Aww, Rae - your situation sounds all too familiar. You have gotten such great advice

I agree with Bella about starting to look around. It's a lot of effort but you may get a clearer picture of how good/bad your current place is, how good/bad other options are, and help solidify your feelings about what's right for you.

I also liked Gaylene's comments about careful consideration in who you might bring this up with at work.

I've seen some of the most illogical, clearly bad business decisions made and can only shake my head in bewilderment. . . :-\

Rae, just wanted to jump in and say that I'm so sorry you are going through this. You sound like you have been doing and *amazing* job and ANY organisation would be lucky to have you.

Even though it can be really hard when you feel this way, I truly believe that the worst thing you can do is to do nothing, as this situation is understandably bothering you. Channel your disappointment to be proactive, please see this as an opportunity for growth.

Do up your resume; chase contacts who may be able to offer you alternative employment (who knows, there may be better opportunities); have a chat with your current supervisor who is leaving and make sure you have her forward contact details so she can easily act as a reference for you; contact recruitment agencies (if applicable) and so forth.

The only thing I worry is that if you have an honest chat about your situation ~before~ you do any of the other stuff I've mentioned above is that if it goes poorly it could make you feel even more stuck and unappreciated at work. And that would suck the big cahoona.

I know from my own personal experience, that it is better to say something, mean it and take affirmative action, than to speak up and then do nothing.

Take care and best of luck. I hope you feel better soon.

I have no new advice but just wanted to say how sorry I am that this is happening to you. Stay strong and positive!

*hugs to you* Rae, I hear where you are coming from, and I have been in a very similar situation in a previous job. Unfortunately, what Una wrote - "I finally realized temping was the easiest way for employers to avoid providing benefits or job security and still get high quality work." - is not only accurate, but is also apparently getting to be more prevalent.

(In many business/HR training courses that I have taken in the past year, I have heard over and over again that many business professionals are predicting that in the future, *most* employees will be contingent staff, whether as temporary employees or independent contractors. I don't say that to be depressing - it worries me, too, particularly since I am also currently in an administrative position that could be outsourced or filled by a temporary employee - but many of us may also be in the same boat eventually. And even for employees who are hired on full time... there is no such thing as a "permanent" job. It's just one of the realities that is hitting us in a really, really terrible job market when employers are trying to trim costs wherever possible. To be honest, I don't feel all that secure about the long-term future of *my* job, either... when I went on vacation recently, I was very relieved that my job still existed when I returned.)

In fact, my boyfriend is currently in a similar position, and is also trying to make an industry switch. I'm very, very tired of seeing him get disappointed after multiple rounds of interviews over and over again.

Given the tough but improving job market, if you can stand it I would recommend staying put until you can find another job, if only to preserve qualifying for unemployment benefits in case your job *does* end involuntarily, and also because it gives you the flexibility of putting out feelers for potential new jobs without feeling rushed or financially pressed to do so in a certain timeframe.

Even if the current situation with your job is getting you down, you have gained some great experience and have direct supervisors that obviously respect you and will vouch for your work ethic. Particularly when your current supervisor moves to a different group, maybe you can see if she would be willing to serve as a business reference for you if you are looking elsewhere. Not being your manager any longer, you might be able to develop your working relationship with her to more of a mentorship where she might feel more comfortable being candid with you if she isn't your direct boss. I'm not trying to put a Pollyanna spin on the situation, and I'm really sorry that things currently have not worked out the way you hoped they would, but I also think you have potential to make the best of what is still good about your job. Just an idea.

Sheesh - I'm sorry, I didn't realize I had written a novel!

I don't have anything to add--everyone has offered you such wonderful, insightful advice. Just wanted to commiserate. I hope you can find a job that is permanent and pays you what you are worth!

Another long one...

Rae, I hope the meeting went well. (Time zone differences are making me confused, but I think you'll have had that meeting by the time you read this post.)

I thought about you a lot these last two days and in particular Gaylene's post. Companies do use temps and junior staff to get things done at almost no cost, it's the young, raw ambition and drive that makes this resource so desirable. Up to the point when they start asking questions, that is. I myself had mentored a guy who came to our team from another department and his dedication was humbling. A year later, with all his assignments and tests passed before the official deadline, his struggle started. There was no promised payrise, no change in grade, no bonus payment because he was officially not the right grade. I could just sit and watch how he was getting more frustrated after endless talks with managers of all levels until eventually he was snatched by another team that offered him the grade and payment he deserved. But, that was a rare happy ending. It was like innocence dying before my eyes. I didn't want to participate in the same program the following year as I knew where all that effort from another junior was heading - one big nothing.

Personally, I can't say I have had a successful corporate career. At least not in corporate definition of success. In my own, I've done really well. Every single job that I did, I managed to contribute to things working better. And I left every place with my head held up high. Your words in your first post "I love my co-workers and my managers" really resonated with me. That has always been one of my main reasons to stay at any job - and not the stereotypical one if you wanted to climb the ladder. I am a typical engineer who likes to roll up my sleeves, get on with things, solve a problem and sit back and enjoy the fruit of my labour. Couple that with a great set of people around, opportunities to learn and what more do you want. Well, big places don't work like that, all that "love my colleagues" is nice, but doesn't get you far - if far is where you want to go. In my last job I was literally ran over by a newcomer who joined my team two years into the project I was the most senior team member on, she worked half-time, had no my background or experience, but her networking skills had guaranteed her promotion that had kept being promised to me - all in shockingly short amount of time that everyone kept asking *me* what happened because it made no sense whatsoever.

You are very lucky to have this experience this early in your professional life. You can learn so much from this. Where and how you want to take your career further? How to position yourself at your next place? How much to actually attach yourself to any place and care for the people? Do you want to work for a big corporation or a smaller, more independent place? What are the warning signs to pay attention to earlier? All I can say is keep your CV up to date all the time and keep your eye on the market always, so you can be in position to call the shots yourself, not react as a result of the circumstances.

Finally, once again I just want to stress out that this development had nothing to do with how you did your job. It's simply how things work. I am not saying this in a defeated tone of voice. It's just a fact so you can decide how you want to take things further. And whatever you decide, keep your integrity intact and remain your beautiful self.

Rae, I just wanted to chime in and give you some moral support too! Above all do not expect fair treatment in a corporate world. I was never in a temp position but what Ornela written resonates with me too well. Usually people who get promoted are not necessarily the ones who do the best job. Unless you look after your interests nobody is going to do it for you - does not matter what are your relationships at work are.
I don't know you financial situation but I would take this as opportunity to think what do you want to do with your career life. Sometimes these problems are the best what can happen to us as they drive you out of your comfort zone and let you explore other opportunities (here I am seconding Janet :-))
You have got so much wonderful advice here and I am sure you can make a good use of it. The only thing I could add is that you need to focus not on the problem you are facing now but on finding a solution and maybe thinking outside of the box. Sometimes we get into a rut and stay there because it is too much effort to change something and there is also a danger of unknown. This situation can be a blessing in disguise for you to get out of that rut you are not happy with and get your life to a better place.
Good luck - I know you can do it!

Heaps of thanks to everyone who has shared their valuable experiences with me -- my parents did not allow me to work while I was in school, so I have very little experience of my own. Sveta, Ornela, Kari... everyone. I am super thankful to have you guys!

My meeting today went about as well as I could have hoped. I learned one shocking fact: the broker who got the other temp hired? He's paying the salary out of his own pocket! I was told by a couple different people who did not even know I was upset about it, plus my supervisor confirmed, so I'm fairly certain it's true. This shows me that the corporation either can't or won't budge on the issue of adding new members, and I told my supervisor as much when we met.

The good news is that I've told my supervisor is going to parlay her transfer into an opening for me... basically convince the powers that be to use the part of the budget allotted to her salary to bring me on board. She said she has three ideas about how to make this happen, and she'll bring it up in a meeting next week.

The other good news? Well, it's that I honestly don't care which way it goes. The idea of going to work at a different company... or doing admin assistant work at an animal hospital for half my current pay... or even reselling more swap meet clothes on Ebay if I end up unemployed for a while... none of that sounds too daunting right now. And I'm still with the temp agency, so there's always that.

Oh, and I know I'll look fab if I have to go on interviews. There's always that, too.

Hey Rae - just got caught up on this thread. Wow - interesting information you got today! Good for you for going to your supervisor and letting her know how you were feeling! Also, I could really resonate with your passion of shopping and playing with your cats - I kind of feel the same way!

Oh Rae, I just read this thread and I'm glad that today things don't seem so bad.
I'm sure your supervisor will do the best for you because you deserve it but if things don't go that well in you staying with the same company perhaps diferent and better oportunities will open themselves in your future.
I'll be crossing my fingers for a great job for you.