The last day
As a consultant, you know your days are numbered at the company you get sent out to.
It is the circle of life, so to speak. More often than not, you're the one saying, "It's not you, it's me," and initiating the breakup. I always thought it would be the opposite when I first started working in this branch, but throughout the years I have seen numerous consultants come and go —like a revolving door of talent— at the companies I worked for.
You would think that companies that attract consultants are in a temporary need for support, so once they have gained the knowledge of the consultant in-house or the turbulent situation has subsided, the logic dictates that our services become redundant. It was a reality I prepared myself for. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Some factors that may influence this opposite trend might lie in the nature of the business itself.
The companies, I discovered, that are in need of consultants’ help are often the ones who cannot keep their own permanent employees on board. This could have to do with management that can barely manage a lemonade stand or a toxic atmosphere that could give Chernobyl a run for its money. The snail-paced implementation of changes and the hollowing out or undermining of the profession only add more flavour to the mix.
It could also have to do with the nature of the people working as consultants.
The people who choose this line of work are often people who love change, who want to be challenged, and who want to be able to taste various environments and domains.
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Today is the last day I work for my current company. Next Monday, I start at my new one.
I wish I could say it is a bittersweet goodbye, but it really isn’t. I wanted to leave three months in, I’ve soldiered on for one year and three months.
If I have to think of something I will miss here, it’s the in-house barista on the ground floor and the picturesque nature surrounding the building —sunrises and misty fields— that served as a daily reminder of life beyond the office walls. It is quite telling that the only things I liked were things not directly related to the work itself.
I think I jumped ship at the right time, though. Today, five people were laid off because of budget cuts.
This might not necessarily be a bad thing, as one of the consultants who was laid off probably had an overworked guardian angel who had to fight to keep him doing the bare minimum, such as breathing and sitting behind his desk.
It's a modern miracle he managed to blend in for 3 (!) years, a testament to the art of the Minimalist approach. Imagine what a bloodletting this guy was on the budget.
His saga makes me think of that incredible story about “The Forgotten Employee": a guy works for a company, and somehow they forget he exists for multiple months, but he keeps collecting his paychecks. Truly, a must-read for aficionados of workplace folklore.
My goodbye won't be one for the history books, and that suits me just fine.
I won't dawdle, mulling over the 'what ifs' and 'could haves'.
As this day comes and goes, so will I. The earth has turned another day around its axis, and I'm pretty sure I'm not leaving any regrets in the dust of yesterday.
Greetings,
Rat
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