Offered Job, then disappeared.......
August 13, 2015 12:52 AM Subscribe
A month ago I successfully applied and received an offer for an internal role. Initially, everything was good but for the last two weeks neither the new management or director have communicated at all with me. I am supposed to start this upcoming Monday, but with two days to go I haven't heard anything regarding my new project or even where to show up. I have sent several emails to the new manager and still haven’t heard from them. What is your recommended course of action?
I work for a big up and coming technology/telecommunications company in the US. We are coming out with a new app in the next few weeks and I decided to apply for a product management role that they had open. I was accepted to the position after several interviews but since then I haven't heard from anyone in regards to what I will be doing or even where I should show up. I work in another side of the business doing product marketing but have four years of prior experience with product management.
The app is one of the top projects for the company and the main reason I applied for the role....Now I fear that I made the wrong decision by coming to this group. If they will not talk to me now, I can only imagine how it will be once begin. I do know that they are under intense pressure to launch the product and that there has been a lot of management shuffles in the last few weeks. As a result, I am doing my best not to take it personally.
Because this is an internal role, I imagine I still have a paycheck coming in...but I am seriously worried about the decision altogether. For information purposes, I have good reviews from my current manager and have been offered jobs in other parts of the company by some of my peers so I believe that I have a good reputation.
Hive, I believe someone will eventually get in touch with me....But what would you do in this situation?
I work for a big up and coming technology/telecommunications company in the US. We are coming out with a new app in the next few weeks and I decided to apply for a product management role that they had open. I was accepted to the position after several interviews but since then I haven't heard from anyone in regards to what I will be doing or even where I should show up. I work in another side of the business doing product marketing but have four years of prior experience with product management.
The app is one of the top projects for the company and the main reason I applied for the role....Now I fear that I made the wrong decision by coming to this group. If they will not talk to me now, I can only imagine how it will be once begin. I do know that they are under intense pressure to launch the product and that there has been a lot of management shuffles in the last few weeks. As a result, I am doing my best not to take it personally.
Because this is an internal role, I imagine I still have a paycheck coming in...but I am seriously worried about the decision altogether. For information purposes, I have good reviews from my current manager and have been offered jobs in other parts of the company by some of my peers so I believe that I have a good reputation.
Hive, I believe someone will eventually get in touch with me....But what would you do in this situation?
It may be impending doom in the sense that either the team are really busy or the managers are really disorganised, but I wouldn't worry about this just yet. I've worked for a lot of managers who only deal with things directly in front of them, and the actual job was fine in all cases.
I agree with the suggestion to phone them or go over in person if that's a possibility - much harder to ignore. Act like this is the first time you've reached out - that sort of manager often gets defensive when you chase them up IME.
If all else fails just turn up at the manager's office at 8.45am Monday, somebody will tell you where to go.
posted by tinkletown at 2:15 AM on August 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
I agree with the suggestion to phone them or go over in person if that's a possibility - much harder to ignore. Act like this is the first time you've reached out - that sort of manager often gets defensive when you chase them up IME.
If all else fails just turn up at the manager's office at 8.45am Monday, somebody will tell you where to go.
posted by tinkletown at 2:15 AM on August 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
If they will not talk to me now,
Have you actually picked up the phone and called anyone? You can't rely on emails for important things.
posted by smoke at 4:09 AM on August 13, 2015 [12 favorites]
Have you actually picked up the phone and called anyone? You can't rely on emails for important things.
posted by smoke at 4:09 AM on August 13, 2015 [12 favorites]
I would lead my side of the conversation (or voice mail) with something like: "I'm sure you're very busy but my understanding is I am joining your team and want to know if I can prepare in advance, please let me know how I can help you, I am eager to start."
The above assumes as soon as the person answers/listens they are thinking "How can I safely ignore this" and with your focus on team, preparation, help and eager you might spark something in their mind. I know it would work with me, unless I was under direct orders to take no action yet.
Others probably will have better wording/advice, this is just my suggestion.
posted by forthright at 4:42 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
The above assumes as soon as the person answers/listens they are thinking "How can I safely ignore this" and with your focus on team, preparation, help and eager you might spark something in their mind. I know it would work with me, unless I was under direct orders to take no action yet.
Others probably will have better wording/advice, this is just my suggestion.
posted by forthright at 4:42 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
In addition to calling or walking over to the new manager, what did your current manager say when you asked them?
posted by AugustWest at 4:45 AM on August 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by AugustWest at 4:45 AM on August 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
Is it possible the new manager is either on vacation or (given that there is no auto reply on the email) unexpectedly out of the office?
Call the admin, and explain what's going on. There may be a very simple solution.
posted by anastasiav at 6:05 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Call the admin, and explain what's going on. There may be a very simple solution.
posted by anastasiav at 6:05 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm curious what exactly you expect would happen before Monday? At my company, internal transfers can be a bit haphazard. If there's new management, they might not have clear lines of responsibility, and might just start your transition on Monday.
Do you have HR? As someone else mentioned, is there an admin you can reach out to?
posted by vunder at 9:38 AM on August 13, 2015
Do you have HR? As someone else mentioned, is there an admin you can reach out to?
posted by vunder at 9:38 AM on August 13, 2015
I had an executive offer me a new (internal) position once. The job was going to be at another location a few months in the future after an acquisition closed. After I hadn't heard from him in 3 or 4 weeks, I found out he had quit.
posted by LoveHam at 12:07 PM on August 13, 2015
posted by LoveHam at 12:07 PM on August 13, 2015
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If you get nothing still, check in with HR. Just a "hey I was told I've got this new appointment coming up but I'm having trouble getting in touch with my new manager."
If still nothing, I'd go knock on the door of the new manager's manager and see what you can learn.
This could be a sign of impending doom (DOOM!), but it could be nothing; just something lost in the shuffle of a very stressful launch for them. The only way you're going to find out is by knocking on some doors.
posted by wemayfreeze at 1:34 AM on August 13, 2015 [4 favorites]