My job - Should I stay or go ? The Clash .
March 24, 2011 12:24 PM Subscribe
Should I find someone in upper management to define my job ? Should I do it myself ? Is this just a sign of the tires coming off the bus and I should get off that bus ?
Or just keep working as best I can because at least I have a job .
Long problem I'll try and keep short.
Current job on seven years. Economy intercedes . Offer to move from supervisor job to newly created position X . I accept the offer.
Layoffs ensue, including the person who created my position and took my previous supervisor position. I am now twice removed from management with no one to report to. This leaves me without any structure, no job description or defined roll other than my title.
I have started to do monthly reports to myself and thought I'd ask if this was healthy.
While I am more than adequately covering the task defined by my title - it is so slow it makes me wonder why they created this position in the first place. I went from overworked to working on the moon.
I have been arguing with my self about this , need outside input , and realize this probably indicates I should be job searching .
Long problem I'll try and keep short.
Current job on seven years. Economy intercedes . Offer to move from supervisor job to newly created position X . I accept the offer.
Layoffs ensue, including the person who created my position and took my previous supervisor position. I am now twice removed from management with no one to report to. This leaves me without any structure, no job description or defined roll other than my title.
I have started to do monthly reports to myself and thought I'd ask if this was healthy.
While I am more than adequately covering the task defined by my title - it is so slow it makes me wonder why they created this position in the first place. I went from overworked to working on the moon.
I have been arguing with my self about this , need outside input , and realize this probably indicates I should be job searching .
I had a situation similar enough to yours once. It didn't last.
posted by philip-random at 12:32 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by philip-random at 12:32 PM on March 24, 2011
Oddly, I have found that when I looked for more work or asked for more responsibility, people did not respond positively. It is very strange. So if you do ask for more defined duties, you may be opening a can oʻworms.
posted by fifilaru at 12:35 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by fifilaru at 12:35 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
You pretty much need to start looking for another job as soon as possible. Use your extra time at work to do this.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:39 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by KokuRyu at 12:39 PM on March 24, 2011
Keep going as long as possible whilst looking for another job. If there are specific other things you could handle, or overworked people, perhaps offer to help out.
This situation is unlikely to keep going forever and you have no one to go to bat for you.
posted by plonkee at 12:49 PM on March 24, 2011
This situation is unlikely to keep going forever and you have no one to go to bat for you.
posted by plonkee at 12:49 PM on March 24, 2011
I agree with fifilaru and have seen people who ask for more work as getting canned.
Also, don't make your job more than it is. I've seen people who've had the work load reduced and would have stayed on longer if they hadn't pissed everyone off by making their reduced duties seem like they were the only ones doing anything. Your goal here is to stay off management's radar.
At least you're getting paid to job hunt.
posted by geoff. at 12:58 PM on March 24, 2011
Also, don't make your job more than it is. I've seen people who've had the work load reduced and would have stayed on longer if they hadn't pissed everyone off by making their reduced duties seem like they were the only ones doing anything. Your goal here is to stay off management's radar.
At least you're getting paid to job hunt.
posted by geoff. at 12:58 PM on March 24, 2011
I, too, once had a delightful job that paid me to learn web development skills in lieu of actually having any work for me. Alack, I was just out of college and didn't realise what a terribly bad sign that is. You need to polish your resume and start looking immediately.
posted by winna at 1:04 PM on March 24, 2011
posted by winna at 1:04 PM on March 24, 2011
Response by poster: My main worry is supporting the family and that can'o worms - that there is no "management" and they don't really know what needs doing and me asking exposes that.
In which case I need a new job as corporations without management tend to fly to pieces.
Now where is my cheese? What color is my parachute ? Where is my cliche generator ? Set it to stun!
Grrrrrrr, I guess I am stalling .
This input really , really, well , helps a lot.
Which is a bit of a understatement. Thanks.
posted by epjr at 1:15 PM on March 24, 2011
In which case I need a new job as corporations without management tend to fly to pieces.
Now where is my cheese? What color is my parachute ? Where is my cliche generator ? Set it to stun!
Grrrrrrr, I guess I am stalling .
This input really , really, well , helps a lot.
Which is a bit of a understatement. Thanks.
posted by epjr at 1:15 PM on March 24, 2011
When management stops talking to you, it probably means you're next in line to get the pink slip. Even if you aren't, this raises major issues about management practices in your org.
I'd be looking for a new job very, very hard right now.
posted by bfranklin at 1:53 PM on March 24, 2011
I'd be looking for a new job very, very hard right now.
posted by bfranklin at 1:53 PM on March 24, 2011
I don't necessarily think this situation screams ZMOG JOB DOOM. But there are definitely warning signs.
You need to get yourself looped back in to the water cooler gossip. Asking people for work generally never goes over well. Offering to pitch in on a specific project that's lacking resources where you propose a specific solution goes over much better. Office gossip is the best way to find these opportunities.
Also, if there are multiple major disasters in the company, and you're chugging along without issues, this could also explain management ignoring you.
Bottom line: you need allies and input from many more people within the organization, not just a direct manager.
posted by psycheslamp at 2:02 PM on March 24, 2011
You need to get yourself looped back in to the water cooler gossip. Asking people for work generally never goes over well. Offering to pitch in on a specific project that's lacking resources where you propose a specific solution goes over much better. Office gossip is the best way to find these opportunities.
Also, if there are multiple major disasters in the company, and you're chugging along without issues, this could also explain management ignoring you.
Bottom line: you need allies and input from many more people within the organization, not just a direct manager.
posted by psycheslamp at 2:02 PM on March 24, 2011
Maybe do two things:
(1)
Ramp up your job search pronto. (And in this economy, I respectfully suggest that one should always keep an ear to the ground with respect to exit strategies from wherever one is now.)
(2)
Figure out what your current job should be, lay it out conceptually, document it and make a pitch for it to management (as in, to whomever is most logically up the line from you). It would be a good exercise; it would help you get your work function preferences in place (for here or elsewhere); and something interesting might come of it.
posted by cool breeze at 3:02 PM on March 24, 2011
(1)
Ramp up your job search pronto. (And in this economy, I respectfully suggest that one should always keep an ear to the ground with respect to exit strategies from wherever one is now.)
(2)
Figure out what your current job should be, lay it out conceptually, document it and make a pitch for it to management (as in, to whomever is most logically up the line from you). It would be a good exercise; it would help you get your work function preferences in place (for here or elsewhere); and something interesting might come of it.
posted by cool breeze at 3:02 PM on March 24, 2011
Response by poster: I like all this input and have decided to do all of it - sort of :
A) Help out the overworked around me
B) Search for new positions or create one
C) Define my current position and continue as if there was someone asking me to report on my "progress" - much like a court page in a Kafka novel
I just had information that I am expected to do stuff next year from upper management - which would indicate I am not on the naughty list.
I just wish they knew how nerve racking this is without sabotaging my position.
Thanks to all ! Take the weekend off - good job .
posted by epjr at 1:17 PM on March 25, 2011
A) Help out the overworked around me
B) Search for new positions or create one
C) Define my current position and continue as if there was someone asking me to report on my "progress" - much like a court page in a Kafka novel
I just had information that I am expected to do stuff next year from upper management - which would indicate I am not on the naughty list.
I just wish they knew how nerve racking this is without sabotaging my position.
Thanks to all ! Take the weekend off - good job .
posted by epjr at 1:17 PM on March 25, 2011
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Best case, you look like a go-getter, you get some work to keep you busy, and you stay on people's radar in a positive way. Worst case, they notice they don't need you and all that job searching becomes necessary a little sooner than would happen otherwise. But I'd go for it.
posted by restless_nomad at 12:29 PM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]