The Work Thread 2 - Get back to work!

[Outrunner]

I used to hate doing our yearly My Plan. It was such a waste of time. I never got the training I asked for and when it became obvious that I was being blocked from ever attaining even a basic management position I gave up. It's now just funny talking to my manager as she tries to get me to ask for training or set myself goal for the year. For some reason it came as a surprise at my last meeting when I said that my plan was to hand my notice in before next summer so I could study abroad. I've only been talking about it since I started university back in 2019

[Victor Mildew]

Had a job interview today, which I think went well.

[Drumstick]

Weird situation going on at our place. There's a departmental-wide meeting scheduled for tomorrow afternoon which, for context, would consist of about 50 people spreas across 5 teams if everyone attended.

The invite says that it is a "face to face meeting only" and that no options to join virtually will be provided.

My team have taken this to assume attendance is compulsory and are very unhappy about it. I don't agree with this assumption and whilst clarity is being sought from our senior manager (my manager's manager), I've wasted no time in informing my manager that I won't be attending irrespective of the outcome.

To me, the options are a) attend in person, or b) don't attend. Even if my wife wasn't having an operation next week and will therefore have a compromised immune system, there is approximately a 0% chance that I would even consider going because it would be totally irresponsible.

Fortunately my manager is very personable, has a strong backbone and accepts that when reasonable I won't march to the beat of anyone else's drum.

Also, I found out that there is a so-called "red-list", whereby the identities of staff that are not in the office at least two days a week are being logged. Whether this is some kind of gooseberry fool list or is being monitored to support an downsizing of HQ is up for debate.

Once my phased return is complete I'll be back to WFH full-time unless there's a contractual change.

[Drumstick]

Had a job interview today, which I think went well.

Good luck!

I've got three applications in myself for internal vacancies.

[Victor Mildew]

Had a job interview today, which I think went well.

Good luck!

I've got three applications in myself for internal vacancies.

Thank you. This was supposed to be a visit the office, say hi to the team and kick the tyres deal (as it was described to me), so when they picked up laptops and we moved to a meeting room, I panicked as I hadn't brought my stuff with me. Luckily I was dressed smartly, and I knew the two people already (it'll be with people I've worked with before, they contacted me about it). I made my apologies and explained I was told I'd be coming in, saying hi and leaving again, and they understood. Seems really positive, although I'm not getting carried away until it's in writing, but it's back to See a, job territory if I get it

[Green Gecko]

Had a job interview today, which I think went well.

Good luck!

I've got three applications in myself for internal vacancies.

Thank you. This was supposed to be a visit the office, say hi to the team and kick the tyres deal (as it was described to me), so when they picked up laptops and we moved to a meeting room, I panicked as I hadn't brought my stuff with me. Luckily I was dressed smartly, and I knew the two people already (it'll be with people I've worked with before, they contacted me about it). I made my apologies and explained I was told I'd be coming in, saying hi and leaving again, and they understood. Seems really positive, although I'm not getting carried away until it's in writing, but it's back to See a, job territory if I get it

I'm pretty sure they do that to set up an informal / impromptu interview for which you're not prepared. Then they do an actual interview.

HR also set this up with an informal colleague related to the work to show you around and then ask them what they thought of you afterward. They measure your enthusiasm and candour and ask them if they feel you would be a "good fit".

Arguably fhe first is the real interview because it can lead to failing interview 2 because you have a bad attitude when not under intense scrutiny. It's good for people who are (a) normally agreeable and come off best when they are relaxed but it's also (b) gooseberry fool for anyone who's anxious and needs to be prepared or they fumble. It's almost impossible to know which is the better situation.

[That's not a growth]

Yeah I'm not particularly happy. Meant to have had a 1-2-1 over the last few months but just hadn't happened yet - and in it I'm going to say there's another job in the company I want to be trained for (it's a business analyst, which is very similar to what I'm doing now - except they sound like they actually do it in an proper way), and if that doesn't go well then hopefully my house move will be done by then and I'll feel comfortable looking for another job. Not that trying to get a job in the past has gone well for me, but need to try at least.

I got sick of waiting so asked my manager for a private word on Friday and mentioned I was interested in the role. He said he's going to speak to his manager about it. Not heard anything yet. I'll give him until this Friday, but he's normally terrible at this kind of thing so I'm not holding out much hope on him doing anything.

But as a stroke of luck, I got asked to help the HR manager with some Excel stuff the other day (because I'm 'that' guy), and I get on OK with her as she used to be my manager in our previous positions a few years ago. She asked me how things were going, as we hadn't spoken in a while, and I mentioned I was interested in this role and she was quite excited for me (she said she always felt I would progress as I was good at my role with her) and said if things stall just let her know, and she's happy to put in a good word with the department this new job is with for me. I'll check in with my manager tomorrow and if he's not even mentioned it to his manager then I'll speak to her and see if she can help.

Also separately, it turns out my Dad kind of knows an IT recruiter. While the roles he has advertise require more experience than I have I suppose it's worth a chat, so I've got a call lined up with him today.

[Gemini73]

Had a job interview today, which I think went well.

Any news as yet?

[Victor Mildew]

Had a job interview today, which I think went well.

Any news as yet?

Well I just found out the guy I had a face to face interview with has covid, so there's that news

But no, not on the job itself.

[DarkRula]

Oh, that's not good. Hope you don't suffer any symptoms from that.

[Victor Mildew]

It's alright, I had a proper PCR test on Saturday which came back negative, and I've taken lateral flows including this morning which are also negative.

[Gemini73]

Oh...

[Tomous]

We've just been told not to come in any more unless absolutely have to and need pre approval

[Drumstick]

We've just been told not to come in any more unless absolutely have to and need pre approval

[That's not a growth]

And I've been told it's mandatory for us to continue going in. Woo

[Oblomov Boblomov]

I'm expecting reduced attendance over the quiet Christmas period but then probably straight back up to 50% from January. Depending on how much worse Omicron gets.

[Qikz]

A few of our clients are starting back from home again on Monday, not all so far though. It's dumb, they can all do it.

Then again part of me hopes they don't because we'll get a strawberry float ton of calls from people unable to connect again.

[Victor Mildew]

Got a second interview. Please let me get this, I'm ready to move on.

[DarkRula]

Positive and hopeful thoughts to you. Go get it, Victor!

[Victor Mildew]

Cheers Rula