Last day on job of 14 years

[49erinnc]

Started working here part time in 1993, while I was a student in college. Came on full time after graduating and have been here ever since. Small company and the same 6 employees, including myself, since I began. So this is an extended family for me here. We've been through a lot of stuff, both personal and business, together.

I got a job offer a few weeks ago that was just too good to pass up. Today is my last day here and it's unbelievably surreal and depressing. I turned in my front door keys earlier and have cleaned out my desk. They're taking me out to a Japanese steakhouse for a going away lunch which will be nice but I'm pretty bummed. I'm doing the right thing by leaving but 14 years at one place is a LOOOOONG time. Especially when it was the first full time job you ever had.

 

[Casawi]

Think of the money man. You can always go hangout with those guys !

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

:beer:

 

[kevnich2]

What does the new job offer that the old or current job doesn't have?

 

[alkemyst]

so who's the new fry guy now?

 

[DT4K]

I felt the same way after 5 years at the same company. The only difference is that in the last year I was there, most of the other people I liked working with and hanging out with had also left. It was still a weird feeling to be leaving the first real career job I had.

 

[theknight571]

I hear ya.. but at least you're leaving because you want to, which is better than spending 14 years with a company then coming into work one morning and them telling you they don't need to anymore.

Which is what happened to me.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
What does the new job offer that the old or current job doesn't have?

Well, as much as I love working here and the people, it doesn't have much to offer as far as pay, benefits and growth. I've been here for 14 years without any 401K or dental. The medical benefits are good but the deductibles/copays are pretty high. No personal or sick days either. Only 7 holidays with one floating. I had 120 hours/year of vacation but it doesn't carry over here. But ultimately, I'm just maxed out here on position and pay. Because we're so small, there's no room for promotion. We're Swiss-owned and they already think we make too much money so I'll never increase my pay if I stay. My boss and the admin. assist. both took pay cuts last year actually.

New job starts me out around a 14% pay increase, has unbelievable benefits including 401K that matches up to 8%, paid dental, superb medical, life insurance, etc. Also starting me out with 2 weeks of paid vacation (carries over), 1 week of personal time (carries over), 10 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays. There are some other great perks too but ultimately, this is a place where I'll have a lot of room to grow in, both position and income.

It's the right move but it's just a huge contrast going from a place with 6 employees to one with 200. Not to mention, I'll be the supervisor of 7-9 people whereas currently, I supervise no one. So obviously, it's a big transition for me.

 

[TeeJay1952]

I spent 30 years with auto company. 17 years on last job. Had a great last day and have NEVER looked back. I guess it is the difference from a career and an occupation. I said many times over the years that If we never spoke unless you were being paid then we were acquaintances and not friends. I was friendly, just not friends.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
so who's the new fry guy now?

You are. Don't be late, or you'll be fired just like you were from DQ last week.

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc

Originally posted by: kevnich2
What does the new job offer that the old or current job doesn't have?

Well, as much as I love working here and the people, it doesn't have much to offer as far as pay, benefits and growth. I've been here for 14 years without any 401K or dental. The medical benefits are good but the deductibles/copays are pretty high. No personal or sick days either. Only 7 holidays with one floating. I had 120 hours/year of vacation but it doesn't carry over here. But ultimately, I'm just maxed out here on position and pay. Because we're so small, there's no room for promotion. We're Swiss-owned and they already think we make too much money so I'll never increase my pay if I stay. My boss and the admin. assist. both took pay cuts last year actually.

New job starts me out around a 14% pay increase, has unbelievable benefits including 401K that matches up to 8%, paid dental, superb medical, life insurance, etc. Also starting me out with 2 weeks of paid vacation (carries over), 1 week of personal time (carries over), 10 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays. There are some other great perks too but ultimately, this is a place where I'll have a lot of room to grow in, both position and income.

It's the right move but it's just a huge contrast going from a place with 6 employees to one with 200. Not to mention, I'll be the supervisor of 7-9 people whereas currently, I supervise no one. So obviously, it's a big transition for me.

Well you are definitely making a good choice, career wise. Small companies have their positives, people are USUALLY pretty nice but aside from that, they are very limiting. I just moved from a smaller company of about 40 office workers to a much larger international company but luckily this company still has the small company feel but with the big company benefits such as 401k, much better vacation package, much better pay and advancement.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
Started working here part time in 1993, while I was a student in college. Came on full time after graduating and have been here ever since. Small company and the same 6 employees, including myself, since I began. So this is an extended family for me here. We've been through a lot of stuff, both personal and business, together.

I got a job offer a few weeks ago that was just too good to pass up. Today is my last day here and it's unbelievably surreal and depressing. I turned in my front door keys earlier and have cleaned out my desk. They're taking me out to a Japanese steakhouse for a going away lunch which will be nice but I'm pretty bummed. I'm doing the right thing by leaving but 14 years at one place is a LOOOOONG time. Especially when it was the first full time job you ever had.

Wow, it must be a really great company to work for and you must have awesome employees for a company to have that kind of dedication and loyalty.

Good luck at your new job.

 

[Chaotic42]

I love my job. I'm going to be sad when I leave.

:beer: for you.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Today's my last day at my internship. I'm beyond saddened. Why? School's starting again... well I kinda look forward to school because I miss some of my friends and the fun times during the school year. At the same time I'm bummed I have to leave my most awesome team ever. We had the best night at Dave & Busters last night and they're a great group of friends. I'm praying I can get hired back next year when I do graduate. Of course all of them have already told me to come back and even to come back during my month long winter break... Some have even asked me to take a semester off. I'm hopeful I can see these guys again next summer.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Wow, it must be a really great company to work for and you must have awesome employees for a company to have that kind of dedication and loyalty.

Good luck at your new job.

Thanks. And yeah, I've remained here partly because I haven't had the drive/motivation to leave but mostly because I just really like the people here and the atmosphere. I honestly couldn't ask for a better boss. It's also super laid back. I can pretty much do my own thing here as long as I get my work done. I'll miss the little things like being able to leave work to watch a tournament college basketball game that my team is playing in, yapping to people on sites like this to help pass the day, listening to sports talk radio pretty much all day, coming in late if I want, leaving early if I need to with no questions asked and just having a good bit of quiet/down time. My new job is going to be far more demanding with very little to no idle time. I've been spoiled here though and I realize that most real jobs don't allow you to be so slack.

But yeah, it's sad because I'm not just leaving coworkers. I'm leaving friends, sibling figures, father figures, etc. These people know more about me than my own family. So it's just hard walking away from that. As as much as you'd like to believe you can continue to be close, that's usually easier said than done. Time tends to create a gap in those relationships that often grows. I'll remain close with one person because she lives near me but I likely won't see most of the others but 1-2 times a year if that. We just live really spread out and have totally different lives outside of work.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc

Originally posted by: kevnich2
What does the new job offer that the old or current job doesn't have?

Well, as much as I love working here and the people, it doesn't have much to offer as far as pay, benefits and growth. I've been here for 14 years without any 401K or dental. The medical benefits are good but the deductibles/copays are pretty high. No personal or sick days either. Only 7 holidays with one floating. I had 120 hours/year of vacation but it doesn't carry over here. But ultimately, I'm just maxed out here on position and pay. Because we're so small, there's no room for promotion. We're Swiss-owned and they already think we make too much money so I'll never increase my pay if I stay. My boss and the admin. assist. both took pay cuts last year actually.

New job starts me out around a 14% pay increase, has unbelievable benefits including 401K that matches up to 8%, paid dental, superb medical, life insurance, etc. Also starting me out with 2 weeks of paid vacation (carries over), 1 week of personal time (carries over), 10 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays. There are some other great perks too but ultimately, this is a place where I'll have a lot of room to grow in, both position and income.

It's the right move but it's just a huge contrast going from a place with 6 employees to one with 200. Not to mention, I'll be the supervisor of 7-9 people whereas currently, I supervise no one. So obviously, it's a big transition for me.

Good luck

I wouldn't expect to be at the new job 14 years though.

 

[TheSlamma]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Good luck

I wouldn't expect to be at the new job 14 years though.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: TheSlamma

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Good luck

I wouldn't expect to be at the new job 14 years though.

Nothing wrong with that.

Really? Why would you say that?

 

[BAMAVOO]

I have been at my current company for the last 20 years. It would really be awkward to go somewhere else.

It must be hard, but also a good feeling to better yourself.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: theknight571
I hear ya.. but at least you're leaving because you want to, which is better than spending 14 years with a company then coming into work one morning and them telling you they don't need to anymore.

Which is what happened to me.

kinda funny, when I started reading the OP, that's what I expected.

Gotta move on, man
Trust me, you'll never forget them and will occasionally wish you could go back...but you gotta do what you gotta do to progress