It's Q3 2024 already (if your FY is Jan-Dec)
While my year has not concluded I can already summarize it in one aspect.
Onboarding year.
In December 2023 I changed jobs & joined a new organisation in the Retail industry with the largest furniture company.
I went through the typical 6 months probation/onboarding for new hires-
where HR inducted me to the 8 core values & introduced other formalities, Ashley delegated me interesting tasks & looped me into projects,
my assigned buddy Colin helped me settle down. Made more Digital co-worker friends; Jason, Sue Ann, Nhi, KJ, Justin, the Insight guys etc. Went for lunch daily with the crews. I experienced Front Days where I got to be AFK for 3 days to join store co-workers selling during peak days.The company policy inhibits PTO utilisation during probation so I had to soldier through the longest unbreakable working stretch I ever had. But it’s good environment & spirit was high. A forward-dated confirmation letter was issued by HR. Approaching my probation completion date, in response to market challenges- a business restructuring exercise was announced where my entire team was part of the casualty. My first taste of a career upset after escaping couple of layoffs through my work history.
While my year has not concluded I can already summarize it in one aspect.
Onboarding year.
In December 2023 I changed jobs & joined a new organisation in the Retail industry with the largest furniture company.
I went through the typical 6 months probation/onboarding for new hires-
where HR inducted me to the 8 core values & introduced other formalities, Ashley delegated me interesting tasks & looped me into projects,
my assigned buddy Colin helped me settle down. Made more Digital co-worker friends; Jason, Sue Ann, Nhi, KJ, Justin, the Insight guys etc. Went for lunch daily with the crews. I experienced Front Days where I got to be AFK for 3 days to join store co-workers selling during peak days.The company policy inhibits PTO utilisation during probation so I had to soldier through the longest unbreakable working stretch I ever had. But it’s good environment & spirit was high. A forward-dated confirmation letter was issued by HR. Approaching my probation completion date, in response to market challenges- a business restructuring exercise was announced where my entire team was part of the casualty. My first taste of a career upset after escaping couple of layoffs through my work history.
I was out of work by the time my onboarding completed.
I immediately pursued a low hanging fruit opportunity and secured new role by mid year.
And now in another 6 months onboarding cycle with the national courier.
Going through HR inductions and learning their 6 core values, trying to make new work friends, learning the job/business, the whole shebang.
Part of the onboarding experience was the 'check ride' where we tagged along in delivery vans sending parcels to customer addresses - very interesting.
So far I feel like the work-life balance here is better. But I realize it's still too early to tell.
I am more cautious of any attachment with the workplace as the Tech job market is harder to read & job security is myth now.
It has become more a popular approach for corporations to let go staff as an immediate way to bring down operation cost and register profit.
In consultant-speak :trimming, getting lean, combining cost centers, etc.
Two unplanned onboarding cycles in a year.
While I am appreciative of having a job at times it feels like a drag and I need to psyche myself up to work another day.
There are moments I'm even counting days for retirement- 20 odd years to go (if I make it).
But post-retirement is another beast of its own. No way of telling how ours will be.
Recently I saw someone write: The salary is the monthly subscription company pays for services you rendered to them.
Apt way to put it!
I immediately pursued a low hanging fruit opportunity and secured new role by mid year.
And now in another 6 months onboarding cycle with the national courier.
Going through HR inductions and learning their 6 core values, trying to make new work friends, learning the job/business, the whole shebang.
Part of the onboarding experience was the 'check ride' where we tagged along in delivery vans sending parcels to customer addresses - very interesting.
So far I feel like the work-life balance here is better. But I realize it's still too early to tell.
I am more cautious of any attachment with the workplace as the Tech job market is harder to read & job security is myth now.
It has become more a popular approach for corporations to let go staff as an immediate way to bring down operation cost and register profit.
In consultant-speak :trimming, getting lean, combining cost centers, etc.
Two unplanned onboarding cycles in a year.
If there's Onboarding fatigue, I'm probably having it.
There are moments I'm even counting days for retirement- 20 odd years to go (if I make it).
But post-retirement is another beast of its own. No way of telling how ours will be.
Recently I saw someone write: The salary is the monthly subscription company pays for services you rendered to them.
Apt way to put it!
