Long story short, a c-suite person at the company I've been working at for nearly a decade met with me a month ago to encourage me to apply for a new role that was "perfect for me... aligned with my growth... trust us." I held onto some hope and took the confidence to heart, only to learn I didn't get the job.
Further, after being effectively demoted, I was asked how they could help me grow, along with a smattering of compliments that I had to physically try to not start crying during due to the complete ridiculousness of it all. To say I was confused, especially after not receiving constructive feedback, is an understatement. I acknowledge maybe I just wasn't the one, but I feel they made a mistake and weren't accountable by setting me up like that. We even met in public, which was humiliating, and I feel they did this because they thought it wouldn't make me emotional.
My ask is this... How many of you are or have chosen in the past to be underemployed, but happy? Some days the idea of being a cashier again or slinging coffee beans just makes me feel that maybe it's the mental break I need. Corporate is basically heartless, and I've learned that the further away you get from the frontline and the higher your salary gets, the less connected you are to the real human life you are impacting. I don't even know if I want that, at this point. I know it would be a significant pay cut, but the emotional toll this has taken on me has shown me how much my job impacts me, and I don't like it.
Cashiering and slingin' beans has its hard days :) I've done both! But just... I feel like my mental load just needs an effing break. Do I keep my head down and work (which I will no-doubt be called out for somehow)? or do I move on?