job advice

“My boss just told us she's taking another job in the company. Now I've been through many management changes in my life but she is by far my favorite one ever. It's gonna suck to see her go. What's even worse about her going is the chance that some jack @ss might take her place. I get along with just about everyone so I'm not too worried about that but I've never had a bad boss and don't want to start now.

I've been throwing around the idea of applying for it myself. Out of everyone on my team I would say (and of course I'm a little biased) I am the most qualified and would be next in line but I'm not sure if I'd like to manage a team I've worked with.

Anyone ever get promoted to a position where you were managing people that you used to work with?”

“Yes, been there done that, currently doing it. Don't change the way you are. If your co-workers truly do like you and are your friend, then they will completely understand when you have to act like a boss, just don't turn into one. Always remember where you came from because that is where your subordinates are now.
last edited: 1/20/06 3:28:58 PM”

“True TK. They know you and trust you for who you are now. If you stay WHO you are even when your title is changed, they can still trust you. If you are ONLY doing it because you do not want some dork to come in an upset things, think again. Maybe your motivation is skewed and you can become dorky there too.

Are other members of your team in the running? Can you honestly support them? Or compete with them and face the consequences?

Good questions.”

“oops. part of that message is for TK and part is for TH. You can figure it out.”

“I'm getting a new boss too, I've also thought about applying, but I am nowhere near qualified enough - I don't know if I could handle being the boss of everybody I currently work with, and it would mean officework rather than getting paid to go canoeing.”

“also been there, done that...

I've always worked with people with the understanding that we were a team, working to get to a stated goal. When I became management, we still worked as a team. It was me delegating responsability. As long as you are fair (and watch out for the legal traps) your team members will probably be fine with you leading. If not, you are the boss and you can use your new power to fix the problem. Get a new team member to replace those who don't wish to play follow the leader.
last edited: 1/20/06 4:56:46 PM”

“I've always worked with people with the understanding that we were a team, working to get to a stated goal. When I became management, we still worked as a team.

BINGO Mr. Goat! You hit that one right on the head.

Simer190 - Don't sell yourself short. Go ahead and apply. It will show that you are willing to take on more responsibility and that will make you look good in the eyes of management.
last edited: 1/20/06 5:11:38 PM”

“hiking, my two paragraphs are unrelated...i would never consider a promotion just to keep someone else from getting it, that's a horrible reason to even apply for a job let alone accept it...the only apprehension i would have is that i already know these people and know their work habits and idiosyncrasies, if/when i do get back into management part of me would like to start with a clean slate of people i've never worked with or a whole new department all together...that's how all my management jobs in the past were”

“simer, if nothing else apply and gain knowledge just from the experiance of applying for a promotion and going through the the interview process...i think a lot of people think that promotions happen like they do in the movies...there's a position open and someone comes to you and says "we want you to head up the new sprocket division", when in the real world the job is posted and you have to apply for it and go after it just like everyone else”

“apprehension i would have is that i already know these people and know their work habits and idiosyncrasies, if/when i do get back into management part of me would like to start with a clean slate of people i've never worked with or a whole new department all together

Wise move. The only way to go at first. Then once you've developed an outstanding reputation as a manager, You can ease back into a department that has people you worked with previously and they will respect you more”

“I constantly get a whole series of new boss's over 25 years. Some were great & some were absolute horrors. I just watched the last set of morons leave. The relatively new set has been very good to date.

It does suck to watch an intelligent reasonable manager of people get replaced by a megalomaniac.”

“job hunting here too. Current opportunites include Boise, Yakima, Spokane, Clarkston/Lewiston.

if you decide to leave your job, check out this site.

www.asktheheadhunter.com”

“I worked two days before I was fired. Mon and Tues
company only paid me for one day WTF?

i was unable to fax my route sheet that tuesday due to fax not working. plus the last call i did was to pick up a raccoon from the park (which tested positive)
so I have no way to prove that I worked. evil bastards!

it may be only one day, but it means a lot to my family!”

“WTF? how do they that?”

“they lost the time card and i left my route sheet at the shelter. no proof :(
thank god for unions!!”

“mapleleaf do you have any friends at the shelter that could find the route sheet for you?”

“i left it in the truck. which has since been broken into and all the windows smashed. thank god i was with other people at the time. it will work out!”

“I just got a job offer! If only that was as good as it sounds. I'm giving myself an ulcer trying to decide what to do.

I love my current job. I've got a good amount of responsibility and I get to make decisions. I also think there is opportunity for advancement in my current job. The one downfall? My boss is a complete idiot. I've never had a more incompetent boss before. Anytime someone wants to know something they bypass him and come straight to me because they know that he either, won't know the answer, make the answer up, or never get back to them. He makes horrible decisions, when he makes them at all, and is horrible at leading by example. I don't trust him at all. He's spineless. The only good thing about him is that he leaves us alone but that’s not really a good trait of a manager.

The new job isn't that much more money, only a 5% increase. I'll be on a larger team so opportunity for advancement is probably smaller.

Current Job: Issuing new retirement plans such as 403(b)s, IRAs, and 401(k)s. I deal with agents on the phone on a daily basis and love that interaction.

New Job: A legal analyst in our Long Term Care legal department. I'd be responding to department of insurance and better business bureau complaints and law suites for our Long Term Care insurance products.

This is an internal job offer.

Question? Would you put up with a completely incompetent boss to keep a job that you know you like with possibility for advancement or would you take the new job to get away from a supervisor you didn't respect.

I swear, this would have been a lot easier if they'd have just not offered me the job or gave me like a 25% raise.”

“thrifty, I suggest writing out the pros and cons for each job and then compare the two to one another.”

“i was thinking exactly just that lumber...my little "rant" above gave me a good start”

“BTW I was in the same boat over a month ago only with 3 offers. It's not a bad possession to be in, but it sure does tie your gut up in knots.”

“i want to go talk to our vice president, my boss's boss...him and i have a pretty good relationship and i would really value his advice

should i mention to him my feelings about my current boss?...i would word them a little more PC or businessy then above...i'm just afraid i go too far out on a limb if i mention it...if i go to him and just tear my boss down i might just shut the door to keeping my current job
last edited: 6/20/07 11:48:48 AM”

“Thrifty...don't give yourself and unlcer. Is your bosses supervisor aware of his incompetence? Maybe that situation will fix itself! Also, they must think a lot of you to approach you with a new job..keep that in mind.

Hugs!”

“i don't see how anyone wouldn't be aware...my boss gave his boss some information just yesterday that was completely wrong and his boss asked me to verify it right in front of him...i told him the real information and my boss was like "oh, um, i just misunderstood what you were asking"...i just wanted to say no you didn't moron, you pulled that straight out of your @ss

i appreciate the pat on the back CG,but they didn't approach me with the new job...i applied for it, but you're right, it does feel great to get the offer”

“I just went through this as well Thrifty. Was at one law firm for 5 years as a senior collections specialist. Making decent money, loving the attorney's I worked with, slight chance for improvement. Big negative was the jackass of a boss I worked for. Incompetent as all hell!

New firm contacts me in Dec and askes if I want to be in charge of collections. Okay, that sure sounds good. This plus a insane pay raise (really what did it). No real negatives moving in, however I would have to start all over again.

I went from being a big fish in a big pond, to a bigger fish in a medium pond.

Looking back it now, I know I made the right choice. The department is falling apart, people overworked more than ever.”

“Thriftyhiker:

I would go ahead and test the waters, so to speak with a conversation to your boss' supervisor, particularly if you will continue to report to him through the chain of command. BUT leave your feelings about your current boss out of it. This decision is not about getting away from your boss. You are managing fine as it is and could continue to serve well in the capacity you currently hold. This decision is about future prospects and possibilities.

Morons are everywhere. To make the move to get away from a moron will simply give you another moron to rub elbows with. To make the move to greener pastures could very well be worth it.”

“Is the new job in the same company you are currently working with. If so, your boss's boss knows you are looking at making a move. I don't see anything wrong with talking to him about your future in his department (not about your problems with your boss.)”

“How old is your current boss? Any chance to leapfrog him or take his when he retires.”

“oh he's far from retiring...although, he stopped off in Durango CO on the way back from vacation last week and said he fell in love with the town and would like to find out how to move there...LOL, i think that might be a pipe dream

the thing with him is he's like the guy in office space...he does just enough to not get himself fired”

“ouch, just looked at the org chart for the new position...every which way i go on the org chart i run in to lawyers...the supervisor is about the only non-lawyer position in the department and there's only one of her and she has about 14 under her...staying put is looking better and better...i think i'll go talk to my boss' boss...that should put the nail in the coffin”