RE: First time for everything

["James Barrow" <vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net>]

>On Sunday, November 05, 2006 12:41 AM, Ned Bedinger said:
>>James Barrow wrote:

>>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.
>   
>You don't sound like you especially need this job as a career move or 
>skill builder. I'll assume that you could opt out without undue regrets.

Not especially.  I've honed my Frame skills, learned how to use Camtasia,
and have gone from "expert" to "guru" with WebWorks.  Beyond that, this job
has been much like the others.

>>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.
>   
>Nice timing.

Story of my tech writer life.  When I read posts about 'feast or famine' or
'time between contracts', I thank my massive, compact bodies of plasma in
outer space.  In 15 years as a teach writer, I have never been out of work
for more than one day.

>Can I assume that you're well-qualified in your industry and that your
>industry snaps up qualified tech writers? 

That's actually a trick question.  The industry in question is the
Entertainment industry.  It's the same as any other sector or industry
(IMO), but several recruiters have said the same thing:  "Once you've worked
in that industry, you're "in".

>Or are we proceeding on the assumption that these are 'just recruiter
>calls' with unknown odds that they'll take you to the next level?

(There's a lightbulb flickering above my head).  IT in the Entertainment
industry is a bit more hectic than in other industries that I've worked.  If
IT gets a call from an Exec VP requesting a software application, and he
wants it yesterday, IT is expected to turn back time to meet that request.
>
>>To keep my options open, I authorized the recruiters that called to submit
>>me to the client companies.
>   
>I suppose that some recruiters or their corporate clients wouldn't 
>appreciate you taking this step if you're not more or less interested in 
>an offer. But of course that's the cost of doing business, and you sound 
>like a straight shooter, so as far as I can tell you've still got your 
>integrity.

When I contacted my current recruiter he said that he was completely unaware
that I was offered FTE.  No biggie.  When I told him the salary that I had
accepted, he laughed at me (yeah, WTF?).  He said that he could have gotten
me more money if I had called him first.  Okay, thanks for making me feel
like a boob (notice the subject of this email).  This is the first time that
I have been offered full time once my contract was fulfilled.

>>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:
>
>>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?  
>
>Nope, but you know better than I how flexible or inflexible your 
>worksite manager is--the fact that you appear a bit worried about it 
>suggests to me that you're working with someone who occupies primarily 
>the serious-minded axis, to whom a deal is a deal, and who might not be 
>happy for you or accepting of your decision, especially when you reveal 
>that your changing fortunes have caused you to rethink your commitment.

My manager is a very serious about work and, as I previously posted, used
the word 'loyalty' several times when discussing FTE.

[]
>I would advise you to leave the truth about your change of mind buried 
>in the sub-subtext when you do this. Your instincts should be telling 
>you the facts that you and your boss need to bridge. It is all virtually 
>self-reconciling: "I was hired to do what I did and now I am done. I've 
>changed my mind about staying and I know why, but I don't intend to 
>elaborate on that, so if there are any issues, you can reach me through 
>my agency, and now I'll be moving on." You get the idea?

That pretty much sums it up.

[]
>>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)
>   
>Diplomatic tact is your best bet. I can't offer you better advice unless 
>you are going to reveal something pretty drastic that you've withheld from 
>the discussion so far.

Nope, nothing drastic, although the individual personality conflicts are
interesting (IMHO).  When one of the project managers mentioned that my
online tutorial webpage should be 'prettied up', I offered my services to my
manager.  The project manager went ballistic, sending several emails stating
that he didn't believe I knew what I was doing and that I was lying.  When I
went to discuss this with him, I found him sweating and rocking back and
forth in his office.

>>What should I tell my current recruiter (since I actually work for him)?
>   
>They hear it all the time: "I've found a new opportunity that I want to 
>take." If you're on good terms, they'll want to keep it that way so 
>you'll come work for them again. You're not screwing anyone over, are 
>you?

I don't think so.  I have a lunchtime interview with a potential employer
tomorrow and, if they want to hire me, I'll certainly try and give my
current employer two weeks notice.

[]
>  
>>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.
>   
>OK, now you've done it. One bad week is not much of a reason to bolt 
>from a gig where they like your work and you're content with the pay. 
>Are you saying this co-worker went off on you instead of welcoming you 
>to the club? 

Good phrase.  The project manager mentioned above has real issues with
class. Status and power and doesn't miss an opportunity to highlight others'
mistakes to our manager.  Couple this with his extreme competitiveness, and
it's bad ("Hey Jim, how do you like your new office?  I think mine's
bigger")

>Like, they set up a big blaster by your desk at 6 AM (when you do your best
>work) and blared "A little bit of Monica in my life, a little bit of ..."
>all morning as if you wasn't even there? I had a co-worker who did stuff
>like that. Is that the magnitude of the indignity you're talking about?

Hehe..nothing quite that bad.  When we first started, lunch was a big thing
- we all ate together as a group.  In the last six months, this guy has
drawn some clear lines between permanent employees and contractors.  He
believes that these two groups shouldn't co-mingle in the cafeteria.  Again,
just annoying

>>Your comments are appreciated, 
>   
>Oh sure, I've seen how you handle commitment.

>Heh heh. :-)
>
>>Subveni, Domine! Habemus aliam felem!
>>(Lord help us! We have another cat!)
>
>--Ned "Not a cat person."

LOL!  Would you like one or two for the weekend?

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