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Archive through March 03, 2010

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: January 2010 ~ April 2010 - 2: The only Dumb question is the one not asked (Q&A): Archive through March 03, 2010 users admin

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Y2krazy
Member

09-17-2002

Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 8:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Y2krazy a private message Print Post    
Thinking very good thoughts for Escapee. I've got a good feeling about this for you.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 9:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
I hope so. The review didn't go as well as it had in the past. It was more of you need to make sure you are doing THIS. Focus on Accuracy and details.....usually it's positive, this time it was more negative. My sister seems to think that is good. I walked out not feeling very good about the situation. They talked about focusing on cross training the other girls in my department. I wonder if it's because they are going to hire the 'other' gal and they are prepping me to train someone who will take over for her if she's promoted.
I know there are areas I need to work on, but I need to be given the opportunity where these things will be noticed. What I do now is so routine.
We will see, the interview is Friday. I have to have all the stuff we talked about in the review dealt with by then, updating a bunch of stuff. Saving it on the drive. I am thinkign about going in early tomorrow.

Folks, I know I've been a bitcher and complainer the last week or so. Things have been really rough at home and I am really worn out. Seems like I try to get things perfect and they come back with revisions. It's rough. The kids are really acting up, the 16 year old is about to make me pull my hair out, and work, well.... I can't get motivated to drop this last 10 pounds, and I think it's now 12 pounds. I have come home the last two nights, put the kids in bed and poured myself a drink.

On the plus side my garden and yard look fabulous. Bulbs are coming up, things are trimmed back, herbs are planted, seed boxes are done. I've got cakes ordered for every weekend this month.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 9:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
Thank you for letting me vent it out.

Biscottiii
Member

05-29-2004

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 2:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biscottiii a private message Print Post    
Sending good vibes to you Escape! Sometimes in my former 30+ years career is that the powers that be would prefer not to promote the more capable/reliable person (especially if she be female) which is why often the smoozer gets the job. It's more difficult to hire & train someone to replace the better worker. Then they can't figure out why the morale drops.

I certainly hope they will give you a better chance! Good luck.

Biscottiii
Member

05-29-2004

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 3:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biscottiii a private message Print Post    
Story here about moving the paperwork issues. Once we had an idiot "Executive Assistant" to the Director. He dropped the ball so many times, lost my requests for reevaluations on my job requirements. In the end the company had to promote & pay backpay to me when it finally came to a head and started looking like outright discrimination against a handicapped worker. $4.50/hr difference for 5-1/2 years, it came to a $47,000 check for backpay. Dated back to when they had promoted my counterpart (Asian woman I had trained, with fewer databases to manage & timekeepers to train).

Anyway, this idiot filled in for my boss for a month. First thing he did was to tell me to clean up my workstation. Gasp, I had problems going with software upgrades going with the 3 databases I was database administrator for. Software was dropping data and payroll info, it was just a nightmare. I had piles of paper separated for each database, on my desk, on the file cabinet, on the windowsill. But at least I KNEW where everything was as problems were cropping up. We were out in a field office, not like the Mayor or the head honchos would come traipsing in to see.

Nope, stop everything! Spend all the time needed to make my area look more professional. Well, I gritted my teeth and took my time. Asked him if the office could have carpeting "since we needed to look professional" No, the crews would track dirt and it wasn't in the budget! I asked if we could have drapes "since we needed to look professional". No, we didn't need to look THAT professional.

I have to tell you, when I went downtown some months later, I just about fell over & just stood there gaping at HIS office!!! That very same Executive Assistant had an office with floor to ceiling inside windows. Other than a tiny pathway around his desk, his ENTIRE floor was covered with 2-3 FOOT stacks of papers. More stacks of papers same height covered EVERY possible surface in his office.

No wonder he always lost my requests or evaluations. There wasn't even any method to his madness. They fired him just a couple years after I left, should have fired him years before.

Oh, might I add, once I cleaned up my desk. The crews (whose paychecks I was trying to make sure were okay via the payroll software which was dropping their overtime pay) awarded me a pseudo degree of "Doctor of Urban Sanitation" signed by Alan Greenspan & Richard Nixon. Bound in a tiny black frame, very professional looking, which I mounted on the wall behind my desk. (Boy, did that p!ss him off, but he couldn't say anything since it was the crews that presented it.)

It was a bearcat later. I couldn't find stuff quickly when I needed it! Feels good to finally vent and get it off my chest. Thx all for your patience!!

Sia
Member

03-10-2002

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 4:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sia a private message Print Post    
Biscottiii, you hit the nail on the head about corporations not wanting to promote the person who would be more difficult to replace--no matter how much more qualified he/she is! Great story about your office nightmares. (Hey, Gordon Ramsay could be a consultant and you could start a new series: Office Nightmares, LOL.)

(((Escapee))) positive vibes sent your way; wishing you luck on interview day.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 5:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
As women we often times feel uncomfortable tooting our own horn thinking 'well, since we are doing such a great job, people will notice'. BUT sometimes you have to. Don't you brag about your kids' accomplishment? Keep records/notes of how you have improved a situation, how you have made it run more efficiently, ect. It's ok to toot our own horns.

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 5:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
"I wonder if it's because they are going to hire the 'other' gal and they are prepping me to train someone who will take over for her if she's promoted."

Perhaps they just want to make sure there is someone who can do *your* job when *you* are promoted.

As for the 16-year-old, I just had my child psych students review an article called "Inside the Teen Brain." Might give you some insight into why your 16-year-old acts the way s/he does... :-)

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/
articles/990809/archive_001644.htm


Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 8:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Escapee, sometimes they can't just do a glowing review. Year and year, I know I do a damn good job, but they can't just say I always walk on water no matter how much I do. So there are always a few picky things. Maybe they are being harder on you because you are going to move into a new position. And yes, if they are wanting you to train backfill, that's usually a good sign that you may be moving on up.

Chin up. You're doing fine. And remember to go in to the interview on Friday with a positive attitude and a big old sunshiney smile on your face! :-)

Dfennessey
Member

07-25-2004

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 8:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dfennessey a private message Print Post    
And we will be hear cheering for you during your interview.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 9:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
I always say your review isn't where you should hear about an issue or problem. Thankfully my boss feels the same way, however, the Chief of our Unit has decided that since I have received high ratings (4, 4.5's and 5's in a system where 5 is the highest) my goals must not be challenging enough!! He doesn't believe people should get a 5, unbelievable! Anyway, we have to somehow change my goals so I don't get such high ratings even though it is my personal goal to always get a 5 on everything I do! And I have been in the industry for over 25 years and an considered an expert in my field.

And the job is the job, you can't really change it, the most important thing is for me to stay up on changes within the industry, which I do, so I am not sure how we will accomplish that.

I am about ready to say, just rate me lower. My income is where I want it, more is fine but not needed, I would prefer more time off but that is based on seniority. I know I do an excellent job, get kadoos (LOL- thank you NY Housewives) from all areas of the company, so the review is just a formality for raises and bonuses.

Good luck Escapee, keep a positive attitude and have a great interview.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 10:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
It's common HR practice when someone consistently gets 5's. You can't always be perfect and if you are a consistent 5 when meeting goals then either their expectations aren't high enough or your goals aren't high enough. A 5 here and there is expected, but not all 5's and not all the time.

I used to crack up at a manager a few jobs back. He always rated me about a 3. When I finally asked him about it, he said that they had such high expectations of me, that getting a 3 was a major accomplishment. I asked him if HR understood that and then HE cracked up! He did always comment that my performance was excellent so the numbers didn't mean diddly.

In fact, the only time the numbers actually mean anything is if they use a point system to determine percentages in case of a raise. Even then, it's a subjective system and you can receive a higher percentage even if your numbers fall in the middle of the herd.

I never worry about my review. I go above and beyond the call of duty, do way more than anyone else in my dept, consistently stay on top of issues, work well with all members of the team outside my own dept (and am thought highly of by them), problem solve before there are problems, stay current in my field (including being a speaker and sharing my own knowledge). I get teased\that I write all the docs in the company (I don't, but I do write or am responsible for a large percentage including all localized docs). I get recognized for all the good work I do (financially). So if during the review process they feel it's important to ding me on a few things, that's fine. I know I'm not perfect, I probably never will be.

And I'm getting Friday off (the entire dept is cuz we've worked so many late nights and weekends lately). Another way to get recognized. Now I'm just hoping the stoopid weather decides that it'll hold off raining until late Saturday night!

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 12:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Well, the numbers do mean something, with how you get a raise around here. If you get a 4.25 or better you get the higher raise percentage, around 3%.

And I didn't mean to imply I get a 5 for everything, I said, 4, 4.5 and 5 for the different goals, generally in that neighborhood.

As I said, I go above and beyond so don't really care about the review, just think it is silly.

When I was a manager, I didn't have time for employees that performed at a less than 3 level, I needed top performers, not slackers, LOL.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 12:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
I am starting to second guess my work history here. Did I do well enough in the past? I've been thinking about stupid mistakes and errors I've made. GAH I hate this.

Dfennessey
Member

07-25-2004

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 1:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dfennessey a private message Print Post    
Escapee there is no reason why you do not deserve this promotion.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 1:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Escapee, your current manager already told you good on you for applying. Don't second guess. You're doing fine. Everyone makes stupid mistakes and errors, because no one is perfect. Ever. The important thing is to learn from those mistakes and to not repeat them.

Babyruth
Member

07-19-2001

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 1:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyruth a private message Print Post    
Right. What's important is how you handle the mistakes you make. Do you take accountability or blame others? Do you amend them quickly or try to ignore them? Are you more concerned about the company or yourself? How's your attitude? Positivity sells.
Good luck, try to relax and smile. Sell yourself with confidence. :-)

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 1:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sunshyne4u a private message Print Post    
i think it all comes down whether a person is willing to fight it.

sometimes, if unionized, there is a framework of appeals that can be done. Howver, i sure found that failed the one two times I fought a job change.

Biscottiii, you hit the nail on the head about corporations not wanting to promote the person who would be more difficult to replace--no matter how much more qualified he/she is!

this happened to me when I wanted to leave my Supervisor position and wanted to be an ordinary joe. I applied for the first job that came open, involving less wages and two days less a week. They refused to let me have it. Seriously, it was ridiculous.

i've found that the people making decisions are often working counterproductive to what really should be done. IF escapee's job is going to be hard to replace/ train someone to do it properly, they may not want to promote.

in my case when I used to take holidays they would end up staffing two people to do my job. i thought it was bogus but I've found that a88kissers often are not very organized or productive.

cant talk on the phone or schmooze drs/ nurses and keep up on a Full workload. Geez i hated working with people like that.

i say try to keep positive Escapee, but if things dont go your way this time, fight it IF you really want that other job.

I've had the Fake low evaluation too, right as i was trying to demote myself.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 1:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
I am my own worst critic, LOL. The cafeteria screwed up the other day on my project and I took full blame, just for assuming they new what they were supposed to do, after I told them what needed to be done. LOL. HOnestly babyruth, if I am not right for this and they think I'll get in over my head, I dont' want it. I don't want to be responsible for something going awry in the company. I don't want to lose respect, and I don't want that to reflect badly on those who gave me the opportunity.

Babyruth
Member

07-19-2001

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 2:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyruth a private message Print Post    
Ok that's completely understandable. But see if you can put thoughts like that aside during the interview and instead talk about how much you are looking forward to this opportunity, that you know you're a great fit for the position because (reasons you gave us earlier here)and you feel you have a lot to offer. With even feigned confidence. :-) Practice!
You can do it!!!!

Then regardless of the result you know you gave it your best shot.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 3:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
<-- Smacking Escapee upside the head! Girl, you KNOW you are qualified for this job! You KNOW you can do it! Now go out there and GET IT!!!

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 3:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sunshyne4u a private message Print Post    
okay, now i've changed my opinion. If escapee is wacked with second thoughts and concern this is probably not the time to be promoted.

Upper management routinely will try to stick blame on people and it takes a hard firm resolution to stand up for yourself. IF a person whos they take on blame for others mistakes (such as the cafeteria) this new job could be hellish.

sorry for being the Devil's advocate here, but for over half of my career i was in the hotseat. IF anything went wrong it was ultimately my responsibility even IF it was others who messed up.

I didnt make errors but was supposed to constantly be checking my workers work or so it seemed. Of course this is not plausible in most areas especially emergency work so i got a thick skin dealing with management who wanted to point fingers.

IF a person doesnt have a thick skin, or isnt entirely sure what their new job entails, they may want to exercise caution. In my union we could revert to our old job only if the new job had an offical probationary period.

Babyruth
Member

07-19-2001

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 3:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyruth a private message Print Post    
If Escapee didn't have a second thought about interviewing for a promotion, she'd be in quite a minority. I don't think anyone should be discouraged from going for a promotion they are interested in.

Grooch
Member

06-16-2006

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 4:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grooch a private message Print Post    
I believe Escapee has the thick skin she will need. (And I mean this in a complimentary way) :-)

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 4:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
Oh, you got that thicke part right!