Weeeeeell....
So, recently I quit my job at a global investment bank to join a small, local and recently established firm. I thought 'Why not?' as life was slowly seeping out of me due to stress and unpaid overtime, at the developed world's equivalent to a sweatshop. An acquaintance of mine, who I knew from a previous position and had hung out with a few times, told me about the job opening and I thought 'Okay, she likes it there and as far as I know, she's alright.'
Walked out of the interview with an offer, and accepted shortly after.
Now, I should have suspected something when she referred to it as working 'under' her, when in reality we were to be on the same level, doing the same thing. But I had nothing to lose, right? HAH! I was wrong...
It turns out this person has a rather odd view on how to get along with people.
Her - 'I'm just blunt.'
My brain - 'Uhmm, yeah, that's not an excuse for being a condescending douche.'
My mouth - 'Oh, well that's good, I guess.'
I will point out that I have no issues with taking direction and learning from someone 8 years my junior, but when they try to make it out like I'm thick, constantly nitpick and instantly shut down suggestions for improvement (that make ALL the sense), I'm checking out. Not to mention when they present me with a list of things I've done that they didn't like, including for example me asking another co-worker for advice, I'm not interested anymore. I can see myself reverting to caveman speech where she is concerned.
Mhmm, yeah and ok seem like the best vocabulary to utilise, in order to keep our small team on an even keel. And it's not just me who has this opinion... which makes me feel less insane and less of a horrible person. However, I am the poor sod who has to work closest to her.
8 hours a day is a LOT of time to spend on edge.
Everyone else is nice, and I like the job. So I'll probably just grin and bear it. Maybe she'll quit in a few years. ;)
So why am I ranting about this? I just needed to. And I also wanted to fish for stories from you lot. I could use a strategy to avoid any more agitation.
Have you ever had to work closely with someone who rubbed you the wrong way? What happened?
Over and out, and TGIalmostF.