Today started with a whimper and ended with a bang. Let me correct that. It started with a dull thud and ended with a sonic boom. Once again, yesterday afternoon, I got dropped from a project. At 4:30 pm, I was told by the scheduling manager that I was not needed for a project up in Seattle. I was flummoxed. Here I was being told by management that I needed to find work and on the other hand they kept on dropping me like a dead mosquito. I relaxed, went to GmatClub and surfed. Today morning was uneventful. I did not bother finding any more projects. I was too busy searching for jobs, calling up my networks and laying out the fieldwork for a new job if my MBA plans did not go through (with 3 waitlists, I don’t expect much to happen). My division is doing worse than Britney Spears’ therapist. Lay offs are the buzz word here. I know its coming, I am in the bulls eye so I aint sweating sister!! After slogging in the corporate minefield for 1 yr and 8 months, I scheduled my holidays. One week in February in Mexico (to get my H1B visa stamped, a important thing for us non US citizens) and 2 weeks in March in Japan to attend my friend’s wedding. Not a bad deal considering I worked in Thanksgiving, December, Hannukah, Diwali, Id, Chinese New year, and a bunch more festivals for the last 20 months. I had told my manager in November about my plans and I had already got the greenlight. All my arrangements had been made (book marking ticket websites and travel sites – I procrastinate a lot). Today, I met my manager and asked her, why I was being dropped from projects. She told me its because I had scheduled so many holidays, that they were clashing against my project work. BS. I was being dropped from projects since last October. Project work does not happen in one day. To get into a project, I have to kiss lots of behinds, schmooze the janitor, the watch guard and the valet and pray that I get lucky. There was no project work that ACTUALLY clashed with my holidays. I had checked and double checked it. The real reason is because the partner knew I applied to B-school and did not want me in this division. I knew this but I felt this was unfair since I only applied, not got into b-school. Nobody should be penalized for aspiring to be better. I guess the real world works differently. I had done my home work. I counteracted and told my manager politely that I should get some work instead of random emails asking me to “increase” productivity. I should be given projects instead of scrutinizing my personal life. My holidays are my business and I deserve them. Last year I lost 15 days of holidays, since my division does not offer cash instead. I was told to donate the hours to a manager. I let them waste. Not this time! Then out comes the surprise from Pandora’s box. My manager was disappointed with me coz I was emphasizing my personal life more and placing it ahead of my work. Duhhhh!!! Isnt that pretty obvious. Excuse me, but I will side with the French here. I earn to live, not to work. Showing my affable side, I told my manager that I can cancel my Mexico trip, but I really need to go to Japan for my friend’s wedding. My manager reneged. She told me that she cannot afford to give me any holidays and that I need to cancel all my holiday plans. Then only would I be assigned on a project. I refused. Now you readers will go – is this guy loony.. he’s a dude and he wants to go to a wedding.. and hes risking his work for it.. hes stupid…a huge moron. Hear me out My friend Tomo is MY best friend. I bought my first motorcycle with his help, went on the first double date with him, learnt surfing with him. His friendship means a lot to me, much more than work and salary. I equate my life with my pleasures, my joy and my relations. I promised my friend that I will come to his wedding, be it hail, rain, snow, thunder, riots, earthquake or the Armageddon. A promise is a promise. Its stupid to think in these terms in this modern age, but I am stubborn. My ex-gf can vouch for that. Plus, what good is it to live life if I miss the real reasons to live life. The whole event spiraled like a scene out of Office Space. My partner came in. She used terms like how the firm was bending its back to accommodate my holiday request. I retorted – I booked holidays months ago, nobody objected and now I am being harassed to change my schedule because the division is preparing for lay offs and the managers are trying to save their skins by showing that their staff are working hard on projects and not sitting idly like me. I told them I should be scheduled on projects and not nit picked for scheduling 2 holidays when there is no work. Management modus operandi was simple and subtle. Offer me a project, take it away and then blame it on me saying I did not join this project because I had other priorities (its been done before plentifully so that someone’s behind can be saved). The partner then drew the line. She told me no holidays for me. I told fine. I resign. 2 pairs of faces stared at me. I stared at myself. Did I just utter these fantastic yet terrible words? I blinked twice, hoping it was a dream. No, the faces kept on staring at me. Yes I did say I am resigning. I left work today with a resignation kicking into effect two months later. All this because of a holiday and me wanting to go to some dude’s wedding. Its comical and it only happens to me. But I felt glad. Deep down I had lost respect for the company where I worked. When I joined, I was told how the work life balance is perfect, how I can take holidays when I wanted, how I can work on any project I wanted to. Sounded perfect, rather too perfect to me. In 3 months I was proved wrong. I did not complain about it because I knew life is not a bed or roses. But a management that changes color faster than a chameleon cannot be a good bed mate. I am stubborn, hard to deal with and I never budge when I have my mind fixed on something. I realized today that I put my friend’s wedding over my work. Who knows if my friend will remain a friend 10 years later. It’s a pretty **** decision but instead of feeling bad about it, I am very happy. I got my chance to live up to my own promises. Plus it will make a really good story to tell my date. I quit work to go to a wedding. Ps. If you guys know someone who will hire someone as stupid as me, do let me know. Thank you for wasting 5 minutes of your life.

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My momentous decision in the last 6 hours.

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R.E.D.

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23 Jan 2008, 13:35

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Avi, if it was the decision your soul asked for, it's right. Usually we can't even understand the wealth of possibilities we get after a disastrous (from the logical point of view) decision. At the same time, you now have nothing to loose, you have only one way - up, up and up. And you should have great support from your friends in this challenge.

JustSayin

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23 Jan 2008, 17:40

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Avi-Not sure if you're interested in any sort of legal action but you may as well be informed. If you were forced to forfeit your vacation at the end of the year, your company in its infinite wisdom may have violated CA state law (if CA is indeed where you are employed). See below as well as Q4 on the linked page.

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/FAQ_Vacation.htm

...Under California law, earned vacation time is considered wages, and vacation time is earned, or vests, as labor is performed. For example, if an employee is entitled to two weeks (10 work days) of vacation per year, after six months of work he or she will have earned five days of vacation. Vacation pay accrues (adds up) as it is earned, and cannot be forfeited, even upon termination of employment, regardless of the reason for the termination...

I should also note there is no mention of "donating" your vacation time to management (I fell on the floor when I read that).

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, I just play one on GMATClub.

adcxaway

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23 Jan 2008, 20:05

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hi avi

you're got character... i think you made the right choice. all the best..

rhyme

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23 Jan 2008, 20:21

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Please tell me your company does not recruit at any school. If it does, please find my application if it exists and burn it.

summer2010

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23 Jan 2008, 21:09

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Hey Aviroop - Best of luck man. That is a huge decision but a good one. I know it suks to be on a work visa - I am sure most employers are smart/manipulative enough to use the sword hanging above your head so to say. Keep your hopes high. And go and have a few drinks to celebrate

aviroop

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24 Jan 2008, 00:00

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rhyme

Please tell me your company does not recruit at any school. If it does, please find my application if it exists and burn it.

It recruits in all the B schools....so stay away.. far far away...But I am sure you wont go for any of its recruitment since it does not come in your job search.

Justsayin - thanks for the awesome tips. I work in CA, and another gmatclubber told me the same thing ...

I am not sure I wanna go into a legal issue right now.
But thank you everyone for all your words of support. It means a lot to me. This club has character.. thats all I can say...(as a good compliment...)

kwam

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24 Jan 2008, 04:27

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Avi

By any chance, did your supervisors, or any of them, write your LoRs? If so, perhaps that's the reason you got your WLs is that. I'm just wondering how can you be WL in 3 schools with your profile and I believe that with good essays...

So imagine that you have excelent essays, good stats, etc, etc, and then one of your recommenders decided to sabotage your application, do you think that is the case?

If so, perhaps another LoR if the school accepts would be a strategy to get out of the WL. Hopefully in our Hub at Chicago

rajpdsouza

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24 Jan 2008, 08:22

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kwam

Wow, if a recommender sabotaged my application.....I'd turn incredible hulk angry.

aviroop

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24 Jan 2008, 11:26

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kwam,
my reco letters are ok. My supervisors (not my current managers) who wrote them a few months ago actually sent me a pdf copy of my recos after submitting them online. I read them and found that the letters were not that strong but were decent.

I guess my lack of work exp is the prime factor. but thanks for your suggestion.

nupurgupt

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26 Jan 2008, 09:59

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just read this thread in one sitting....avi i'm impressed by your guts
major thumbs up buddy

what field are you looking for a job in?
my company is hiring in tech and i might be able to forward your resume
just pm me

togafoot

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27 Jan 2008, 18:05

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nupurgupt

just read this thread in one sitting....avi i'm impressed by your guts
major thumbs up buddy

if your impressed by his guts, you should see mine.. It's not a six-pack, it's a whole keg!!!

.. I'll get my coat

aviroop

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28 Jan 2008, 10:47

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hahahahaa....

if you want to get a six pack.. there is a training program called cross fit - its the one used to train the folks for the movie 300....

i will try to get more into shape once i get into b -school.. else work kills my workout plans..

kryzak

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28 Jan 2008, 11:22

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I want to look like those guys in 300... yikes! :shock:

solaris1

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28 Jan 2008, 11:33

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Like this guy, kryzak? :-D

https://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2007/03/27/300_460.jpg

kryzak

I want to look like those guys in 300... yikes! :shock:

kryzak

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28 Jan 2008, 16:48

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solaris1

Like this guy, kryzak? :-D

https://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2007/03/27/300_460.jpg

kryzak

I want to look like those guys in 300... yikes! :shock:

LOL! you found my Halloween picture! :oops:

aviroop

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28 Jan 2008, 17:14

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didnt that depiction of xerses lead to a lot of controversy and banning of the movie in Iran....

kwam

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28 Jan 2008, 17:22

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solaris1

Like this guy, kryzak? :-D

https://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2007/03/27/300_460.jpg

kryzak

I want to look like those guys in 300... yikes! :shock:

This guys is Brazilian, he's a superstar there, really! He's been at some "Lost" episodies and some good Brazilian movies, and you may not believe, he is here:
https://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/532 ... %20Rodrigo

Anyway, I still haven't seen 300, perhaps in a couple of weeks, but for those who want 2 good movies: Carandiru and "Abril Despedaçado" (Sorry I don't know the translation).

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293007/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0291003/

aviroop

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28 Jan 2008, 17:29

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kwam.. i saw city of god.. and i got blown away by that movie... i am itching to go to rio one day...

kwam

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28 Jan 2008, 17:36

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aviroop

kwam.. i saw city of god.. and i got blown away by that movie... i am itching to go to rio one day...

Best Brazilian Movie ever, though academy doesn't like our movies :roll:

You should see those above and also the last success there:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0861739/

I think it's easy to find on the net, hey shish, I didn't tell you that, dude.... :lol: