Jump to content

Career Chat V: the Common Ruin of the Contending Classes


Datepalm
 Share

Recommended Posts

So the job I took about 10 months ago...it isn't as rosy as I would have liked, but it could be worse (that's coming in October I think based on what I'm hearing...).

Basically the hotel is doing well, but there has been virtually no movement towards fixing the side of Operations that I'm on.  No hiring as there are no applications (they who pay may be finally coming to realize they're not offering enough...) but there has still be no applications to fill a couple holes in the staff...and despite my requests, there's no movement to bring in an assistant to help me with the various duties...

It was bad enough in general that the Executive Chef left last month after he was finally fed up enough that F&B wasn't being supported the way he wanted, even though business levels were up.  Now, his politics are absolute shit, but in general I worked well with him.  The club he went to, he's actively put my name forward to fill a need where he is (he thought well enough of me after 9 months to do that...he did tell me he was doing it...) 

They hired a new chef already, which is good because of the two (only two!) Line cooks we had to do everything with the Chef, the old chef took one with him. I don't know about the new guy. I was told I'd be part of the interview process, yet this guy was hired and I never even saw a resume, let alone met him before he started last week.  And after he found himself with the prospect of a 15+ hour day before returning for a back to back, he had a meltdown that would have put Gordon Ramsay to shame...

I don't know if he'll last...

Took an introductory call today and waiting to see if they're going to want me to interview me.  I think I have to listen.

I mean, the job also doesn't sound ideal for what I want in terms of hours, but if there's a good enough pay bump, I may have to adapt...

Edited by Jaxom 1974
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/20/2022 at 11:19 PM, Chataya de Fleury said:

What does one actually say to a male colleague who asks me to make him a copy of a document?

This colleague is at the same level but seems to think he is my boss.

Hopefully, he won’t ever again ask me to make copies, but if he does, I need to be prepared. 

Chataya de Fleury -- this reminded me of when my security guard boss played the same game on me. I was an inexperienced twenty-something guard, still in college, and not yet attuned to the dark arts of Machiavellianism, and he was a middle-aged (former / retired cop?) who just assumed the leadership role over a half dozen of us.

After engaging me in a brief but positive, good-natured "how you doing" conversation like a good leader would, he abruptly ended the talk and said, "Oh, could you go get me a coffee" -- with a period, not a question mark. I didn't understand the game he was playing, but for me to get another man his coffee seemed (as a gut feeling) so odd. I said, "OK," and went across the hall to get it for him. I didn't fill it, but left the empty mug in the coffee area and after a short delay walked right back to my watch-desk. After some time, when I hadn't found him and delivered the coffee, he approached me to ask about it, but I passively ignored him until he walked away.

A small thing, but novel to me at the time; in hindsight, what he did wasn't casual, it was a dedicated attempt to establish an exploitative kind of hierarchy with me a chai boy. That was his first, and last, attempt to game me but it was fascinating to experience, and even more so to watch him do it successfully to other (older, more job-dependent) guards without the same opportunities I still had in my future. As a leader I never did this to subordinates.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Wade1865 said:

A small thing, but novel to me at the time; in hindsight, what he did wasn't casual, it was a dedicated attempt to establish an exploitative kind of hierarchy with me a chai boy. That was his first, and last, attempt to game me but it was fascinating to experience, and even more so to watch him do it successfully to other (older, more job-dependent) guards without the same opportunities I still had in my future. As a leader I never did this to subordinates.

Oh -- forgot to add, if he had been a peer I would have said to just go fuck yourself while smiling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/21/2022 at 8:34 AM, Chataya de Fleury said:

I was just so stunned I said, “sure” and I don’t think my (and his - they are the same person) boss overheard because he was busy chatting with the audit partner.

Next time, I won’t say anything at that time, or I will give him the names of our interns.

Chataya de Fleury -- that's the natural response when approached by a smiling, friendly (but surprising) request. It's a calculated play and the best way to handle it is directly with humor; e.g. "fuck off," while laughing to compel his acceptance that it was "lighthearted" as opposed to coming across as defensive, and ideally in front of an audience.

An indirect response is too confusing, and getting others invovled is bad politics.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interestingly, even though I've never been in the corporate world, but instead worked in male-only fields, most of whom were either naturally dominant or learned to be that way, I think I'd still behave the same in a large corporation (but dropping all jargon / pretense of a Soldier's way). But, no, it probably wouldn't work well.

I could imagine that saying "fuck off" to a (professionally) domineering peer while laughing at him in front of an audience of subordinates / peers would seem too inappropriate, but I don't think this way would be a miscalculation. I mean, do the directors and presidents try to fit in and play nice? I don't know, but I doubt it. It would seem to me to be unlikely, especially if I were on a track toward status and position.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Chataya de Fleury said:

It’s very dependent on the corporate culture, and also, do note that women are penalized for being too aggressive, especially in a male-dominated environment.

Has the copier guy been behaving himself, realised you’re not his intern?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

A guy in my dept left recently (was a temporary post) and he left for a permanent one outside the organisation. It’s three grades higher than my post (I’m a strategic workforce planning analyst), so applied for it today.

I like my dept, my boss, and working from home, so don’t want to move, making this an ideal opportunity. The pay is £15k higher, and as its temp flr 8 months, if it foesnt get renewed/made permanent, or I dont like it, I’d simply revert back to my current role.

The application process was a pain - I managed to get my personal statement doen from 1100 words to 780 (was to aim for 750). Clicked submit two mins before the submission expiry, only to learn it was enforcing the 750 word limit!

Cue frantic cutting of words before 1200 today which was the cut off, with a minute to spare.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Derfel Cadarn said:

 

The application process was a pain - I managed to get my personal statement doen from 1100 words to 780 (was to aim for 750). Clicked submit two mins before the submission expiry, only to learn it was enforcing the 750 word limit!

Cue frantic cutting of words before 1200 today which was the cut off, with a minute to spare.

My biggest skill is getting applications down to the word count. Everyone comes to me for it. 

On the flip side my big boss dragged me into the office today and told me I'm performing shite (she's not wrong I haven't slept for 4 years and pay and conditions changes have me totally demotivated).

I'm actually very relieved because I don't disagree and I can't keep going into work feeling like a zombie. I needed a kick up the arse, or a change of role. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I feel nearly as demotivated and unaccomplished as I did at my fresh grad job. I’m not sure what age, place or employment my set of genetics was put together for, but it’s certainly not multinational corporation material. I had a meet up with former colleagues and dang I miss my previous job so much. (Which is different from regretting my resignation there, no regrets, it was probably the best moment of my feeble character, I only ever felt conviction and pride about that decision)

well the lesson here is that I need to do something significantly different. Or pursue a private life. I suppose pushing change in one area will ultimately catalyze change in the other. If only I had any damn idea what I want to do with my life career-wise. (And the guts to actually make a move) Otherwise there’s really no point in getting another corporate job that will ultimately have the same issues as the current one but perhaps pay €300 more. Man, to think that my entire career choice was based on the false concept that it would provide a well paying career… no, better not think about that. 

Edited by RhaenysBee
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/19/2022 at 1:17 PM, RhaenysBee said:

I’m not sure what age, place or employment my set of genetics was put together for, but it’s certainly not multinational corporation material.

well the lesson here is that I need to do something significantly different.

RhaenysBee -- curious, what do you find so unappealing in the multinational corporate world that would cause you to feel this miserable? And what are you considering as alternate options?

You described what I often felt on Sunday evenings, hours before going to sleep in anticipation of work the next day; though, ultimately, the dread (and shorter time requiremment) proved motivational as a means toward achieving my end-state (i.e. if you're going through hell, keep going).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Wade1865 said:

RhaenysBee -- curious, what do you find so unappealing in the multinational corporate world that would cause you to feel this miserable? And what are you considering as alternate options?

You described what I often felt on Sunday evenings, hours before going to sleep in anticipation of work the next day; though, ultimately, the dread (and shorter time requiremment) proved motivational as a means toward achieving my end-state (i.e. if you're going through hell, keep going).

- Being told to follow a different direction on the same set of tasks or process every week. 
- Working on top down goals that make no sense and provide no real customer need but having to conjure up measurements to reassure the top that the goal was both met and a good idea (even though the reality is the opposite)
- all the while listening to how empowered, progressive and agile *shudder* we all are
- trying to jam several thousand people into one-size-fits-all solutions that serve no real value for any of them 
- having no time or space for running a project I actually believe in or customers actually ask for because I need to deliver on one or more of the above
- making magic happen for unrealistic and self-serving deadlines which results in poor quality magic 
- working long and tedious hours for barely valuable results that have the lifespan of a mayfly and starting over 
- the word agile (and gamification)

 

In a perfect world I would become a writer or open a coffee&pie shop or probably both. In a less than perfect but still optimal world I could get into interior design to perhaps one day afford that coffee&pie shop and maybe write freelance or as a hobby. Or I could open a thrift shop chain that sells old rustic/retro/vintage home goods. In the real world, I have no clue. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, RhaenysBee said:

In a perfect world I would become a writer or open a coffee&pie shop or probably both. In a less than perfect but still optimal world I could get into interior design to perhaps one day afford that coffee&pie shop and maybe write freelance or as a hobby. Or I could open a thrift shop chain that sells old rustic/retro/vintage home goods. In the real world, I have no clue. 

RhaenysBee -- most of what you mentioned is relatable (there seems to be a lot of overlap relative to my former profession, which was bureaucratic-heavy), particularly what you said on top-down taskings. One of my partnered colleagues and I would sometimes tell each other, "row the boat; just, row the boat," to stay motivated, hahaha -- therapeutic, maybe. Interesting glimpse into the corporate world, one I might have pursued in a different life.

Your ideal, and optimal, lifestyles sound very appealing -- pleasant, peaceful, contented. I was preparing for my own version of the ideal, about the time I found myself (early- to mid-thirties) at risk of being pushed out. I sympathize, appreciate you sharing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’m approaching an inflection point.  I’m almost three years at my current firm and I’m outgrowing the business unit I designed and built.  I’ve spent the last 12 months on a combination of acceleration and succession planning so that I can soon step back from the day-to-day and just retain a part-time executive sponsor role of a self-sustaining business while I move on to something new within the firm.

The two team members that I have been coaching to take over my day-to-day role are both very capable and are getting closer every day to being able to fly solo on their respective share of the responsibilities.  Plus the junior team members are stable and fully trained, with well defined roles and processes.  Of course nothing ever plays out as smoothly as planned but it’s in as good as shape as it could be absent me continuing to hover over it.

This timeframe is good too.  I’m widely regarded as being one of the most successful senior hires we’ve ever made (we have a long history of senior hires taking a long time to adapt and succeed, if they even last that long), and the expectation at the end of last year was clear that I should next expand my impact beyond my original business area.  That comes with some excitement and some career risk.  You can never feel too comfortable when you are a very expensive resource — you have to keep proving your value and there’s no way to coast.

My greatest risk in this moment is that there are a handful or wider areas where I am already informally contributing and I like them all but I’m not sure I want to choose any one for dedicated focus.  They’re all areas of innovation for new investment solutions, so any of them could fizzle out over the next couple of years (that’s the nature of experimentation), and I hate the opportunity cost that carries.  But it doesn’t seem realistic to  carry forward a bundle of them — they each need some significant hands-on leadership to get them off the ground.  So choices ahead.  I’m bringing the highest value pitch to the board soon, and already previewing it with the various board members.  I’ll have a better sense by end of year where to commit my next year or more.

I also have a weird place in the org chart now.  I just report directly to the President and stand outside of the regular org chart where my original business unit lies.  It’s nice that I’m not buried in a layer but it also means I have to assemble separate resources for the new ventures, rather than just absorbing them into an expanded version of my original team.  But new ventures need freedom from the distraction of existing work, so it has to be thus.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do occasionally daydream about a lifestyle where I don’t feel ongoing pressure to strive and compete and succeed.  I know that I am an innate striver and I’ve actively sought this out all my career and I get restless without it, but it does seem relaxing to think of a time when I can do things, and do them well, without having to worry about whether I am achieving outcomes.  Just do the thing and live in the moment and let someone else worry about goals/targets, budgets, managing people.  Ah, to be feckless and uncaring. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, Chataya de Fleury said:

I hear what you’re saying, @Iskaral Pust. Being an expensive resource means really having to justify the role.

Ive come to the conclusion I’m being gently pushed out, and I’ll do the minimum while I work on finding a new role. I’ll manage my anxiety by running or going to the gym. If I haven’t found something by June 2023, I’ll have to take a pay cut, go into consulting, and continue to keep my options open for the next big thing. I don’t want to take a pay cut, but I’d rather do that than get fired. 

That’s a pity.  I thought your sector was still swimming in asset flows and faced a scramble to keep pace with all of the accounting across clients and fund vintages.

Take a look for other options.  I still get cold approaches for roles at other firms, even if the number of possible roles is much smaller at senior levels.

BTW some of the crypto and defi firms have been trying to add back office depth if you’d like something with a lot of call option upside in the comp.  I’m not a fan of that risk profile (because I’m deeply skeptical of crypto in general) but I’ve seen several colleagues and associates make that jump over the past year.  

Edited by Iskaral Pust
Link to comment
Share on other sites

One week into my new job! Gods I almost forgot how stressful starting something new is. Everyone seems very nice but it's so overwhelming and I am questioning all of my choices that have led me to this point. I know that it'll take weeks to months to feel comfortable but can't I just fast forward to that part?!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been hearing  a lot of bigotry against LGBTQ and atheists while at my current position. 
 

I’ve set up a meeting with the director of the billing department to discuss this issue tomorrow.

 

Wish me luck. This is the Deep South.

Edited by A True Kaniggit
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...