How's the non-profit job going?

[Anonymous]

I ran into someone I know that I haven't seen in about a half year. We are both lawyers, only she is an associate at a small firm, and I am at a civil rights organization. The first thing she said to me was, "How's the non-profit job going?" Not even, "Hi, how are you?"

I think she knows where I work and the nature of my work so I found it odd that she phrased it as "non-profit job." Like, that's so broad. It's like me asking her, "So, how are you liking your business job?" The more I thought about it, the more I think that she was making a mild dig at me implying that working in the non-profit sector is somehow beneath working for a small firm. Maybe nothing about my role registered with her except that it was at a *gasp* non-profit?

Am I being overly sensitive and her question was a normal question? FWIW, I love my job and its mission, my co-workers, the flexibility, schedule, and decent pay (albeit not high-paying).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ran into someone I know that I haven't seen in about a half year. We are both lawyers, only she is an associate at a small firm, and I am at a civil rights organization. The first thing she said to me was, "How's the non-profit job going?" Not even, "Hi, how are you?"

I think she knows where I work and the nature of my work so I found it odd that she phrased it as "non-profit job." Like, that's so broad. It's like me asking her, "So, how are you liking your business job?" The more I thought about it, the more I think that she was making a mild dig at me implying that working in the non-profit sector is somehow beneath working for a small firm. Maybe nothing about my role registered with her except that it was at a *gasp* non-profit?

Am I being overly sensitive and her question was a normal question? FWIW, I love my job and its mission, my co-workers, the flexibility, schedule, and decent pay (albeit not high-paying).

You're overly sensitive and you're also in a wrong non-profit. At my non-profit organization, lawyers regularly make 500K in salary and bonus. The CEO of the non-profit is a lawyer from an Yale and his salary is around 4M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ran into someone I know that I haven't seen in about a half year. We are both lawyers, only she is an associate at a small firm, and I am at a civil rights organization. The first thing she said to me was, "How's the non-profit job going?" Not even, "Hi, how are you?"

I think she knows where I work and the nature of my work so I found it odd that she phrased it as "non-profit job." Like, that's so broad. It's like me asking her, "So, how are you liking your business job?" The more I thought about it, the more I think that she was making a mild dig at me implying that working in the non-profit sector is somehow beneath working for a small firm. Maybe nothing about my role registered with her except that it was at a *gasp* non-profit?

Am I being overly sensitive and her question was a normal question? FWIW, I love my job and its mission, my co-workers, the flexibility, schedule, and decent pay (albeit not high-paying).

As an opener, shes either socially inept or a total jerk.
If it came up later after the basic pleasantries and comparisons between law firm life and nonprofit life, it would have been normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You're overly sensitive and you're also in a wrong non-profit. At my non-profit organization, lawyers regularly make 500K in salary and bonus. The CEO of the non-profit is a lawyer from an Yale and his salary is around 4M.

Ahh, the typical DCUM response.

[Anonymous]

In the past, have you spoken with her about work? Is your main connection that you are both lawyers?

[Anonymous]

Sorry but I happen to think you're being oversensitive. The person may be interested in switching sectors, may have been covering for not remembering the name of the organization where you work, or maybe just mentioned nonprofit for no particular reason at all. Unless the rest of the conversation was snarky or hostile, OP is overreacting.

[Anonymous]

She probably blanked on the name of your organization and that's what came out. Don't overthink this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ran into someone I know that I haven't seen in about a half year. We are both lawyers, only she is an associate at a small firm, and I am at a civil rights organization. The first thing she said to me was, "How's the non-profit job going?" Not even, "Hi, how are you?"

I think she knows where I work and the nature of my work so I found it odd that she phrased it as "non-profit job." Like, that's so broad. It's like me asking her, "So, how are you liking your business job?" The more I thought about it, the more I think that she was making a mild dig at me implying that working in the non-profit sector is somehow beneath working for a small firm. Maybe nothing about my role registered with her except that it was at a *gasp* non-profit?

Am I being overly sensitive and her question was a normal question? FWIW, I love my job and its mission, my co-workers, the flexibility, schedule, and decent pay (albeit not high-paying).

You're overly sensitive and you're also in a wrong non-profit. At my non-profit organization, lawyers regularly make 500K in salary and bonus. The CEO of the non-profit is a lawyer from an Yale and his salary is around 4M.

What's the name of the nonprofit? Or are you just a troll?

[Anonymous]

I think this is the equivalent of when I run into my friends who are still at law firms and ask, "So, how's law firm life?"

Now, maybe I'm an offensive and socially inept toolbag, but I think you might be overreacting a bit.

A lot of lawyers who leave firms find it is oddly hard on their egos. It shouldn't be--it's not like insurance defense is somehow better than civil rights work--but the whole profession is geared towards money and firm prestige as the measure of success, so people who are not equity partners in biglaw are often struggling with feelings of inadequacy. Of course, so are a lot of biglaw equity partners, but that's a whole different issue....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ran into someone I know that I haven't seen in about a half year. We are both lawyers, only she is an associate at a small firm, and I am at a civil rights organization. The first thing she said to me was, "How's the non-profit job going?" Not even, "Hi, how are you?"

I think she knows where I work and the nature of my work so I found it odd that she phrased it as "non-profit job." Like, that's so broad. It's like me asking her, "So, how are you liking your business job?" The more I thought about it, the more I think that she was making a mild dig at me implying that working in the non-profit sector is somehow beneath working for a small firm. Maybe nothing about my role registered with her except that it was at a *gasp* non-profit?

Am I being overly sensitive and her question was a normal question? FWIW, I love my job and its mission, my co-workers, the flexibility, schedule, and decent pay (albeit not high-paying).

You're overly sensitive and you're also in a wrong non-profit. At my non-profit organization, lawyers regularly make 500K in salary and bonus. The CEO of the non-profit is a lawyer from an Yale and his salary is around 4M.

What's the name of the nonprofit? Or are you just a troll?

There are some nonprofit hospital systems and industry organizations that have pay structures that are sort of in this ballpark. They are not what many people think of as "non-profits" but they are technically qualified and are tax exempt.

[Anonymous]

Yes. She secretly hates you, and in case you ever ran into each other, she plotted in advance exactly how she’d mildly insult you during the first second of conversation.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with the others. I think it was a dig at your job. I also think you should brush it off because she doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Why do people always assume bad intent like this? Do you all just go around making shady comments to your acquaintances and assume everyone else does?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ran into someone I know that I haven't seen in about a half year. We are both lawyers, only she is an associate at a small firm, and I am at a civil rights organization. The first thing she said to me was, "How's the non-profit job going?" Not even, "Hi, how are you?"

I think she knows where I work and the nature of my work so I found it odd that she phrased it as "non-profit job." Like, that's so broad. It's like me asking her, "So, how are you liking your business job?" The more I thought about it, the more I think that she was making a mild dig at me implying that working in the non-profit sector is somehow beneath working for a small firm. Maybe nothing about my role registered with her except that it was at a *gasp* non-profit?

Am I being overly sensitive and her question was a normal question? FWIW, I love my job and its mission, my co-workers, the flexibility, schedule, and decent pay (albeit not high-paying).

You're overly sensitive and you're also in a wrong non-profit. At my non-profit organization, lawyers regularly make 500K in salary and bonus. The CEO of the non-profit is a lawyer from an Yale and his salary is around 4M.

What's the name of the nonprofit? Or are you just a troll?

There are some nonprofit hospital systems and industry organizations that have pay structures that are sort of in this ballpark. They are not what many people think of as "non-profits" but they are technically qualified and are tax exempt.

NP. That must be the case because I've worked for three VERY large and well-known non-profits (at the SVP and above level) and no one beyone the CEO could break $1M in total compensation annually. Maybe the COO, but never the head of legal.

[Anonymous]

You are definitely over sensitive and reading too much into small talk.