The Work Thread 2 - Get back to work!

[Rocsteady]

Decided to leave my job in the near future. Is too much work and after almost 5 years, I'm sick of it.

I've got an all expenses paid trip to the US in early May so will hang about for that though.

Not sure how long I need to wait after that to avoid there being bad blood. Maybe early June handing in the resignation..?

Are they funding your trip to the US for work purposes that are specifically around mid/long-term goals involving you as an individual rather than the holder of your post e.g. networking, building personal relationships etc that you can't just hand over entirely to your successor?

We have a small team that hasn't met in person since pre-covid so the generic reason is team building. I have a couple of presentations to do but nothing major.

All internal? Bollocks then, just do whatever you're being paid to do out there to the best of your ability and there's no real reason why you should feel bad about leaving shortly after.

Ma man.

[Tomous]

Found out today I'm getting a £4k bonus for my first 10 months

Been a bit unlucky in the past that I've missed out on bonuses at previous companies because I've ever been leaving and they have a policy of not paying to people on their notice or the company have cancelled all bonuses for the year for wider reasons.

Might get a PS5

[Rocsteady]

Nice one, congratulations!

[aayl1]

My notice has been handed in ahead of my move to Chicago later this year. I feel bad for my immediate team as the upper management has really strawberry floated over the structure and resources in place meaning they're really gonna feel my loss. One very overworked colleague looked like they were gonna cry when I told her.

Feels good to be on the way out but strawberry float me is my motivation through the floor now. They want me to create a handover document which will be a lot of work to create and I just cannot be strawberry floated.

[Hexx]

Found out today I'm getting a £4k bonus for my first 10 months

Been a bit unlucky in the past that I've missed out on bonuses at previous companies because I've ever been leaving and they have a policy of not paying to people on their notice or the company have cancelled all bonuses for the year for wider reasons.

Might get a PS5

Good luck finding one

(Well done on bonus)

[Lagamorph]

My notice has been handed in ahead of my move to Chicago later this year. I feel bad for my immediate team as the upper management has really strawberry floated over the structure and resources in place meaning they're really gonna feel my loss. One very overworked colleague looked like they were gonna cry when I told her.

Feels good to be on the way out but strawberry float me is my motivation through the floor now. They want me to create a handover document which will be a lot of work to create and I just cannot be strawberry floated.

It'd be a shame if you were definitely working on the handover document but then got mysteriously sick your last week and were completely unable to work until after your last day with them, thus missing the opportunity to give the document to them.

[Qikz]

My notice has been handed in ahead of my move to Chicago later this year. I feel bad for my immediate team as the upper management has really strawberry floated over the structure and resources in place meaning they're really gonna feel my loss. One very overworked colleague looked like they were gonna cry when I told her.

Feels good to be on the way out but strawberry float me is my motivation through the floor now. They want me to create a handover document which will be a lot of work to create and I just cannot be strawberry floated.

It'd be a shame if you were definitely working on the handover document but then got mysteriously sick your last week and were completely unable to work until after your last day with them, thus missing the opportunity to give the document to them.

As someone who has constantly been strawberry floated over by people leaving and not actually doing any work before they leave please don't do this. You don't owe your company anything but think of the people who are stuck working and will be even more overworked after you leave. At least if you care about them in the slightest.

[aayl1]

Yeah I really like my colleagues and see them as mates. I won't be strawberry floating anyone over and will make a great handover document, I was just hoping to not have to do one as I have video instructions on how to do most of my stuff and a colleague who does the exact same role. They'll just be too busy to devote enough time to the noob so I do have to make one after all.

[Qikz]

Unsurprisingly going in the office today was entirely pointless, I felt like gooseberry fool, did exactly the same job but felt absolutely miserable doing it.

Mission accomplished I guess.

[Lotus]

Me: Hi everyone, we're running a couple of Q&A sessions on software package A, please attend if you have any questions. If you can't make either session, please email email@email.com with your questions and we'll get back to you.
Colleague: I'd love to attend and have questions for you, but this is an inconvenient time, please can we have a separate 1:1 training, I've got loads of issues with XYZ software.
Me: Okay, if your questions are about software package A and you can't make either training session, please email email@email.com. If you've got questions about other programs, we can arrange a separate session - we have some time tomorrow morning if that works for you.
Colleague: Yes, none of my questions are about software package A, please send me an invite for tomorrow morning.

If none of your questions are about the topic of the training sessions, why did you complain about not being able to attend them?
Grown adults who can't or don't read/follow instructions

[Drumstick]

Should have got around to posting this earlier but I've some good news.

I interviewed for a role in February. The interview went very well and I later learned that I placed 2/15, narrowly missing out.

A couple of weeks on, recruitment called me out of the blue to say that the same hiring manager had secured funding for an additional resource, same role and having interviewed many candidates, the hiring manager wanted to reach out directly to his preferred candidate: me.

Had a meeting with the hiring manager on Tuesday, offer came through on Wednesday and I accepted that afternoon.

[Outrunner]

I'm getting very mixed messages from work regarding taking a years unpaid leave.

- Manager (who I get on with) "we'd love you to come back, I'm sure we can work something out under the unpaid leave scheme

Me "cool, I'm not sure what I want to do yet but can we look into it? I'd like to keep my options open"

<two months of chasing it up> "actually you need to speak to the cluster manager (the one who has bullied me for years) about it"

<sigh> fine. I email her a very polite message, bullet pointing my current plans (which I need to do because god knows she wouldn't read actual paragraphs) and then following up with questions about the application, what happens if my year abroad falls through, through no fault of my own (such as covid restrictions etc).

The reply I get doesn't answer any of my queries but she at least remembers to attach a form I need to fill in. She does invite me to come in to chat with her one on one about my plans. I would honestly rather eat glass.

Honestly, if it wasn't for the friends I have there I wouldn't even be considering this. I hate the job, I hate the cluster manager (zero chance of me having a one to one meeting with her given our past interactions) and it seems like a lot of jumping through hoops for a 4 hour a week job.

[Victor Mildew]

Should have got around to posting this earlier but I've some good news.

I interviewed for a role in February. The interview went very well and I later learned that I placed 2/15, narrowly missing out.

A couple of weeks on, recruitment called me out of the blue to say that the same hiring manager had secured funding for an additional resource, same role and having interviewed many candidates, the hiring manager wanted to reach out directly to his preferred candidate: me.

Had a meeting with the hiring manager on Tuesday, offer came through on Wednesday and I accepted that afternoon.

That's great, well done!

[aayl1]

Just 3 more work days til funemployment.

[Drumstick]

Thinking about finally setting up a LinkedIn page soon.

Qs: Is it actually worthwhile and what are the secrets for creating a good page?

[Clarkman]

Thinking about finally setting up a LinkedIn page soon.

Qs: Is it actually worthwhile and what are the secrets for creating a good page?

It is almost certainly worthwhile in terms of your visibility to employers and for building a rep/networking within your own industry. Drop me a message and we can discuss.

[Dual]

Thinking about finally setting up a LinkedIn page soon.

Qs: Is it actually worthwhile and what are the secrets for creating a good page?

I hate LinkedIn but it is worth it. I find having a correct employment history with roles and responsibilities the most important thing.

Switch on the 'Actively Looking for Jobs' settings and wait for the recruitment agencies to come sniffing. Switch it off and hide your account once you've found gainful employment.

[Green Gecko]

LinkedIn also ranks very highly on Google searches if you populate your profile fully. And I mean properly complete all of it.

Now it's as simple as saying to someone "Google me" and besides one other person by the same name (also in Design, in the UK, of a similar age, which is kind of annoying) any half competent individual can establish which one is me by seeing the location, brands associated etc etc.

It's ultimately for that reason I established a brand as well so that there was no question which results were my work and not someone else.

[Sandy]

Found out today I'm getting a £4k bonus for my first 10 months

Been a bit unlucky in the past that I've missed out on bonuses at previous companies because I've ever been leaving and they have a policy of not paying to people on their notice or the company have cancelled all bonuses for the year for wider reasons.

Might get a PS5

I will sell you my PS5 for £4000.

[Jenuall]

That's a pretty hefty discount on the usual scalper price TBF