I know exactly how you feel. I had that "dream job" for the past 13 years when I worked at Valley Proteins. But Valley Proteins was sold in May of 2022 to Darling Ingredients, which is a big giant corporation in Irving, Texas. Cutting jobs was the first thing on their list, and we knew they were coming for us. I bailed with dozens of other people in April of 2023, and landed at a job for local government, after a job search of only about two weeks. But when I landed there, I was heartbroken from leaving all of my friends, and I was never happy there. The days were difficult even though the work was easy, and I spent nearly all of my free time "counting down" the hours until I had to go back to work. I didn't enjoy my weekends or any down time. Even after getting a promotion on November 1st, I only became more miserable there. There was lots of turnover in the office and nobody that I worked with had been there longer than 18 months. Earlier in the year, I had interviewed for a job working for the city Treasurer's office. I made it down to the final candidates, but I was not selected.
OUT OF NOWHERE, the Treasurer called me the first week of November, and asked me if I would be willing to come in and take the position, he had explained that the previous person quit out of nowhere, and everyone was shocked and couldn't believe it there. I thought about his offer over that weekend, but then called him back and respectfully declined, as I felt like I had never been a "job hopper", and felt like I had to "do the right thing", and try and make my current situation work out. On the week of Thanksgiving, I was excited because I had three days off (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, plus the weekend), and we were attending "Garden of Lights" over at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. I shared the pictures here and I had the time of my life, I was so tremendously happy. That night when I laid down to bed, I again thought in my head "Oh no, I'm going to have to go back to work now in 4 days", and I thought about how happy I felt at Garden of Lights, and then thought about how miserable I was laying in bed worrying about having to go back to work, and I knew right then I was done.
I emailed the Treasurer the first Monday after Thanksgiving, explained what happened, and apologized for not accepting his offer on November 1st, and I asked him if I could still apply for the opening. Within a matter of hours, I was brought in for interviews again, and on Friday the 8th of December, I was offered the position. The amazing thing was, this job was able to pay me 4 thousand dollars more a year than the previous position.
My new work family is amazing. Our Treasurer is also a Pastor, and everyone in his office are Christians. That is so comforting to me. Even though I have worked there only a month, I feel like I am "back home" in my dream job. The days pass by fast, and I never lay awake at night anymore and worry about going back to work. I noticed just a few days into working there, that I was sleeping all night long again, and feeling a lot better and having energy again at night. Before, all I could do was just work, come home, lay on the couch and wait for dinner, and then go to sleep.
Guys - I realize now I just took up a whole page. But in the Spirit of Thanksgiving, I am thankful that I found a new job when I really needed it. And I am Thankful for the new friends I have made and my new work family. I hope that my story might be inspiring to anybody who feels like they need a change. The very weekend that I was waffling on calling back the Treasurer, my Mother in Law told me that if I don't call him, I might really regret it, and I might be able to say one day that it was the best thing I ever did work wise.
I'm with you
@The_Escalation , I know just how you feel. I'm sorry for hijacking the thread!
