I know, I know - - get in line!

Is it really too much to ask for, though?

I have worked in a start-up biomedical devices company as the third person hired and took care of everything from office equipment to HR to supporting the CEO.  I really liked my boss, and the company grew but eventually floundered and the Board of Directors fired him.  I became what I called "The Executive Assistant to the Empty Office on Your Right."

I worked for the CEO of a $6 billion company who was a heavily-politically-connected guy, and he gave me the assignment of drafting a letter to go out to all of his contacts, indicating why they should vote for a certain presidential canidate whom I despised.  That boss walked by my desk every single morning and never said hello to me.  I also once received an inter-office envelope for him marked "Confidential" but as an EA, I had always opened any piece of mail for all of my previous bosses.  I learned my lesson there, though.....there were pictures of a nude woman in the envelope!  Ack!  He also had me send flowers to his girlfriend constantly......and telling me to never let his wife see his bank statements. 

Seriously, I left after three months.

That was a looong time ago, though.

My last job (at a pharmaceutical company), I loved.  I was brought on as a temp in a newly-created position, but considering the fact that I was supporting an entire floor of people - 63, to be exact! - I could tell that if I did a great job, they would keep that position and hopefully hire me permanently.  (This was when I was soooooo MIA a year ago.  I was crazy-busy supporting all of those people!!)  Well, after four months they did tell me that they would be offering me the job and the VP of HR gave me a salary range with a $10,000/year swing, saying they'd be giving me an offer letter the next week.  A $10k swing was huge and I'd never had that kind of scenario going into a new job - I always knew what the salary would be.  But - that was the way they were doing it, so I played along.

You know you shoot for the high end, but expect to land in the middle, right?  Well, the very next week, I met with the VP of HR who handed me the letter.  He didn't offer me the high end.  And he didn't offer me the middle.  Guesss what?  He didn't even offer me the LOW end!  He offered me $5,000 below the low!!  A $15,000/year swing!!  And it was literally less than I had been making as a contractor there!

I was SO disappointed, but since I had no health insurance, I had to accept the position for the benefits, but called my recruiter the very same day to begin a job search.

I am the sole provider for my daughters.  You've heard me say this before - no child support, no alimony.  I pay the mortgage, property taxes, every single bill and half of their catholic school tuition. Not one dime comes to me from my ex-husband.  I've been making it on my own for two years now.

Therefore, I couldn't live off of what the company was offering - it was a miserable existence that I didn't share the full details about with anyone.  It was too humiliating. I still get teary when I recall what life was like...

My recruiter landed me a job at a company paying me a good salary and benefits, and although pretty much zero vacation time, nice co-workers. 

I love everyone here.......except my boss.

How hard is it to be nice? 

Honestly.  A serious question to be posed.

Is it that difficult??

I am a very hard worker.  I am great at what I do. My resume is wonderful and I have many recommendations on LinkedIn. I'm honest.  I'm kind.  I'm a team player.  I'm always in a good mood - a very consistent character.

I'm also a perfectionist.  Are you a perfectionist?  If you are, then you know that if you goof up something, you kick yourself and it bugs you, right?  Well, if you are a perfectionist and someone comes to you constantly telling you you've done something wrong and you *haven't* - well, that's just crazy-making!  And the moodiness and rudeness...  It's just so unnecessary.  Total Jekyl and Hyde.

I have taken to sending myself emails every time my boss says or does something bizarre or unkind or unprofessional, like blowing up at me for asking a simple question...and after I aked it, he could see that it was a legitimate question.  But no apologies for his outburst (pounding his fist on the desk, asking if I needed to take notes...even though I wasn't going to ask him to repeat anything...just a simple clarification question).  I'm constantly walking on eggshells around him.

An EA is someone's right-hand person...yet I avoid being near him at all costs.  I'm just not used to that.

Anyway, I'm venting. Ranting.  I don't usually do that here, but I am so frustrated!

How hard is it to find a nice boss??

Am I asking too much? 

Where are the nice guys or gals?

And believe me, working in Venture Capital, I see lots of seemingly nice CEOs coming in to present their business plan.  They are friendly and humble. 

Where are the nice start-up guys looking for a talented Executive Asistant, and willing to pay them well??  And why in the heck can't I find them??? 

Hellooooooo!!!! 

Nice CEOs!!!!!! 

Nice EA for HIRE!!!!!!

^{~oh, boo-hoo, poor me.  I know, I know... ~}

^{(sorry for the rant...thanks for listening)}