2 Weeks Notice

I gave my two weeks last night.

I think this has been the first time since I've started working that I've ever given a company notice because I was taking another job. I've had "extenuating circumstances" in the past, but nothing that was professionally driven.

I was a little nervous. I didn't want to do it this week, but my GM was taking vacation for a week and would be leaving today. I had printed my letter of resignation the night before and saved it on a flash drive, just in case I would need to use it sooner. When no one was using the computer (or looking,) I printed it, signed, and kept it in my pocket.

She looked a little surprised when I told her. I mentioned that the other company approached me, although I sought them out a long time ago. Then she asked if I had any reasons at my present job to influence my decision to leave...

I thought about this a moment. It just so happened that within the previous 24 hours I went through an ugly ordeal involving a customer's order. The package was lost. And it took me 2 hours of my day off to track it down. Over the phone. And it was the lack of urgency on my management team's part that really turned my screws about the whole situation. I called back and forth between two offices, perhaps, 15 times before the matter got resolved.

When I got to work yesterday, my GM apologized for the mix-up. Her undertone with the matter was to implicate the individual who packed my things, saying that he had a few complaints already against him. I did my best not to press the issue, only because that wasn't where I felt the competency lacked. Later that day, I found out the package was mis-delivered. Again. They resolved the matter, but because I found no one had told me, I was a little more infuriated.

Then I got reprimanded for another separate incident where I went over her head to get an answer from our corporate office. Or it seemed, at least, to her.

So I thought before I answered. It would be unwise for me to pass the buck on what transpired over the last day. And my other reasons for leaving would be unfounded, because I would have to take issue at my old store. So I said my decision was purely professional. No need to burn bridges now. Or ever.

I handed my letter and smiled, keeping the conversation as light as possible. I decided to keep my future place of employment a secret for now. The only people that know are a few from my old job, and I won't make an official announcement until the last possible minute. I'm sure that my GM will tell my old store, then everyone over there will know before I get to say anything.

Sure enough, at the end of my shift one of my managers asked where I would be going. I said I would not be telling for now. She pressed, asking if it was a financial decision. I said it was. Then she asked if I would be doing the same thing-- selling. It was at this point I tried to end the conversation. I told her that despite my decision, I really respected her style of management.

This took her by surprise. She smiled as she held the door open for me. I offered my help over the next two weeks, mentioning to let me know if they want me to end my employment sooner, and that I would understand.

My walk home felt good for a change. I feel good about this decision, albeit the suddenness. And I decided that I wouldn't be making any more moves for a while. Not for the next couple of years, anyway.

Unless I get offered a part in a movie.