there's certain employees that make an impression that sticks out in an employer's mind because they consistently deliver quality and prove to be an asset to their company. your employer will even ask you for input on things as time goes by if they see that you know your stuff very, very well. An employer will even bend over backwards to keep such an employee around if their needs can be accommodated, especially if you are thinking of taking a new job (I have been there and got quite a nice compromise). this obviously was not your situation. welcome to reality.