Maybe I Have A Bad Employment History...

Funny. Kind of. For some reason lately I have been running in to or have been reminded of some of my former employers. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

At the end of last semester I was on a site visit for my nightclub management class at the HardRock Hotel and Casino. We'd finished our tour and were standing with our professor in the hallway near their meeting rooms. I had noticed as we had passed by that there was equipment/decor being loaded in for some event, and I mentioned to a classmate that I had helped set up an event in the same room once before with (we'll change the names here) Former Employer A (FE-A).

I had worked for FE-A during 2008 for about 5-6 months. I had begun my internship requirement with them hoping to learn about creating/desining special events, etc, and got a few opportunities to work semi-closely with some events; I even was allowed to write out a proposal for a potential client for a very VERY small event. THEN, things changed. Receptionist went on planned maternity leave and I was expected to do her job. And that's it. Hmmmm... so much for event experience. FE-A and I had a mutual parting of ways. I didn't quit, she didn't fire me, we just stopped calling each other to schedule work times.

Skipping back to the hallway... while discussing the results of the class' nightclub event - lo and behold - who do I see pacing the hallway monitoring the load-in process while probably wishing she was eating a McDonald's cheeseburger and smoking a cigarette (I'll save the topic of addictions for another post... maybe)? FE-A. Boo. I even had to share an elevator with her on the way to the parking garage. We were civil, but the conversation was oh so short.

Time for FE-B. Before my mission I nannied and worked at the home office/business of Former Employer B. I gave up 2 other jobs (I had 3 at one time) for a great raise and more hours with FE-B and was promised the chance to learn the field of live entertainment. Haha! Kidding - they really just wanted me to watch their four year old in a hotel room for 3 weeks. Yes, nannying was PART of my job, but nothing they had promised on the entertainment side happened. So, I explained my feelings, and among another misunderstanding I was let go (saw it coming a mile away).

Last semester the company I was interning for (see FE-C) entered into a contract with FE-B to open a live entertainment production in a local venue. I feared every day that I would come face to face with the folks that make up FE-B, but somehow lucked out when they only came in to the office on days I was in school. So, this last Saturday I was running about Las Vegas attending a couple of wedding receptions. The first was hosted at a church building, but the second was at the bride's home. I got directions off the internet, saw the map and had driven up to the very gate of the community before I realized that I was waiting to be allowed access to the same neighborhood in which I had worked for FE-B. The bride's house was two doors down. Geez. Talk about bad memories.

FE-C was where I actually completed the requirements for my internship credit. I worked with them last year for seven months. SEVEN! I could have finished my hours quicker yes, but I wanted to really learn about entertainment and get my foot in the door. My coworkers were awesome, I liked being at work and did learn a lot, but then had no job when FE-C (who HAD hired me) passed on the word that the company was downsizing and could no longer give me a position. Rude. He had to wait until halfway through my first day as a f/t employee...

FE-D was a small part-time job I had many many moons ago here in Vegas. It was great for school - it required a telephone and a computer (which did most of the work for you), and it was suggested that employees brought something to do while waiting for the computer to dial someone who was home. I think that was the only semester I read an entire textbook for school. Long story short, company cutbacks required the department to be cut in half, and the newest employees were let go first. Game Over.

Now tomorrow I'm being a live mannequin at a bridal fair (think convention). One of the main sponsors for the bridal fair is FE-D, I know FE-C has a booth at the fair, and I would be shocked if FE-A didn't have a booth for her company too (I doubt FE-B has anything to do with it). But goodness... isn't just wierd how often they're all showing up in my life lately?