GRcade

I should clarify, nobody is saying I'm being stupid, it's just being called out on these things makes me feel it because they must see these gaps and think, "ffs Ad"

Victor Mildew wrote:I should clarify, nobody is saying I'm being stupid, it's just being called out on these things makes me feel it because they must see these gaps and think, "ffs Ad"

Yeah we got that. But that's not OK, why should your reputation be affected because someone asked you to do something and gave you perhaps only half of the information required, or half of the the actual content they wanted in the document. That ain't your fault, you have delivered what was asked of you. If they wanted additional content but didn't tell you how are you supposed to know?

This happened to me a fair amount a couple of years ago with a manager in a neighbouring department and one day I lost it. Upon reading an email informing me that I had not provided XYZ in the report (none of which was in the original request, as usual) I had created, I threw my arms up and proclaimed:

"OK who do you think I am, Mystic strawberry floating Meg??? If I was then I'd be considerably better off, I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be dealing with your bullshit."

Current line manager raised his eyebrow and asked what was up. I explained I was repeatedly having this problem with this manager, that this issue was wasting my time and I'd be far happier and less overworked if all of the requirements were mentioned up front. My managed resolved this (unsure how) and to this day I am yet to have this problem again with that person.

Drumstick wrote:

Victor Mildew wrote:I should clarify, nobody is saying I'm being stupid, it's just being called out on these things makes me feel it because they must see these gaps and think, "ffs Ad"

Yeah we got that. But that's not OK, why should your reputation be affected because someone asked you to do something and gave you perhaps only half of the information required, or half of the the actual content they wanted in the document. That ain't your fault, you have delivered what was asked of you. If they wanted additional content but didn't tell you how are you supposed to know?

This happened to me a fair amount a couple of years ago with a manager in a neighbouring department and one day I lost it. Upon reading an email informing me that I had not provided XYZ in the report (none of which was in the original request, as usual) I had created, I threw my arms up and proclaimed:

"OK who do you think I am, Mystic strawberry floating Meg??? If I was then I'd be considerably better off, I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be dealing with your bullshit."

Current line manager raised his eyebrow and asked what was up. I explained I was repeatedly having this problem with this manager, that this issue was wasting my time and I'd be far happier and less overworked if all of the requirements were mentioned up front. My managed resolved this (unsure how) and to this day I am yet to have this problem again with that person.

I'd bet the person you're referring to was simply passing the buck. "Oh no this information is obviously missing, who cares, I won't get it, I'll just push it to my outbox and land someone else in it".

*hopes person further down the line lands in the gooseberry fool*

This is why you have to bring it up. It's insane how often people think they can essentially just not do the work and nothing will happen as a consequence.

I've been in similar situations where even a director has me writing copy/website content without knowing the price of the product. The answer? Do all the market analysis and make up the price on the spot myself. I literally had to make up the packages and the price breaks. strawberry floating hell, this isn't my product, never mind am I responsible for pricing and selling it

In this country we have a thing called being good at your job.

Jenuall wrote:In this country we have a thing called being good at your job.

If this is employment then bring it on!

Got a phone interview Tuesday. Get past that and there's a 'face to face' via Webex sometime after.

It would be a move sideways with a slightly better salary and into the field I want to take my career into.

Drumstick wrote:Got a phone interview Tuesday. Get past that and there's a 'face to face' via Webex sometime after.

It would be a move sideways with a slightly better salary and into the field I want to take my career into.

Good luck. Make sure you mention the Mystic Meg anecdote.

Good luck Drummy.

I've got an a follow up to Teams interview last week with a face to face interview tomorrow. Looking forward to that "should we shake hands, probably not!" awkward moment on arriving

rinks wrote:

Drumstick wrote:Got a phone interview Tuesday. Get past that and there's a 'face to face' via Webex sometime after.

It would be a move sideways with a slightly better salary and into the field I want to take my career into.

Good luck. Make sure you mention the Mystic Meg anecdote.

Thanks.

Tomous wrote:Good luck Drummy.

You too!

Work is so gooseberry fool this week.



I want to get off Mr Bones Wild ride

We have virtual PI Planning at the moemnt, was 1 5 hours con call yesterday and another today going through everything we are going to do over the next 10 weeks, jesus are they dull.

I'm giving a presentation to senior management in a few hours. I think I might educate them on stool bloke this time.

Errkal wrote:We have virtual PI Planning at the moemnt, was 1 5 hours con call yesterday and another today going through everything we are going to do over the next 10 weeks, jesus are they dull.

I am swamped to hell because we're super low on people and I'm doing the best I can but some things are being left, I've closed more tickets than literally anyone else and im still up at near 40 tickets open in my queue. They asked if I was ok so I told them the truth and I got told to step back and breathe and change the way im working to get those tickets up to date. Like, what the strawberry float?

I can only do so much.

Qikz wrote:

Errkal wrote:We have virtual PI Planning at the moemnt, was 1 5 hours con call yesterday and another today going through everything we are going to do over the next 10 weeks, jesus are they dull.

I am swamped to hell because we're super low on people and I'm doing the best I can but some things are being left, I've closed more tickets than literally anyone else and im still up at near 40 tickets open in my queue. They asked if I was ok so I told them the truth and I got told to step back and breathe and change the way im working to get those tickets up to date. Like, what the strawberry float?

I can only do so much.

Ah, the "you need to do better" style of management, where the directive is given but no actual assistance or guidance on how to "do better" is provided and where no consideration is given to the employee's state of mind.

I've observed much of it in the past at my company.

Qikz wrote:

Errkal wrote:We have virtual PI Planning at the moemnt, was 1 5 hours con call yesterday and another today going through everything we are going to do over the next 10 weeks, jesus are they dull.

I am swamped to hell because we're super low on people and I'm doing the best I can but some things are being left, I've closed more tickets than literally anyone else and im still up at near 40 tickets open in my queue. They asked if I was ok so I told them the truth and I got told to step back and breathe and change the way im working to get those tickets up to date. Like, what the strawberry float?

I can only do so much.

Is there any commonality, or is it stuff you could get the user to do themselves with a guide, even if it doesn't work for all users it might work for some and you get a gain.

"Change way of working" is a really unhelpful thing to say, but at the heart of it it may be right. From my experince support people dont think very Continuous Improvmenty they tend to see a list of queues and just work them doing the same stuff over and over with no real thought of how to automate or shift back to the user.

It cost time to sit back and workout a game plan for stuff but you can gain that time abck and then some by organising, streamlining and offloading.

Errkal wrote:

Qikz wrote:

Errkal wrote:We have virtual PI Planning at the moemnt, was 1 5 hours con call yesterday and another today going through everything we are going to do over the next 10 weeks, jesus are they dull.

I am swamped to hell because we're super low on people and I'm doing the best I can but some things are being left, I've closed more tickets than literally anyone else and im still up at near 40 tickets open in my queue. They asked if I was ok so I told them the truth and I got told to step back and breathe and change the way im working to get those tickets up to date. Like, what the strawberry float?

I can only do so much.

Is there any commonality, or is it stuff you could get the user to do themselves with a guide, even if it doesn't work for all users it might work for some and you get a gain.

"Change way of working" is a really unhelpful thing to say, but at the heart of it it may be right. From my experince support people dont think very Continuous Improvmenty they tend to see a list of queues and just work them doing the same stuff over and over with no real thought of how to automate or shift back to the user.

It cost time to sit back and workout a game plan for stuff but you can gain that time abck and then some by organising, streamlining and offloading.

Everything is just a total nightmare, we're being swamped with calls and tickets by clients with no commonality and everyone is just super impatient for some reason. I've been shifting a lot of stuff back to the users this week already and it doesn't change the fact it's still hell. Nothing is simple, even simple tasks turn into absolute garbage because something random just doesn't work for no reason.

I also shifted something back to the users since a third party software company needed to call us to get connected to our server - I told everyone here to expect their call and closed the ticket as there was no further work for us to do until they call and I got in trouble for it.

Interview went well. Video call with CEO next.

Really want this one.

Agency have submitted my CV to a role similar to my current one except it's closer to home and more money. Just spent an hour looking the company up online and feeling optimistic that they will be good to work for if I get offered something.

Only thing is, if I get an interview, I feel way more nervous about doing it online than I would about being in person. I feel awkward even talking to my friends via web cam Is that a normal thing, I don't understand why it weirds me out so much. Just unusual, I guess.

Zilnad wrote:Agency have submitted my CV to a role similar to my current one except it's closer to home and more money. Just spent an hour looking the company up online and feeling optimistic that they will be good to work for if I get offered something.

Only thing is, if I get an interview, I feel way more nervous about doing it online than I would about being in person. I feel awkward even talking to my friends via web cam Is that a normal thing, I don't understand why it weirds me out so much. Just unusual, I guess.

I have given interviews and been interviewed over webcam and I don't think it is weird to be nervous about it. It can feel an awkward format and it is very easy to interrupt people, so take your time and let the other person finish before you start as it is very easy to speak over each other. Also, make sure you set your webcam space in advance so you're not panicking-tidy space behind you, good angle for speaking into camera etc.

Also, top tip, if you have a difficult question that you need time to think about unplug your router and come back a few minutes later, prepped with an answer "SORRY DISCONNECTED, NOW WHERE WERE WE?"