Dear Yana:
I am a recent graduate (2020) of an HBCU in Mississippi. While there I loved every minute of it. I made great friends (at least I thought) and I learned my craft. I have been working at a Fortune 500 company for the past two years and the position that I’m in is quite rewarding. About 6 months ago my ‘friend’ from college began working at the company where I’m employed. We would go out for lunch, attend meetings together, and converse frequently. Recently there was a job opening within the company that would have made me an assistant manager making a six-figure salary. I confided in my ‘friend’ how much I wanted this job and would be willing to work overtime to get it. Unbeknownst to me, my ‘friend’ applied for the same position and began a smear campaign around the office besmirching my name. Sufficed to say, I didn’t get the position but my ‘friend’ did. Now she’s my boss and it is tearing me apart every day that I see her knowing how she betrayed me. The sad part about it is she still wants to hang out and act as though we’re friends. Yana, what should I do here? I mean should I play the role and act as though everything is fine or should I risk being fired (I could always get another job) and confront her about her scrupulous behavior?
Friends: How Many Of Us Have Them?
Dear Friends: How Many Of Us Have Them?
First, you never tell ‘friends’ your plans. As my dad always tells me never let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. By you telling her about the job opportunity you wanted you made her believe the job would be better for her. While you were just confiding in a ‘friend’ she was only thinking about herself.
Second, if you see you can’t trust her with information then you need to cut her off. As an adult, you should know how to keep it professional with her without there being any problems. Sometimes there will be someone you have to work with who you don’t care for but that doesn’t mean you stop what you’re doing. Don’t lose your job over some nonsense.
Lastly, not receiving that job may be a blessing in disguise. Everything happens for a reason and maybe it just wasn’t your time. Who knows you might not have liked the job after receiving it. When your time comes you will look back and laugh and be happy you got a better offer.
