GRcade

Curls wrote:I've left the union at work as they're useless. Are there any sort of independent unions? Or do you have to join the one that's attached to the office. it seems we're a one union company, I'd like that insurance factor of being in a union. But don't want to be in the current one as they've let all the shift workers for our company down.

I think we can join PCS but the Met Office only recognise Prospect in terms of negotiating pay and benefits and so on.

One path to creating a new union would be to recruit every shift worker, or at least the majority, into a new union and make a case that shift workers are a seperate bargaining unit from non-shift workers and thus their pay and benefits should be negotiated, at least on some level, seperately. The issue with that is Prospect represent shift workers as well and while they still do, another union will not be allowed to represent them unless the Met Office allows it. Members of the union can apply for it to be derecognised but to put that through you'd need surveys and what not showing no support for the union.

unions are great; one of the only things protecting you from being strawberry floated in the bum by your bosses

But thats how you get promoted!

how do you get promoted within the union then?

It's that time again! I can hardly contain my excitement.

Squinty wrote:It's that time again! I can hardly contain my excitement.

Hammer time?

Death's Head wrote:

Squinty wrote:It's that time again! I can hardly contain my excitement.

Hammer time?

The 'be miserable and get paid for it' time.

Squinty wrote:

Death's Head wrote:

Squinty wrote:It's that time again! I can hardly contain my excitement.

Hammer time?

The 'be miserable and get paid for it' time.

Same

So I've got an interview for a new job coming up next week which is pretty exciting.

It's a bit of an odd one as I'm happy with my current employer where I have been for a good few years now and so I've not been actively searching for anything new. However a former colleague who recently joined a new company recommended the position to me and I thought "why the hell not?"

It's a much smaller organisation - they number in the tens compared to the tens of thousands of where I am now, which is probably filling me with equal amounts of excitement and trepidation. Do you stick with the security of something big that you understand or make the jump to something smaller that comes with risk but also possibly more freedom?

Jenuall wrote:So I've got an interview for a new job coming up next week which is pretty exciting.

It's a bit of an odd one as I'm happy with my current employer where I have been for a good few years now and so I've not been actively searching for anything new. However a former colleague who recently joined a new company recommended the position to me and I thought "why the hell not?"

It's a much smaller organisation - they number in the tens compared to the tens of thousands of where I am now, which is probably filling me with equal amounts of excitement and trepidation. Do you stick with the security of something big that you understand or make the jump to something smaller that comes with risk but also possibly more freedom?

Is the other place a startup? It may be that have been going for yonks and are pretty stable, last place I worked at was 10 people and have been going for 25 years and was solid.

My issues then were that they were very risk averse and hired me to expand and build products which never happens as the directors never did the "go sell" bit so I ended up making things that never progressed. very frustrating.

Either way, small doesn't mean unsafe some times it is safer.

Depends on what you would classify as a startup, they've been around for about a decade and seem to be pretty solid.

My concerns would be that where I am right now still offers plenty of room for progression but I am not sure if that will be the case at the new place which would quickly become a source of frustration I think.

Also somewhat in line with what you are saying Errkal I have no appreciation of whether they have stayed small because that is what suits them and is the right business model, or if it is because they are being too risk averse and failing to take the opportunities that are out there!

Jenuall wrote:Depends on what you would classify as a startup, they've been around for about a decade and seem to be pretty solid.

My concerns would be that where I am right now still offers plenty of room for progression but I am not sure if that will be the case at the new place which would quickly become a source of frustration I think.

Also somewhat in line with what you are saying Errkal I have no appreciation of whether they have stayed small because that is what suits them and is the right business model, or if it is because they are being too risk averse and failing to take the opportunities that are out there!

If you are happy with your current job and feel you are both treated and paid fairly, I would stay.

Death's Head wrote:

Jenuall wrote:Depends on what you would classify as a startup, they've been around for about a decade and seem to be pretty solid.

My concerns would be that where I am right now still offers plenty of room for progression but I am not sure if that will be the case at the new place which would quickly become a source of frustration I think.

Also somewhat in line with what you are saying Errkal I have no appreciation of whether they have stayed small because that is what suits them and is the right business model, or if it is because they are being too risk averse and failing to take the opportunities that are out there!

If you are happy with your current job and feel you are both treated and paid fairly, I would stay.

I'm leaning this way, although pay is one area where I think I'm being slightly undervalued at the moment so I am interested in seeing if my expectations here come across as realistic to the place I'm interviewing at. Also I I'm keen to find out more about the work, role and culture of the company as it sounds like they may offer a more flexible working environment which would appeal to me. Plus I may find the role is a perfect fit for me!

Do people think it's disingenuous to go along to an interview when I'm still on the fence about things?

Nah, an interview isn't just about you selling yourself to them, but also them to you.

In other new, my job search is going gooseberry fool. Really struggling to find jobs to apply for. Got a few email alerts for places set up, but it's slow going.

Jenuall wrote:Do people think it's disingenuous to go along to an interview when I'm still on the fence about things?

Definitely not. How can you know whether the role is for you without exploring it more. It isn't like companies only invite you in for an interview.

That's not a growth wrote:In other new, my job search is going gooseberry fool. Really struggling to find jobs to apply for. Got a few email alerts for places set up, but it's slow going.

It can be demoralising but you will get a break sooner or later.

Yeah that's true, I guess it just seems slightly odd as all my previous experience with finding jobs has been more self driven - I've seen companies and roles that look interesting and have put myself forward to be part of that, where this is more that a potential opportunity has come looking for me! Either way I'm just going to go in open minded and see what comes of it!

Death's Head wrote:

That's not a growth wrote:In other new, my job search is going gooseberry fool. Really struggling to find jobs to apply for. Got a few email alerts for places set up, but it's slow going.

It can be demoralising but you will get a break sooner or later.

Yeah hang in there - I hope your search picks up. I've only ever had one period of my life where I was in a drawn out process of searching for something and it was not the greatest experience.

Yeah I think it is fine, the interview is as much for you to see if they are right for you as you for them.

Currently watching a WebEx (as I couldn't be arsed to drive into the office and watch in person) introducing a number of US execs. Like I really give a gooseberry fool. As much as the company probably doesn't realise it, I really feel like there is a "them and us" feeling between the top execs and the "little people" in the company. Been here too long.

Jenuall wrote:

Death's Head wrote:

That's not a growth wrote:In other new, my job search is going gooseberry fool. Really struggling to find jobs to apply for. Got a few email alerts for places set up, but it's slow going.

It can be demoralising but you will get a break sooner or later.

Yeah hang in there - I hope your search picks up. I've only ever had one period of my life where I was in a drawn out process of searching for something and it was not the greatest experience.

Thanks guys. Suppose I only have to get a new job once, after all.

And DH I hated that disconnect when at my last place we got bought out by some American company. While I've yet to find a balance that's perfect that's not the way I'd like my future experiences to swing.