“The course helped me realize that the situation simply wasn’t sustainable. Once I knew that, I could approach my boss with nothing to lose.
“That’s when everything changed.”
Malky Levin has been a licensed accountant for seven years. She worked in several places before landing a prestigious position at a pre-construction real estate company.
“Our company serves as the middleman between customers and construction companies. We deal with many millions of dollars each year.
“Usually, they only take accountants with years of experience, but they liked my work, the interview went well, and they hired me.”
At first, Malky thrived in the new environment. Then, it started taking a toll.
The hours were long, the pay insufficient, and there was a high-pressured, demanding environment.
“I started looking for a new job,” Malky relates. “And quickly discovered that the jobs I was being offered were far below my experience level. But larger companies told me I didn’t have enough experience.”
Then, six months ago, an acquaintance forwarded an email about Temech’s “Advancing at Work” course, aimed at helping employees improve work conditions and advance in their jobs. She joined.
“I learned how to measure job satisfaction. There are many elements –the actual work, the salary, the hours, the coworkers.
“We discovered how to measure these elements and identify our personal job preferences. No job will make you happy on every level.
“We also explored the natural trajectory of job satisfaction, which initially rises, then levels off, and sometimes declines. You can get bored once you’ve been doing the same thing for a while.
“Then the question is: can you introduce new challenges, or is it time to move on?”
Over the two-month course, Malky gained crucial insights.
“There was a lot of individual attention, and we could ask all our questions. There was a personal meeting that helped me pinpoint exactly what I needed.
“One speaker, in particular, helped me recognize that my current situation was unsustainable in the long run. Shortly afterward, I had a frank conversation with my boss.
“I prepared carefully, but there was no fear. I’d reached the point where the only options were change or leave, so I had nothing to lose.”
Coming in with that clarity led to astonishing results. Malky left the meeting with a reduction in hours and a substantial raise.
Something else happened; she shifted her perspective.
“I’d seen myself as suffering in my job. But once I had better conditions, I could focus on the benefits.
“Hearing from the other women in the group was eye-opening. They shared their trajectories, what had worked and what hadn’t in job searches. It gave me a reality check as well as helpful ideas.
“I’d hoped to find a new job, but with the changes I made, I’m in a different place.
“I’m still job-hunting, but it moved from frantic attempts to a calm, low-pressured search. And I’m able to be happy where I am right now.”
