Good News! / Update

[countrigal]

Many of you may remember my post(s) around the holidays about a position that I applied for and ultimately was not selected for, though it was looking good right up to the end.  Well, on Thursday of last week the HR office for the Regional Office (where the position was located) called and left a message to the effect that they were possibly going to offer me the position and would I be interested.  I called her back later that morning, again at lunch and that afternoon, again on Friday morning, and never got a return phone call.  Starting to worry, I located a general office number and spoke to someone (finally) who stated that the person who called me had left early on Thursday and it was her normal Fri off but that she'd be in again on Monday.  So I waited (barely! ) until Monday morning and again started calling.  By Tuesday morning, I again called the general number and spoke to someone again, just to find out that my contact was out on Jury duty (Chris, I'd have thought it was you except she's in MS not NY) and may not be in at all this week.  Luckily, this lady was willing to take my information down and talk to her supervisor to see if they could help me any.  So...  at 2:30pm yesterday afternoon, I got a phone call that offered me the position of Veterans Service Representative in the Regional Office, and I accepted.  It is at the lowest grade of the scale (GS-7) for the position, but since I'm already a VA employee, I get guaranteed the same pay I'm currently making until such time as I make it through the training process to the Grade where comparable salaries and raises are offered, which should be about 2 years.  In my present position, I'm at the point where the next step increase won't be for 2 years, so I really don't lose anything on that deal.  And I get away from my curretn supervisor and all the sh*t I've been dealing with here.  So I got the job!!!  

Which brings me to my question... When and how should I tell her (my supervisor) that I'm leaving?  I'm supposed to start there on March 6th.  I've only been verbally offered the position and won't have the official paperwork regarding all the specifics discussed on the phone yesterday until Friday at the earliest, and more likely next Tuesday, which drops it under 2 weeks, but since we generally start out new positions at the start of a pay day (and it's a 2-week pay period) that's really not that big of an issue or unheard of.  Part of me wants to simply be vindictive (to a point).  I mean, the next time she p*sses me off or tasks me with some stupid additional duty, I could simply state that I've had enough and that the 3rd will be my last day (and boy would that feel good and the look on her face would be priceless!).  Part of me wants to be kind to my co-worker and give my supervisor as much time as possible to start the process of hiring a replacement, which will take a minimum of 2 months from start to finish, so that my co-worker will be on her own for a minimum amount of time.  And part of me wants to walk into her office and simply state that the 3rd will be my last day and that I will be working until then on clearing everything off of my desk so that there is no "catch-up" required for anyone filling in until a replacement is hired.  Part of me wants to tell her where I'm going, part doesn't want to give her the knowledge. Part wants to tell her why I'm leaving, and part just wants to leave it at the fact that I'm leaving.  A big thing to remember, before advising me, is that our performance appraisals have already been done for the year (just completed this month) so I don't have to worry about what she'll say on my last performance appraisal from her, and no matter how I handle her, I won't really be burning bridges with this facility because I've worked with too many other (higher) managers and staff here that know my skills, my worth, and who will be very sad to see me leave and would welcome me back if I so desired -- and the right position was available.

So, what do y'all recommend I do?  Go for the pesonal gratification of telling her where to (figuratively) stick it?  Or take the high ground, grit my teeth, and tell her professionally when I'm leaving?  And do I tell her why I'm leaving and where I'm going to, or leave well-enough alone?  Advise please!!!

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[msmarieh]

First and foremost, congratulations on the job offer! How exciting for you!

As for the notice, I would wait until I had the offer letter officially in my hand before I said anything. I don't think it would be a big deal to give notice one day short of the full two weeks.

From what you have said, with it taking two months, a few days aren't going to make a lot of difference for your co-worker.

Marie

[Katie G]

First of all, CG, BIG HUGS and CONGRATULATIONS!  You've been in all of our thoughts and prayers, I'm sure. I'm so happy for you!  Isn't that light at the end of the tunnel gorgeous!

Frankly, I wouldn't say a word until you have something on paper.  Once you get it on paper, I'd write an icy-cold, ever-so-professional memo stating that you have accepted another position and that your last day will be X.  My thinking is that by removing all emotion and "heat" from it, she doesn't get the satisfaction of a "scene".  

I wouldn't mention where you're going, under the curcumstances.  Manily becasue it's none of her business.  You don't "owe" her anything.

The trick would be presenting it to her.  Maybe in a sealed envelope marked "confidential" and hand it to her simply saying, "X, this is my notice of resignation.  My last day will be March X.  We can set up a time shortly to discuss the transition."  And then have something else you need to deal with so you can get out of her office.  

Congratulations, again!  WooooooHoooo!

[dettu]

YOU GOT THE JOB! YOU DID IT! YAY!

I would wait until you have the offer on paper and then give notice. So it's a day or two short, so what.

[juspeachy]

Maybe the VA does it a little bit differently than the DON.  

In my case, the HR Office would call the Supervisor in my organization's Personnel Department to request a release date.  That would result in a call to my supervisor to see when he would release me.  Normally, they try to coincide release dates with the end of pay periods and they CAN hold you for 30 days if it isn't exactly a promotion.  

That said, perhaps it won't be a surprise to your supervisor that you are leaving.

JusPeachy

[diamondlady]

WoW! Congratulations!  See if it's meant to be really does hold up.

I agree with the others, wait until you have that official paperwork in your hands.  Besides it sounds like your going to be out of there soon enough.  Keep it highly professional.  Take the high road and make it on your terms.  

Again a big congratuations, well deserved!

BTW, jury duty is on hold if/when I receive another summons in the mail.  I did not get called for the last round.  Whew!  Still on call til May 7th, so this could happen multiple times until then.  But this last round I missed out on.

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

[donnap99]

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! ! ! !

I am sooo happy for you!!! I thought it was over and done - why the change? Or did I read wrong before?

Yeah, take the high road. I wish I could advise you to do what you really WANT to do, but I just can't in good conscious. Maybe you could right a story of how it goes down in your imagination and post it her for our enjoyment and your satisfaction!   ::evil smile::

DonnaP99

[Jackie G]

Congratulations on the job, and as ever, wait until you have it in writing before you say anything at the current place.

Be professional and don't be nasty.  Give in your notice and always remember you are the professional, even if your supervisor is not.  Leave on as good terms as you can, you never ever know when you might need or meet somebody in the future.

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[countrigal]

Thanks you all.  My original contact returned to the office today and finally returned my (many) calls.  She had not met with her supervisor yet to know that he and I had already talked, since he's been in and out of the office today, while she's playing catch up.  So now I have (just) received an e-mail confirmation of the offer and acceptance, so I really have something in hand now to go to my supervisor with.  And yeah, I guess I'll have to go in and take the high road, be cooly professional and let her know I'm leaving... but man it would be so satisfying to go the other route.

Donna, no, you didn't mis-read previous posts.  They had hired the folks they wanted, but the way it was presented to me was that they were making additional selections from that group and I was included on the second list.  My father's thoughts are that when HR saw the "reason" that I wasn't hired, and that it wasn't strong enough, then they "suggested" that I be reconsidered in order to keep any legal actions being taken.  That's a possibility, but I really don't care why I'm offered another chance, I'm just tickled to death to be offered it.

As for the release date... this is basically just like if I was going from the Hospital here to another outside office, they don't have to negotiate the release date with my supervisor.  Now if it was another position within the hospital, or with another VA hospital, then yes, they'd do that.  But this is like switching companies, though all of it under the VA umbrella, so they get to choose a start date and let me accept or not, and my supervisor just deals with it.  Especially in this position, as there is educational opportunities that I have to attend early in my hiring there, in order to be able to do the job.  They need to get me on board, through all the red-tape, and scheduled for this training ASAP, as the classes are only offered at set times through the year.

I am HYPED!  This really makes my year, so far.  Thank you to everyone who helped me through this, with your thoughts, wishes, prayers, comments and suggestions.  The job may take me away from this site a bit more, but I'll never really leave.  Y'all really help a lady keep positive, keep even-keeled, and you have all kept me from doing what I dreamt of doing -- but all for my benefit.

YIPPEE!!!!  And now I get to go talk to my supervisor... should prove interesting.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[diamondlady]

Let us know how "the talk" goes!  Good luck!


Go get 'em!


Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

[countrigal]

Well, I survived the talk.  She even tried to pretend to be happy for me.  I stressed to her that I would do everything I could to get all of my desk cleared off and everything up-to-date so that when I leave there is nothing "old" that anyone needs to handle.  We'll see if she allows me the time or if she continues to task me with meddlesome things to do during the next 2 weeks.  Oh, and she wants to be sure that I have another co-worker help me with some of the work, since she'll be doing it after I'm gone until someone new is hired.  Should prove interesting, since this same co-worker was to cover on both my maternity leaves and didn't do sh*t, and never made herself available to help me or learn from me.  Oh well, that light sure looks bright at the end of the tunnel.

Have a great evening y'all!

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[Katie G]

"She even tried to pretend to be happy for me. "

*snort!*  Y'know CG, your slightly evil side is a real hoot!

[misslynn]

Congrats!!!  That's so wonderful, I know you were really hoping for that job.  I'm glad to hear that you did talk with your boss and giving her advance notice.  It's an amazingly small world, the toes you step on today can kick you in the rear tomorrow.

[hgray]

Many many congratulations CG - it's been a while coming, but you thoroughly deserve it.

H.

[raindance]

This is truly WONDERFUL news, CG.  Many, many congratulations and I wish you every success in your new post.

I love the bit about your current supervisor: "She even tried to pretend to be happy for me."  Hehehe.  I bet she's spittin' tacks. Never mind, she'll soon be well off your radar.

Cakes for tea, then, eh?

Best wishes,

Raindance