a bittersweet victory

Over the past few weeks, I have had five different interviews for a promotion at work. This afternoon, I learned that I had been selected for the job. Before I was given my offer letter, my manager and the hiring manager explained that my raise was going to be less than normal because of the current economic climate. I nervously opened the envelope, and discovered that my raise was less than 20% of what I was expecting for this promotion. Considering the additional workload plus the extra time I'd have to spend learning the position, I wasn't exactly thrilled.

This promotion was within the team I'm already on. A meeting was called late in the afternoon, and I was told my promotion would be announced with a few other org changes. After all the org changes were announced in the meeting, someone raised their hand to ask our vice-president if the job I was vacating would be filled. The answer was "no". The reason, as you might have guessed, was "the economy".

The job I'm vacating is closely tied to the job to which I was promoted. What does that mean? You guessed it--I'll be doing two jobs for the foreseeable future. Actually, considering my responsibilities, it's more like three jobs. I've always had more responsibilities than any of my counterparts. You know--"stretch assignments". "Development opportunities". "Career opportunities". This burden is my "reward" for my hard work and sense of responsibility.

It's nice to be recognized for my efforts. It's nice to get a promotion and to beat the competition. It's nice to have a new title. Senior Manager--I'm so powerful now! Mua ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! It's nice to even have a job and a tiny bit of extra cash (and I do mean tiny), especially when so many people are losing their job or are in danger of losing their job.

It's not so nice to have to do three jobs. Or to be told about that minor detail after I accepted the new position. Congratulations, Steve-o.