Tag Archives: work

do you love your job?

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For the first time in years the other night, honey asked me how my day was, and I said “good”.  I didn’t sigh and talk about the things I couldn’t get done, I didn’t use the word “stressful”, and I didn’t say “I’m just always so busy”.  I had a good day.  Because finally, I love my  job again.  It’s been a few years and a lot of hard work, but I’m there.

For awhile I had been feeling like I was doing two jobs – managing a decently sized team of fundraisers and managing my own large event(s).  It was overwhelming and exhausting, but I work with very good people and for an organization doing very important work, so I stuck with it.  I pushed through too many long and isolating days and I turned down too many fun after work and weekend activities with friends.  Then, in January, we made it official and hired someone to do my “second” job.  What a difference it makes.  For everyone – maybe mostly for the people who ask me “how’s work” and no longer get an earful about how busy I am.

Don’t get me wrong – there is still plenty to do.  But it’s manageable and I feel like I have the time and brainpower to do it well.  I feel like I can finally support the team and plan for the future.  Yes… today I love my job.  And that feels really good.

pins and needles

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I’m on them.  Of course you were offered two jobs.  Why wouldn’t you be offered both?  Hats off, Bridgems.  You have found your calling.

On negotiations and such.  Ugh.  Such a tough topic.  I’m a lot of talk here, but it’s just that – a lot of talk.  When it comes to our own self worth, our own conversations, our own perks and benefits, it quickly becomes awkward and uncomfortable.  You have got to stand up for yourself, though.  It’s a dog eat dog world (or, a doggy dog world – did you see that episode of Modern Family?) and everybody is trying to get less for more.  I don’t think there are many hiring managers thinking to themselves, “we’ve got the cash – let’s offer her more than the minimum”.

Get it, girl.  You and your trips to Cali, and HELLO???? TRIPS TO WASHINGTON, are worth it.

Social work – Manager?

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So, jobs. Negotiating contracts. Simultaneously. Now, I know some people are taught how to do this. But generally women, and social workers, are not. So, when I caught myself making a joke that felt so incredibly pompous (“I wish I had a manager”) I also found myself frustrated that teaching women how to talk about/stand up for/feel entitled to what they deserve in compensation still isn’t happened. Come on. IT’S 2013. 

I am being offered tow positions that are not new social worker jobs. They are senior social worker positions. By the grace of god and a hell of a lot of hard work, folks think I can do these things now. That does not mean they get to pay me a base salary that they would offer someone doing a less specialized job. 

And. It is so hard for me to say, with a straight face, and no guilt, I need more money. Period. The stories of “you’re lucky to have a job” and “that’s more than many people make” are practically deafening and the reality that I do not do this for the money is obvious. But, I do want to be able to pay my bills, put more towards my 6 figure student loan bill, save a little, buy nice present for my dear ones, and fly back and forth to California occasionally. This is not a crazy list of demands. 

So, I gathered some advice from my dad, translated it into Bridget talk, and made some calls. The asks have been made and time will tell. And, truthfully, I hope the time goes by slowly because there is a third option that I would really like to manifest. More on that later. 

In the meantime, we wait. And, as always, I am ever grateful, humbled, and in awe. 

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i hella heart home.

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It just feels so good to walk through that front door sometimes.  No, my shower isn’t as fancy as the W, and no, I won’t have a king sized bed to myself.  But.  My doggy jumps up and down when I come home, my honey laughs harder than me when New Girl comes on, I can have coffee as soon as I wake up (and it’s Philz – duh), and I always have the right makeup brushes handy.

It was an energizing week of meetings and conference, but I also think my blood pressure spiked at least three times each day (ahhhh, the “to do” list grows so fast when you’re surrounded by great ideas).  I couldn’t be more happy that I have a day to pull the last seven together – think massive Outlook cleanup – and then, the weekend.  I get to plan date night tomorrow, so we are going on the Great Wheel. And no, he doesn’t read this blog, so it’ll be a lovely surprise.

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Report from the road

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Things are well in New Orleans. Day 1 of the conference down. My poster presentation went well and I was able to have a number of interesting conversations about my work and endless opportunities for networking. I started the day listening to my teacher and mentor at BI receive a lifetime a achievement award and wrapped it up eating BBQ with some of my favorite professors and peers from NYU. Being here will end up being a really good thing… It already has.

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It’s hard for me to imagine that I am just making my way to re year mark of graduating. Often while talking, I have to remind myself and humble myself to the fact that I am so young in my career. Something about my passions and my height allows me to deliver information with NIH more authority than is warranted by my short time in the world (rap in the face of folks who STARTED the field). So, while I eat humble pie before jumping into bed, I also feel, as per usual, just so blown away and fortunate that the world of work has opened to me in this way. And that I have had the capacity and commitment to walk through the doors.