Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with promotion and jobs

calling all HR/recruiters...resume update?

ps_im_awesome — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:44:52 -0800

I've recently (yesterday) been promoted to a new position at work. I have been actively applying for jobs for some time now. As I continue my search, should I alter and update my resume to reflect the new impressive job title? Or will the recentness of the promotion look odd to recruiters and HR? The title is a much better one than my previous, but the pay is the same and the extra content is not in line with what I want to do. Also, it's really just a title change as no one will be replacing me. I had made up my mind to explore other jobs a while ago, and while the promotion is not unwelcome, I worry that recruiters or HR will balk when they see that I've only been in the position for XX days, etc. Do I update my resume and use the more impressive title, or continue on as I've been and make the change further down the road once I've become more established in that roll? The new title is not so out of line with what I want to do, and using it will not necessarily hurt my chances to continue on in that field. Think, "widget manager" to "widget director" who oversees duties of widget manager, except that there's no widget manager as I will still be handling those duties.

Is it better to be demoted for my own sanity, or to stay miserable until I can jump ship?

croutonsupafreak — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:17:54 -0800

Should I ask for a demotion? Or keep sucking it up while I look for the next big thing? I'm a newspaper editor who hates her job and would like to be a reporter again. I became a mid-level editor about two years ago. I enjoy working with reporters as they map out their story plans, and I like editing their work. But that's probably only 20 percent of my time. A lot of my work involves administrative stuff that I'm not good at and don't enjoy - creating budgets, tracking spending, putting on events, coordinating complex projects with multiple people, etc. A depressing amount of my work also involves implementing cost-cutting decisions made by my higher ups -- reducing syndicated content, deciding which features to eliminate, developing plans for filling the paper with fewer people, negotiating cheaper contracts with vendors, etc. Compounding my frustration with the tasks on my plate, I feel constantly undermined and ignored by my boss, who rejects my suggestions and ignores my feedback.

I worked at this newspaper for three years as a reporter, and really liked what I was doing. And we will be hiring a reporter in the new year whose duties will be right in line with the kind of work I'd like to do next in my career. I'm torn about whether to seek that job, which would entail a pay cut and demotion, or whether to try to hold on longer in this gig while I seek work elsewhere.

My mentor - who previously worked at this newspaper - left because of the same frustrations. She says that my next move should be a big leap, and I like that idea. I'm applying to about one reporting job a week at bigger news organizations. I'm also taking classes and laying groundwork for a possible career change. Meanwhile, my current job is killing me, and I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. But I worry that I might not enjoy being a reporter here if I tried it again, because I've been so disheartened by my more recent experiences. How can I decide what direction to go?

tl;dr:
I hate being an editor and liked being a reporter. But I'm not sure if I'd like working as a reporter at this place as much as I did before, considering the depressing and disheartening experiences I've had since my promotion. Should I seek a demotion to a better-fit here, or should I suck it up and continue to look for something bigger and better at another paper?

Help me be an amazing executive assistant!

thankyouforyourconsideration — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:56:36 -0800

Can you give me advice, tips, useful skills, and important details on becoming a fantastic executive assistant? Please feel free to be as general or specific as you would like. Lots of details and Background info about me and the company, apologies for the length:

I was hired at this company through a temp agency as a receptionist about two months ago. I heard the CEO and CFO were looking for an executive assistant (they did not have one at the time) and submitted my resume for consideration. They are going to move me into that position although they have not officially offered me the job, because my temp contract is for 5 more weeks, and there would be a financial penalty. I believe the will also be using the next five weeks as a trial period to see how I do in the new position.

I do not have experience in this type of position, and have not spent a lot of time in offices in general. However, I have a college degree, am proficient with computers, and am adapting quickly to corporate culture. Prior to this I was primarily a bartender.

The job description is a little vague. And there is not really anyone to "mentor" me, as the two executives are very busy. HR has expressed some concern about me being in over my head. And I do not want to be bugging them with lots of little questions. I want to be helpful, and make their jobs run smoother.

They are also interested in training me with the accounting department, so that I can offer suport there.

I will also be doing a LOT of filing. If there are websites, books or articles you can recommend on organizing an office that would be really helpful. I have a habit of relying too much on my memory and not enough on systems.

The company is 130 people, and we are in manufacturing (a field I have zero experience in). I tried to include the details that may be important. I appreciate any and all insight and advice. Thank you!!

Hire Me

jasondigitized — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 04:48:30 -0800

What blogs / sites make you say "I want to hire this guy!". What is it about those sites that makes you say this? If and when my next employment search comes up, I would like to have a web presence that gives prospective employers a window into my work, thoughts, outlook, etc. I am looking for blogs that do a great job at selling the author to potential employers. I am interested in content but also the sites presentation and functionality. I am more interested in business related blogs rather than designer / portfolio types sites, but will take all comers. Blogs that incorporate photos of the author would be a bonus. Help me find examples of great personal salesmanship on the web.

It's not what you know, it's...

Lutoslawski — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:34:07 -0800

How do I go about inquiring about working for a company who's Director of Communications is on the executive board of the non-profit I currently work for? I am currently working for an arts/culture non-profit. I'm young (recently out of college) and work in development. I feel that my background/skills/interests are perfect for a much larger, for-profit company whose Director of Communications (and thereby official spokeswoman) serves on the board of directors of my current employer. Is there an appropriate way I can use this connection to get a job at the larger company? Without my current employer finding out about it?

I have considered approaching our own rather well-connected Director of Communications, who is not my boss in any capacity, to see if she might discreetly inquire about a job at the larger company. Or is this just horrible form? I don't want to lose my current job and my shot at a new job. Do I just send off my resume and cover letter, unsolicited? I feel like I'd be shooting myself in the foot by doing that.

Advice? Experiences?

Best way to negotiate a large raise?

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:23:37 -0800

How can I smartly/safely negotiate a substantial promotion and raise? I signed onto my current position at a salary in the mid-50s. I definitely undersold myself, but I came from a technical position in a non-technical field and didn't have a very high base to negotiate from. After some staff turnover in the last year, I've informally taken on a much more senior position running the team I was hired into.

Now I would like to renegotiate and make that position official. I spoke with several past employees who held this senior position and their salaries were $40k to $60k higher than what I am making. I've got the chops to be in that range: 8 years of experience, some fairly significant contributions to this company, and a hell of a lot of hours spent in the office. But I am worried that they'll balk at such a sudden increase, even if it's part of a promotion.

Any strategies or advice? Is it wiser to start high and negotiate down, or should I be wary of asking for too much initially and sounding like I'm just fishing?