Do I even want to do this? I suppose.
Here's the problem with writing: when you do it, you can't do much else. For example, I sort of want to brush my teeth right now. But if I start writing this recap, that gets paused. I typically like to write all at one go, so let's see how this works.
2022 started innocently enough, I guess. I was working at the EBC and it was coming along nicely. It was stable and I was doing a great job supporting my team. The hopes were to continue and play the long game: do a good job and come new fiscal year in July, that headcount would open up and maybe I get converted to FTE. Trouble with that is, that is always the game and it seems to always be the carrot that is dangled. But I was happy and financially, it was working.
Come mid-Jan, I see an Instagram post from a friend I used to work with at the MS store. She worked for Amazon and indicated she needed people to work for her. With the folks I was supporting at the EBC, I was always telling them to get out of their comfort zone, network, look outward to grow their careers. Though I wasn't looking for a job, I decided to take my own advice. Which led to a phone call that was actually an interview, and then a job offer that I couldn't refuse as it was about $25k more a year.
I tried to get MS to meet me, but their budget was already spent, so I put in my two weeks and made the move.
I started at the organization at the World's Largest Online Store on Feb 7 and it was interesting to say the least. I was a Project Manager, but with no real PM experience, I tried going into the job with an open mind. There was little to no ramp up and it was just strap in and hang on. Lots of calls, an onsite my second week (in Seattle), and tons of meeting new people.
I learned quickly that the majority of my team was female and in their early 30's. The culture of Amazon was different from MS as well. Everyone seemed to be GO GO GO and if you couldn't keep up, well, that was your problem. As a result, I struggled. There was so much ambiguity with the role, and supporting something that I had 0 experience in (our software platform), and then being told I couldn't talk to the primary people I needed to interface with (they were above my paygrade) made it challenging to say the least.
One aspect my role had that was completely new to me was travel. This job had a good amount of travel and my first trip was in April, to San Francisco (first time!). On that trip, I got a come to Jesus talk from my manager, which wasn't unexpected. I had been struggling with imposter syndrome and the vagueness of the role expectations. It was a good talk and gave me some direction that I was missing.
Anyway, rather than go over all the minutia, let's go bullet point style the rest of the way.
- Cities visited: San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston, Las Vegas
- Cities offered to visit: Chicago (had just gotten back from DC), Singapore (did not have passport)
- Cool things seen/done/eaten in:
- San Francisco:
- Downtown area. Little sketchy in spots. Poop on the streets. Did a walkaround and saw areas that were nice, others not so nice.
- Giants baseball stadium and Warriors basketball arena. Did a run one afternoon and saw those sights. Was on the water somewhere and shot some video for Ted to hopefully listen to as it was just before he passed.
- Bonded with Lisa and Crystal.
- Washington DC:
- Reminded me of the Division 2. Really cool.
- Ate my first night at a great Italian restaurant named Sfogalina (I think).
- Went running and saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, White House. Saw a police motorcade for something.
- One of my colleagues, Perry, worked for TFG and his stories were interesting, to say the least.
- Bonded with Heather, Marta, Trenae.
- Boston:
- Walked to Chinatown from the hotel to meet for team dinner.
- Went for a run to Fenway Park and back.
- Had a lobster roll at a seafood restaurant.
- Bonded with Mari and Stephanie, both of whom I'll probably never see again.
- Las Vegas:
- Never been there, probably never go back.
- Was great to be there and have someone else pay for it.
- Crazy and way too hyper for me.
- Ran a 5k, was super boring.
- Bonded with Heather, Brittany, Marisa and Audrey, all of whom I'll probably never see again.
- I need some guardrails. Being given a treasure map with an X to start and no context is not great for me. Hold my hand a little, and then let me loose.
- Discovery management method is not for me. If I am coming to you for help, I expect help, not an interview. I am already feeling lost; your questions (though well-intentioned) just undermine my confidence even more.
- The extra money is great, but it's not everything. Though I hear there is drama at the EBC, I think staying there with less $ but more stability (ongoing work, etc), would've been the prudent move.
- Would I have done the jump knowing what I know now? That's a tough one to answer. I think overall, yes. Lots of new experiences and processes for myself, despite being on the cusp of being unemployed. But being unemployed will be temporary and I will come out the other side with something even better.
