A couple of decades ago, a few liberal and well-educated hippies went into business for themselves. They started a “research house.” It grew and grew until it became a decent-sized company. This is where I worked after I finished my Master’s degree: at Researchers R Us.
I had hoped to get a job and move to DC, but my only job prospect in DC went down in flames. I had an interview, but as it turns out, they knew Sally from the Institute on Poverty and Hypocrisy. Of course, I didn’t use her as a reference, but that would NOT be the last time people contacted “references” I did NOT provide.
So, two months after graduation and facing eviction from student family housing, I finally had a local job offer. I should have been relieved. I should have been ecstatic. Instead, I cried. After getting the offer, I hung up the phone and cried. The salary was miserable. Granted, it was more than I’ve ever made, but it wasn’t enough. But I got over it. I (informally) made a two year committment to the place, upon their request (even though it wasn’t legal for them to ask that of me). I figured I would bust my arse and get promoted.
There were a lot of researchers, computer programmers, and toys…and not a lot of individual offices. I shared an office with 4 other people. That totally sucked. I recognized one person, Kayla…we had both worked at the same drug store years earlier. One of the people with an office, Bill, was really tall, had a mullett-turned-grey, and walked around in his socks. I would work with both of them at the University a few years later. It was fun telling people that Bill used to walk around in his socks at Researchers R Us.
What did I learn here? Academics don’t make good entrepreneurs. Three months into this gig, they laid off a dozen people, including myself. They had lost their biggest client. Apparently, they did not have a legal contract with this company and they decided they would do their customer satisfaction research in-house.
I also learned that employers expect a lot from employees, like expecting them to make 2 year committments (which I had every intention of fulfilling) and laying them off 3 months later. Workplace loyalty is usually a one way street. I’ve learned that lesson again and again. In fact, I’ve learned it so many times that I need to unlearn it, since not ALL employers are like this.
This experience marks the first time I realized I should pay attention to how my employers run their businesses….and that the days of working anywhere for 20+ consecutive years are over.
