RE: I need help

Subject: RE: I need help
From: "Dori Green" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 12:00:28 -0500

Zen wrote,

I need help.

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

1. How is it that you've been there for five months and still have not
written your detailed job description? Go back to whatever description
they used to entice you to apply for the abuse, I mean, job, and start
from that.

2. Who asked you? HR? IT? Your manager? Do you have a manager? If
so, ask for clarification of the request. Is this supposed to be the
final evaluation document, or are you being asked just to throw together
some ideas your manager can start from because he or she really has no
idea what you do. Big difference between those two outputs. Hint --
your evaluation should be a collegial collaboration between you and your
manager. If you're doing his or her job, you should be getting his or
her paycheck. If you can do that job, you should be doing it -- if not
there, someplace else.

Note: Be aware that this "request" could be a sign of incompetence, or
it could be a carefully calculated intent to intimidate and diminish
you. Just because we're paranoid does not mean somebody isn't out to
get us.

3. The 4 or 5 "business goals" should be clearly stated in the
company's annual report. Pull the strengths and improvements from
there. Oh. They don't have an annual report? That's not a good sign.
You can relax your paranoia; you're probably just dealing with
incompetence.

4. Do NOT misinterpret "areas for improvement" as "qualities lacking"
or "deficiencies". These are the courses and conferences the company
needs to send you to, to keep you at the cutting edge of developments in
areas of importance to the company. Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
is a nice start (will cost them about $40K according to ASQ so don't
hold your breath, it's cheaper for them to hire a Black Belt consultant,
but it's a great start and can scare them into providing something less
expensive with a little less resentment and resistance).

Been through the same thing, lots of times. That's how I learned that
two documents must be written during those first two get-acquainted
weeks on a new job -- the local jargon glossary, and my own job
description including that ubiquitous "...and anything else The Boss
needs." Rots of Ruck!

Dori Green


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Follow-Ups:

References:
I need help: From: Zen C

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