Author Topic: just resigned :(  (Read 4244 times)

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just resigned :(
« on: Oct 29, 2006, 01:05 am »
I just ended my season contract early. I offered to stay for the next production to ease their search for a replacement, and have acted professionally, like nothing happened, while finishing my current contract. I offered my notice because the company went through a LOT of changes, including a new staff (for the most part), and the new staff has been treating me poorly -- even cussing me out.

The problem is I am over-qualified for the position but new to my particular branch of the industry. I am not confident my bosses boss will give me a good referral should a company contact her about me, even though she isn't on my references list. 

I have never left a position before, and I am starting to regret doing it, even if I will be happier out of that situation.

words of wisdom?

At the request of the original poster, this message has been edited substantially to remove all specific information.  We've retained the thread, though, as there are some great pieces of advice. -- PSMK
« Last Edit: Nov 04, 2006, 07:03 pm by PSMKay »

Mac Calder

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Re: just resigned :(
« Reply #1 on: Oct 29, 2006, 04:21 am »
Unfortunatly, sh!t happens. It is always a bugger. My first suggestion, would be to write a letter to your bosses boss. Something along the lines of

Quote
Dear xxx

I feel that I must explain further the reasons for my early termination of contract with your company. It seems that a largely untrue version of events has been floating arround the grape vine and I wish to clear this issue up with you, to make sure that there are no bad feelings at your end.

I found myself in a rather poor situation X months ago, where after the rather radical restructure, and the introduction of new staff, I was treated with less than adequate respect. I appreciate that the situation was highly stressful, and that tempers were frayed, however I found the attitude of a number of new staff inappropriate. I was employed by your company as an Intern, a position that I feel I was overqualified for, yet gave my all to. A part of being an Intern is that it is largely an educational position. I should not have been expected to 'hand hold' the stage manager - and I certainly should not have been blamed when the stage manager made a mistake.  I am certainly not employed to face verbal abuse - especially infront of my peers. That is unprofessional, and unacceptable.

I feel that I acted professionally throughout my term with the company, even going above and beyond the call of duty on many an occasion, and to find such untrue and unjustified rumours circulating is distressing.

I hope that should anyone come to you, after hearing these rumours, that you will correct them, and help to clear my name.

Kindest regards
....

I would keep it polite and formal, let them know that the information is false, ask them to help clean it up.

If that fails to stop her spreading the rumours, call her up. Keep a written transcript, or have someone listen on the other line.

The main thing is to keep civil during this and to keep records.

Then, if she is still spreading false rumours, threaten to take her to court - suing for lible and professional damages. If it persists, file with the court. $30,000 or so is probably a fair amount - the work you have lost, plus future losses.

ljh007

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Re: just resigned :(
« Reply #2 on: Oct 31, 2006, 08:46 am »
I'm so sorry that you're going through this! It sounds like you smartly removed yourself from a bad employment situation - and good for you. This is a dificult choice to make, and comes with lots of mixed emotions. You'll probably doubt your action for a while. But I'm sure you gave a lot of thought to this decision, and didn't just huff out the door spontaneously one day. It's like dumping a bad boy/girlfriend - you love them and might miss them, but you decided over time that the relationship was bad enough to call it all off. It will take a while to get over. Let yourself be sad/bored/angry, but also celebrate your liberation. You were the smart mouse that got off the ship before it sank.

Now, about this lousy boss... First, I would wonder what kind of conversations are actually happening in which she is blacklisting you to other companies. It is extremely unusual for Big Cheese to call up Impressive Boss and say "hey, by the way, this Stage Manager is a horrible person and bad worker and you should never hire them," and Impressive Boss says, "oh, gosh, OK." Usually, when someone tries to speak against another professional, it reflects badly on the speaker and really doesn't affect the reputation of the worker in question at all. I know, opera is a small field in which everybody seems to know everybody. But it is also filled with plenty of executive drama and staff turnover turmoil. This too shall pass. Keep a high profile so people can see you are not ashamed and not afraid of the rumours being spread by Nasty Boss. Keep going after jobs, and take a small show or anything where you can show off your mad SM skills to remind yourself that you rock at what you do. Are you considering moving/travelling/touring for more opera SM gigs? If the boss is making it really hard to continue in your town, you truly might need to move to nurture your career in a different climate.

You'll get through this, and they'll be sorry to have lost you. I promise!

DeeCap

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Re: just resigned :(
« Reply #3 on: Nov 01, 2006, 10:58 am »
I am sorry that this is happening to you. I do believe that you would regret staying instead of leaving.
This too, shall pass. In a few months this will be a memory and you'll be better for it.

(One has to think, what kind of person curses out another person in front of everyone???)

centaura

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Re: just resigned :(
« Reply #4 on: Nov 04, 2006, 10:01 am »
I'll follow up with another keep-your-chin up.  I had to resign from a similar situation - I was an unpaid apprentice in a program and they had flat out lied to me about what the program was, and what I'd get out of it for the effort I put into the shows.  It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, but it was the best one for me.  I got out of a bad situation, and was open for a great oppurtunity that came later.

-Centaura