Twice before I have made a bid to move from [Information Analyst] in 'Trim and Finish' over to [Mechantronics] where my heart and skillsets lie. Twice I have been politically grabbed and thrust back into this position, being told all sorts of tripe to try and mollify me.
This time, *everything* is different! I posted for a Level 5 (that's a promotion from my current position!) and actually got my interview - without attracting attention to myself. Thus far, that position (under the CIO - IT liaison to the shop manufacturing floor) is looking promising - the CIO said some pretty encouraging things in the last week, and other people have dropped in to wish me luck. Fantastic!
THEN the position over in Mechatronics - the one previously held by my best friend here before they sacrificed him to the deities of stupidity - has arrangeed for my interview on Monday afternoon/evening. Again, apparently without my supervisors or such knowing a thing. It may appear that surprise can work in my favor.
THEN I get a contact from my local TekSystems recruiter - Microsoft is trying to reach me. What the---? Are they sure? Yeah, it would seem that they want to (again) leverage my 97% Customer Satisfaction rate. Only this time, they want to make it permanent! Not S4, I have chills when I think about it!
I don't understand it. For the last three years I've been cast down into a position that I could neither lateral away from (as in from Information Analyst to Mechatronics Design Engineer) or promote (as in vertical, from Level 6 [entry level] to Level 5 [supervisory level]. I often referred to myself as "Engineering's Immovable Object, seeking an incoming Irresistable Force". And now it's all happening at once --- all at once! I was not prepared for any of this! Well, I have 34 years' experience in Electronics Design, Systems Development, Programming, and Operating System experience (including design and kernel programming), so I can't really say that I'm not prepared, exactly. I guess I should say "I never expected it" and in the case of Microsoft, "Never expected it again". Yet here we are. For one of those rare moments I am rendered speechless.
Nothing is written in stone, and the positions here within the company can easily be annulled by political means - and my current manager is nothing if not political. But if Microsoft is calling, my current manager holds no sway at all, political or otherwise... ...not bragging, just had to document it somewhere safe, where I can keep an eye on it. Sort of a snapshot, to remind me of the good times when the bad times creep in, to hold the depression at bay... |
