university is where I have always wanted to have a job someday. I spent a lot of time running around telling everyone that I got a new job and was super excited about it.
3. Guilt
I do feel a little bit of guilt about leaving my old job. I'm sure this is natural with any transition. I had planned on staying there for a while and there are projects that I'm leaving unfinished. I'm trying my best to pass stuff off to other people and hope it will eventually get picked up again. I'm confident this is the right move for me, but still worry a little about the stuff I'm leaving behind.
4. Anxiety
Right now I mostly feel anxiety about the new job. First there are the usual worries about performance--did I oversell myself in the interview? Can I really do what they need me to do? Am I the right fit for the office and the work environment? And then the worries about learning something new, being the new person and not knowing anyone's names, messing stuff up because I don't know what I'm doing.
The schedule for this new position is also different and it is a bit further from my house as well. Right now I have somewhat flexible hours and I can get from my house to my desk in as little as 15 minutes. Neither of those things are true at my new job; that doesn't make it a bad thing, but I have to make some adjustments to my schedule and to our childcare arrangements. The good news is that I won't have anymore weekend or evening work, but I also won't have any days where I go in to work later in the day so my mornings are going to get even crazier. Plus the week I need to start my new job is the week when Mr. Fob is going to be out of town so childcare feels particularly stressful at the moment.
I have faith that everything will work out; right now it seems somewhat unreal. A few weeks ago I was planning on being in my current position for a while and enjoying the fact that after a year I was really feeling settled in. I felt like I should take a leap, and I'm glad I did, but it will be a little while until I find my footing again.
Comments
I'm sure you'll be great, though, and at least you already know at least one person who works on your floor. :)
Also, there may be someone else out there who would be really grateful to get the job that you're leaving, so don't give yourself a hard time about that, either.
Will you and Katya get to lunch together?