cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/34251508
I resigned a few months ago from my first post-graduation position as a lawyer in a major public institution where I had previously interned. When I arrived at the job, I started helping senior-lawyers as my main task. After an atypical re-shuffle, I —still the newest hire— was handed an entire senior-level portfolio while also being required to keep assisting every colleague in the unit. My deputy head then began sending me (and only me) on out-of-state trips without coverage, leaving my own files untouched. Workdays stretched past twelve hours as unfinished tasks from others were routinely left on my desk. When I flagged the overload, he blamed my competence; when I took certified medical leave, he publicly threatened to replace me. For all the above, I then began to take my time, if I was already the last to leave, I started to clear myself talking to my colleagues time to time, to go out and smoke a couple of times and arrive 10 or 15 minutes later than usual (also taking into account that the official entry time was at 8 and my boss could arrive until 10, then he made us arrive at 10 and, therefore, leave later), but always finishing my job; things that did not seem to my boss and he started complaining about them. Exit negotiations turned hostile, and I ultimately chose health and dignity over an unsustainable role.
Now, after a couple of months, I need the job back because of economic and personal problems. I would not be with the same boss, but in order to get the job back, I would have to talk to my former boss first, because she will be asked if my job was good while I worked with her and if she had any problems with me.
Any recommendations to talk to her?
⬆️ UPDATE: I talked to my former boss and she told me that she's gonna be honest when the boss ask to her about me. She told me the positive and the negative comments that she has about me and I think I have more positive comments than negative. Also, I think that the negative ones are not that bad.
Contacting your previous manager would likely be problematic, especially if you didn't leave on good terms. I would contact the new hiring manager and explain the situation, and that you would prefer minimal contact with your previous manager, if possible. Were any of the previous issues documented? That could be helpful now. Also if you could, contact any previous colleagues you had a good rapport with and ask them to give a recommendation for you.
Dumb question: wouldn't working anywhere else be better? I think back on all of my jobs and I would rather work at McDonald's than the one where I was paid $210k. Maybe there is something (even temporary) that can fill the gap while you find a better fit.
Yes, most likely. OP didn't give details, but maybe that's the only position in their area they are qualified for that offers a salary that meets their living expenses. There's also the possibility that the company is overall good to work for and it was just shitty manager/team they were stuck with before. I agree that taking a pay cut can oftentimes be better overall if the new job is easier to handle, but we all have bills to pay, and sometimes the lower salary just won't cut it.
That's exactly it! It's a good job, in a dream government institution in my country, with good payment (maybe long working hours), but overall is a good job. I just had the bad luck to be with a shitty manager.
Also, salaries are shit in my country, you can't even afford a room in an apartment and food at the same time with your first post-graduation job as a lawyer, so losing that job is a big loss.