I love the I-hate-my-job threads, I really do. Ordinarly I hate my job, but now that I have a new one I love, I need to talk about it a bit. This is probably one of the more mundane and pointless threads today, but indeed, I Must Share it.
It’s at a medium-sized suburban city. I used to work for the city next door to this one, so I kind of know the drill of government employment. But this new job is nothing like that old yucky job at that old yucky city. It – the new job – rocks.
My title is Budget Document Coordinator, and I’m responsible for producing the city’s 300-pg. budget document. Part of the job is word processing (which I kind of enjoy) but most of it seems to be Project Management, which is a new thing for me. This is easily the most “responsible” position I’ve held. I’m essentially running this thing, acting as team leader of 5 Budget Analysts, setting the schedule, assembling and editing the document (with a good bit of creative control), coordinating with the printer, and getting it (the first draft) approved by various department directors before it gets submitted to City Council. Simultaneously I’m producing a detailed Production Manual for future budgets, although I hope the future budget producer will in fact continue be me.
I’ve never been treated better when arriving at a new job. Before my first day, I actually had a computer login, a key card, voicemail and email accounts, all necessary applications installed on the computer, and a big cubicle with really high walls. Usually it takes weeks for a manager to work out these details for a new employee; at least that’s been my previous experience.
Unfortunately it’s a contract job, lasting thru February or March with a brief break in the middle. Still, it’s such a relief not to have to worry about employment for that length of time. Also unfortunately, it’s a nasty drive home (the morning commute isn’t so bad) but I’ve just recently gotten into Books On Tape, so the time will at least be put to good use.
The pay – by my standards – is effing FANTASTIC.
I have not been so happy starting out in a new job in many, many years. It’s great to have (non-crushing) RESPONSIBILITY. I’m thinking about 50 things at once, and the day just flies by. My last job was actually in a mailroom, so imagine the contrast between utterly robotic mindless work and actually having something interesting to do.
I’m just thrilled.