RE: TECHWR-L Digest, Vol 13, Issue 5

[BC <bvconway -at- shaw -dot- ca>]

In my experience, the only solution is really to leave.
I've been in this situation both in a government office and
in a certain Fortune 500 company that has been in the
news lately for improper accounting practices and
other nefarious things (which is actually beside my
point, but ...).

In my case, I was the quiet worker who believed in
getting the job done on time, on deadline and using
every honest technique in the book, including humour,
to accomplish oftentimes superhuman and impossible
feats - you know, the usual story.  I was paired with
a fellow who believed that only image counts in a work
setting, whereas I believed that genuiness and work
excellence counted for more.  

This fellow was  more of
a talker than I, and I think even dressed a little better but
was useless experience-wise, he didn't know his stuff.
This doubled my workload, caused me a lot of stress
and eventually led to my demise.  The manager was
largely unreachable and favoured the other fellow.
I left.  I didn't stay to fight,  I didn't make a fuss.  I
handed in my ID card at the security desk, got in
the car, and drove away, taking the long route, through
the countryside no less.  

Needless to say, since my wife works in conflict
resolution, all-out war is also another method of
resolving disputes, but so is leaving.

If you stay,  it'll be a drag on you and everyone else.

As for getting a reference from your current job, you may
have to give that idea up, or find someone who you did
get along with to write something up for you.

"The best defense, is not to be there in the first place."
(Karate Kid - part two I think)

Other than that, there are a few lines below which might
seem to apply, especially the bit about "vexations" and
"trickery", as I found out!

Other than that, as you pass the security desk, with a
smile (I hope) think of what you might learn from this
valuable experience.  Head to a quiet place, beside a
lake, watch the falling leaves and remember that there
are still some beautiful people left.  A declining minority
it seems, and certainly not in that office where you are,
but they still exist.  :)

Perhaps play this, while reading the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP6xNFtGgeM#aCHNODZDXJk
(Gerry Mulligan - Prelude in E Minor)

Cheers
Bruce

Max Ehrmann 


Desiderata 

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story. 

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. 


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism. 


Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass. 


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself. 


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. 


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy. 


Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952



-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+bvconway=shaw -dot- ca -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+bvconway=shaw -dot- ca -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
techwr-l-request -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 11:00 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: TECHWR-L Digest, Vol 13, Issue 5

Send TECHWR-L mailing list submissions to
	techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
	http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
	techwr-l-request -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

You can reach the person managing the list at
	techwr-l-owner -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of TECHWR-L digest..."


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help 
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content  
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help
file format or printed documentation. Learn more at
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---


Today's Topics:

   1. First time for everything (James Barrow)
   2. Re: First time for everything (Suzette Leeming)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 04 Nov 2006 21:10:44 -0800
From: "James Barrow" <vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net>
Subject: First time for everything
To: "'TECHWR-L'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID: <000001c70098$bf854640$6501a8c0 -at- us -dot- deloitte -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"

Hello All,

 

Last week I posted a message regarding finding a website to calculate my
take home pay once I went full time.

 

Although I received an application and disclosure form from my current
employer's HR department, and have verbally accepted my manager's offer of
full time, I have procrastinated in sending the application back to HR.
Why?  Well, although the compensation that I was offered is good, last week
was the Week of Personality Conflicts.  I began to wonder if I really wanted
to work in that environment.

 

At the same time, I received two calls from recruiters regarding job
positions in the same industry.  The pay range for both of these positions
are significantly more than what I was offered from my current employer.
Sig.nif...i.cant.ly.

 

To keep my options open, I authorized the recruiters that called to submit
me to the client companies.

 

As an FYI, I have completed the project that I was originally hired for.
That being said, here is Jim's short list of ethical dilemmas questions:

 

1.	Since the last thing I told my manager before he left to work
off-site was that I accepted his offer of full time, I'm guessing that later
refusing that offer AND submitting my resignation would burn this bridge.
Everyone concur?  Disagree?

 

2.	Has anyone here refused a full time offer and opted to remain as a
contractor?

 

3.	If I do refuse the full time offer to work for another company, have
I violated any sort of ethics?  I mean, I did complete the project that I
was hired for.

 

4.	Although I believe that honesty is the best policy, what the heck am
I going to tell my manager is the reason for declining his offer *and*
resigning?  I really don't think it's appropriate to discuss the personality
conflicts I mentioned above (makes me sound like a whiner).

 

5.	What should I tell my current recruiter (since I actually work for
him)?

 

6.	What should I tell the perspective employers if/when I have the
respective interviews?  You know the standard question:  "Why did you leave
your last employer?"

 

Believe me when I say that I am fairly able to deal with just about anybody,
but last week was a nightmare.  Imagine every
quirky/arrogant/abrasive/obnoxious co-worker you've ever had the displeasure
to work with, and that was what last week was like for me.

 

Your comments are appreciated,

 

Jim

 

***********************************************

Subveni, Domine! Habemus aliam felem!
(Lord help us! We have another cat!)

 



------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2006 00:54:09 -0500
From: "Suzette Leeming" <suzette -dot- leeming -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: First time for everything
To: vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net
Cc: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	<86656a5c0611042154h1064f628i648628a1912587ee -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 11/5/06, James Barrow <vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net> wrote:
> Hello All,
>
>
>
> Last week I posted a message regarding finding a website to calculate my
> take home pay once I went full time.
>
>
>
> Although I received an application and disclosure form from my current
> employer's HR department, and have verbally accepted my manager's offer of
> full time, I have procrastinated in sending the application back to HR.
> Why?  Well, although the compensation that I was offered is good, last
week
> was the Week of Personality Conflicts.  I began to wonder if I really
wanted
> to work in that environment.
>
>
>
> At the same time, I received two calls from recruiters regarding job
> positions in the same industry.  The pay range for both of these positions
> are significantly more than what I was offered from my current employer.
> Sig.nif...i.cant.ly.
>
>
>
> To keep my options open, I authorized the recruiters that called to submit
> me to the client companies.
>
>
>
> As an FYI, I have completed the project that I was originally hired for.
> That being said, here is Jim's short list of ethical dilemmas questions:
>
>
>
> 1.      Since the last thing I told my manager before he left to work
> off-site was that I accepted his offer of full time, I'm guessing that
later
> refusing that offer AND submitting my resignation would burn this bridge.
> Everyone concur?  Disagree?
>
Not totally burned. We're all professionals and a better offer is a
better offer. Don't resign though until you have a signed contract.
Never count your chickens before they're hatched!
>
>
> 2.      Has anyone here refused a full time offer and opted to remain as a
> contractor?
>
>
>
> 3.      If I do refuse the full time offer to work for another company,
have
> I violated any sort of ethics?  I mean, I did complete the project that I
> was hired for.
>
You did what you were hired to do, and did it so well, they offered
you a permanent job.>
>
> 4.      Although I believe that honesty is the best policy, what the heck
am
> I going to tell my manager is the reason for declining his offer *and*
> resigning?  I really don't think it's appropriate to discuss the
personality
> conflicts I mentioned above (makes me sound like a whiner).
>
>
>
> 5.      What should I tell my current recruiter (since I actually work for
> him)?
>
>
>
> 6.      What should I tell the perspective employers if/when I have the
> respective interviews?  You know the standard question:  "Why did you
leave
> your last employer?"
>
The contract ended. Short and simple.>

>
Believe me when I say that I am fairly able to deal with just about anybody,
> but last week was a nightmare.  Imagine every
> quirky/arrogant/abrasive/obnoxious co-worker you've ever had the
displeasure
> to work with, and that was what last week was like for me.
>
>
>
> Your comments are appreciated,
>
>
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> ***********************************************
>
> Subveni, Domine! Habemus aliam felem!
> (Lord help us! We have another cat!)
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
> format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
> delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l
>
> Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular
Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as suzette -dot- leeming -at- gmail -dot- com -dot- 
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/suzette.leeming%40gmail.c
om
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
> http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
>
>


-- 
Si hoc legere scis, nimium eruditiones habes.


------------------------------

_______________________________________________
You are currently subscribed to 
TECHWR-L.
To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l
Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit 
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.

End of TECHWR-L Digest, Vol 13, Issue 5
***************************************

-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.430 / Virus Database: 268.13.28/518 - Release Date: 11/4/2006
5:30 PM
 

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.430 / Virus Database: 268.13.28/518 - Release Date: 11/4/2006
5:30 PM
 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.