Not that I was surprised by a word of it… given my demotion was already announced… but seeing that I scored “below expectations” hurt. I wish my work was ALL below expectations because then it would feel better deserved… like, if they though all of my work was a solid 2 of 5, how could I feel bad about getting that score? I’d feel bad that I suck at my job, but not saddened by the score itself.
What made the review hurt so much is the callouts of the good work I did in the year. Yes, the same year I worked from home in a pandemic while pregnant with a 2 year old screaming because we couldn’t have my father-in-law come over for childcare and we couldn’t risk putting my son in daycare since both my husband and I would probably die if we got COVID. Yes, that year.
Had I been a perfect employee before this year then I guess I’d have some sort of case — but let’s get real. I was on a PIP last year that I managed to work my way out of, but then things went downhill fast. And my boss reminded me that I’m not a leader and will never be a leader. While she’s not my direct boss now (I’m layered into her at this point) she is clearly not interested in interacting with me and will do so only when absolutely necessary for a project. I don’t blame her for it. I’m a frustrating person to work with. I know she really wants to fire me, but my guess is that between having just come back from leave that HR convinced her to give me a few more months and a role with less responsibility (sort of) so it would be easier to let me go next year should I get another horrible review.
It doesn’t really matter at this point — I know I can’t stay. They don’t want me to stay. My compensation is fine, it’s more that they know what they’re doing in providing raises and stock refreshes $0 of anything is all I need to know. And they are doing me a huge favor keeping me employed this year (as long as I do my work) so I can transition out without getting fired, as long as I don’t wait too long to do so. Though I really don’t have any references I can put down for a new job… which means… I can’t get a new job. Like, ever? Maybe someone will just be impressed by my background and not want to talk to my former bosses? I’m pretty screwed. I can’t leave. I can’t stay.
All I can do is try to do good work this year. I don’t know how I get a new job. I honestly don’t think I can.
My new boss and I have a weird relationship. He’s really great at functioning in this corporate environment. I’m learning from him how to do that better. But I’ll never be him. I don’t fit here. I don’t know where I fit or what I should do next. My new role supposedly has me focused on some of the things I do best but it’s pretty clear my management skills and communication skills are not going to cut it. Every meeting I’m in and running I just feel like an idiot. I’m trying really hard to not talk much and help make sure everyone else gets to talk, but then I am not running the meeting effectively by moving things along and ensuring that we aren’t wasting the whole meeting listening to a few people share their ideas.
I’m just frustrated. Because I don’t know how to be better. I’m trying and maybe they’ll see slight improvements and that’s enough to get me to the end of the year and another 2 on my next performance review… 3 if I make absolutely no mistakes. I’m sure I’ll make mistakes. I already have. I need a fresh start. New job. People I’ve never worked with before. And then I need to figure out how to fake another personality. Which is never sustainable. But I need to throw out my typical joking self and just come across as serious and as a dependable worker. Somehow. I don’t want to leave this role and move to my next one until I’m ready for that.
It’s pretty bad now, though. I am fighting tears in every one-on-one. I asked my boss for feedback on my meeting today and told him I know I’m not good at meetings but I’m trying to get better. Thank god I’m working remote because I can kind of hide the tears. I don’t really want another job because I don’t want anyone else to take a chance on me and then be disappointed. At least now they know what they’re getting and they can kick me out at any moment. In a way that makes me feel better, because if I still have a job at least I know they feel my work is worth what I’m being paid based on that “below expectations” performer that I am with occasional good work. I mean, I’m not aiming for that. I’m TRYING to do good work. But I’m not a good employee. And that’s on me. But I’ve been demoted to a role requiring leadership again when I’m a horrible leader and will never be a leader, though I guess my boss now is the buffer between me and the leadership team, which means I’m not quite a leader, or – I don’t know. I’m an overpaid project manager? Anyway, 7 more months and then I guess I need to figure out what’s next.
All I know is I’m really fucking sad. I’m trying to stop caring and just do the work and do everything my boss is asking me to do. I’m hoping that’s enough. I’ll take another 2. But at this rate next year I’ll get a 1.
