Looking for career advice. CA
I’m in California, currently doing billing, collections, and compliance for a small family-run construction subcontractor. I was hired to help clear a backlog, but once I started it became obvious the problems were way bigger than anyone admitted. A few real examples of what I’ve dealt with:
**•** The company has almost no documented procedures or systems. A previous person ran everything and left with all the knowledge in her head, so I’ve basically been reconstructing how the business runs from scratch.
**•** There’s around $250k in uncollected receivables across projects that no one had visibility into, no aging report, no tracking, unclear what was billed or paid.
**•** Their systems aren’t connected and haven’t been for over a year, so basic reconciliation takes forever.
**•** When I flag problems, the response is essentially “you brought it up, so you figure it out” no ownership, no urgency, no added support.
**•** They promised paid holidays when they hired me, then didn’t pay them.
**•** It’s a husband-and-wife ownership, and there’s frequent tension (weird comments from the wife) /arguing in the office that makes the environment uncomfortable.
**•** I was told I’d get help and clearer scope, but I’m wearing way too many hats for what I was hired and paid to do.
There have also been situations around how money and job costs get handled that didn’t sit right with me — things like being asked verbally (never in writing) to record costs in ways that didn’t reflect where they actually belonged, and being told not to pursue collection on certain amounts. It made me uncomfortable enough that I started keeping my own notes.
I make $28/hr here. I just got a signed offer as a project coordinator at an established structural concrete contractor for the same hr rate and it’s been my dream company, it’s on the project-engineer track, which is the actual career I want and what my degree is in.
My current employer also verbally floated eventually moving me towards PM and that there is room to grow since they are just starting (4yr old company) but given no training or structure exists there, I don’t fully believe it.
Here’s the complication: the new job has a pre-employment drug screen Wednesday that includes THC. I’ve used cannabis nightly for sleep for about five months, I JUST started because I told my doctor I was concerned of taking too many pills (insomnia issues) and he mentioned the use of cannabis. HR said the test is for THC, and when I mentioned sleep, she said a doctor’s note would help so I got a CA medical cannabis recommendation. But after talking more directly, she made clear I still have to pass; the card is context, not a pass. I’ve stopped now but I’m worried five days isn’t enough after daily use.
I decided to come clean because this is my dream job and I live in CA, been in the industry and I have never had this experience.
I haven’t given notice yet. I have a backup another backup interview (accounting side of construction) on Monday.
My questions:
**1.** Is it worth leaving the higher-paying job for the lower-paying one that fits my career better? Has anyone been in my position?
**2.** Can I realistically clear an active-THC test in this timeframe after months of daily use?
**4.** Should I hold off on resigning until I have the test result?
Any advice appreciated — feeling a little overwhelmed and want outside perspective.