Whats been happening/Vindication
I’ve been on the hunt for a new job. I found a new job. I was offered the position. They did my background check and, because of bad record keeping at a previous employer, what I stated on my application and what came back through verification did not match. They pulled the offer. Ok…what the hell. No discussion, no nothing…they just pulled it. This happens at an organization that really needs someone NOW and clearly doesn’t place value on discussion and assuming innocense. I guess in the end, its probably a good thing I didn’t go there. For all the presentation of being a reasonable, logical, and discussion based organization, I think the action shows that that may not actually be the culture.
So, I feel vindicated. I was able to find that the records are inaccurate at my previous employer and to get someone to admit to the error. That makes me feel better because having the offer yanked out from under me really made me think that I had missed something and I’m sure it gave the impression that I hadn’t been forthcoming. I feel a thousand times better because I was able to cast a reasonable doubt on any suspicion like that. At the end of the day, that really made me feel better. I did something I probably shouldn’t have at this point: I BCC’d the person who had interviewed me. I don’t expect it to change anything and I’m really not sure I’d want it to change anything because of the questions I now have about the organizational culture. But I do have some takeaways from the experience:
1) Now I know for certain what will be reported for all employers in the future so this can’t possibly happen again.
2) I know to look deeper in to culture when I interview in the future. I only gave it a cursory glance because I was wowed with the presentation. That was a mistake.
3) I’ve found that I’ve undervalued myself. I say this without ego…I really had a low opinion of myself. I’ve come to find through my references and some things that have been said that I’m regarded as more competent and valuable than I had imagined. Its been extremely humbling and rewarding to learn these things. I should take my own advice and capitalize on my strengths instead of focusing on weaknesses…I’m my own worst enemy.
4) I have some allies I didn’t know about.
5) Don’t allow a shiny new opportunity to blind you to whats right in front of you.
Everything happens for a reason. Now I start a new chapter and see how I do.