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February 3, 2006

I got the job!

I have to be brief again because I’m at work. I’m pretty much always at work during the week.

I finally got offered a job from the company I’ve been consulting for since October. The drama was quite intense. They knew they wanted me because they liked my work a lot but weren’t thrilled with the number that I had requested for my salary. I aimed quite high because as a woman in a predominately male field I get lowballed all the time. I had a lot of confidence because I’ve been used to absolutely no job security for the past two years and figured it couldn’t get any worse, so what do I have to lose. This time I felt like it was really important for me to stand up for myself and took the gamble that it would look good for my character that I can hold my own with these guys.

It paid off. I keep thanking my lucky stars that I lost a bunch of weight in time for this. I’ve been so much more confident since I’ve taken off the weight and had I not, I’m sure I wouldn’t even have attempted playing hardball. Besides how I thought about myself, it gave me the upper hand where these guys are concerned.

I know this because they tried to use a bunch of tactics to intimidate me and bring me down dollar-wise. Tactics were used that touched upon my financial status, sex (regarding motherhood mostly), etc. They mentioned how the guys loved me on a social level (I’m the only female) which I feel wouldn’t be the case if they didn’t find me remotely attractive.

I’m not trying to be pessimistic but those types of stereotypes are apparent around here. In fact, there is a heavy slightly older woman in a department that works close with our group that complained to me a number of times she is overlooked and not listened too. On more than one occasion she’s asked me to bring stuff up and/or push an idea. I’ve had a little more success.

Without furthermore negativity I am thrilled I got the job and feel great. Because despite all those things I previously mentioned I really enjoy everyone I work with and like the work. No individual here encompasses those qualities so much as it is the workplace as a whole. Those less positive aspects are par for the course at every job I’ve been to in the past eight years, certainly not exclusive to this one, so I don’t hold it against them more than I do anywhere else.

It’s the unfortunate reality of our society, which I had no intention of going into right now. I just wanted to say, in my long winded, tangent riddled way, that I GOT THE JOB, YAY!

Posted by hopeful @ February 3, 2006 1:16 PM