So then.
After two months of blogging silence, I’ve decided to see if I can put something in here every day this month. That’s right! 31 straight days of completely meaningless drivel, brought to you by the magic of my Microsoft Surface and the idiocy of my somewhat malformed mind.
Some of you may recall that I managed to do this “post a day” thing successfully a few years ago. At least I think I did. I came close at any rate. I’m not sure what I managed to write about for that month, just as I’m not sure what I’m going to write about this month, but I guess I can start with catching up.
Not too much to say on that front. I’m still in the same stupid job and I still despise it. There is a slight glimmer of hope in that area, however. A month or two ago, I started discussing the idea of moving from operations (a mind-numbingly boring job with a complete lack of anything resembling a steady schedule) to analysis (which, although the title sounds even MORE mind-numbingly boring, involves working with databases, writing code, creating applications, and having a normal Monday-Friday gig). This new gig would still be with the same company, working with the same data, maybe even doing some of the same things as I’m doing now – but I’d have a boss who “gets it” (insofar as creativity vs. stasis) and I could stop stressing out over my schedule. Those are two pretty huge deals. On the down side, I’d go from being a level 2 manager to a level 1B manager, which means nothing to anyone, I’m sure; what it boils down to is that, while my salary would remain the same, my bonus would be calculated at 2% less than it is now.
Not really a huge deal to me, to be completely honest. A bit of an ego slam, as I’ve been a level 2 for the last 10 years, but that’s about all really.
So when the job was finally posted a couple of weeks ago, I applied for it. The application process itself was sort of cool, because I haven’t actually put a resume together in close to 25 years, and I have to pat myself on the back here and say that I’ve got a pretty damned impressive resume.
After submitting the application and telling my potential future boss about it, I decided it would only be right and proper to let my current boss in on the scoop.
He was less than thrilled.
Now, this is really sort of strange. I started with this guy last May. In late July, I had my mid-year review with him, at which time he said to me, “I get the idea that, had you known more about this job when I offered it to you, you wouldn’t have taken it.” I agreed with him completely. Told him that I was incredibly underwhelmed by the work, by the schedule, by the attitudes in the group, and by the management style of his team leads. I stopped short of telling him that I didn’t like *his* management style only because, frankly, he doesn’t really manage anything. He delegates it to his team leads.
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| One of my latest works d’art. I call it “Orange Lake.” |
After telling him all this, I received my typical “meets and may exceed expectations” rating…and was informed that no one else on his team rated any higher. I’ve never really understood the whole concept of “may exceed” on these ratings, btw, but that’s beside the point. What surprised me most was that I could sit there and tell him to his face that I think the job sucks and that the management team that he put together (and, one would assume, directs) is a large reason for that – and in response to this, he’d give me his highest rating.
By the time December rolled around and my year-end review was due, I held back even less. Told him not only that the job and his team leads STILL sucked, but also that I really didn’t understand large pieces of things that I’m supposed to understand, that I don’t particularly care to understand those things, and that I’m frankly completely unimpressed with the product that we’re supposed to be supporting. I should mention here that I was originally signed up to be in the “friendly” trial for this product; but, after seeing what a complete balls-up the whole thing is, I opted out of the trial.
Naturally, after completely ripping everything about his company for my year-end, I was awarded a “meets and may exceed” rating and given a 3.5% raise.
Two weeks later, I put in for the new job.
As of yesterday, when he and I had a little chat about things, I’m not going to be released to the new job. We again discussed the fact that I really don’t want to do what I’m supposed to be doing, he again mentioned that he really wants me to stay on his team, and we’ve temporarily agreed that I will continue to keep the same title, sit in the same seat, and report to him (or his team leads) – but that the work I do will be whatever is needed in the position that I applied for (database reconciliation, writing programs, troubleshooting, etc.). In a backroom discussion with the potential boss, I stressed that, in order for me to make this arrangement work for her, I have to have a schedule that meshes with hers – which is a normal Monday-Friday, 8-5 thing. She’s agreed to bring that up with my current boss.
And if he doesn’t go for it? Well….there’s another job about to come open in IT and I’ve already been doing a lot of things related to that job and have been sucking up to the IT director for the last 6 months, And THAT job would be a promotion – which means that my current boss is not allowed to block me from taking it if it’s offered.
So I’ve got that on the back burner.
If everything falls through? Well, it might be painful and it might take some serious planning and I might have to live on beans and rice for a while; but quitting is ALWAYS an option. Been there, done that, got plenty of t-shirts.
And on that happy note, we’ll call this entry done.
TWD