I had a meeting yesterday with 2 VPs and two department heads. I asked for it because an HR guy told me these people were meeting to figure out how to create a new job and keep me past November. I said if that was so, I wanted to sit at the table with them and work out a reasonable position that met their needs and matched my skills.
So they arranged this meeting, and my friends told me that they wouldn’t waste all these big shot’s time just to blow smoke up my ass.
But it turns out they would. Within 30 seconds I could tell no one had given any more thought to creating a new job for me than maybe saying, “Wouldn’t it be nice to leep Jim.” What they want me to do is continue to do my regular job for six months past my “displacement” date, but call it “project work”, and that would cost me my severance package.
So at least I had the opportunity to state clearly that I was going to walk out the door on my displacement date and take my severance package. If they wish to delay my displacement date and continue to employ me for some more months, however much, great. But only if my severance package was still on the table at the end of that time.
All present agreed that this was completely reasonable, but supposedly no one there had the authority to make it happen either. If they can’t even decide to change my last day on the job, how the hell could they offer me a new one?
These people must think I’m stupid. And everything they say, seemingly intending to encourage me to stay, makes the decision to leave all the easier. They would have been far better off keeping their mouths shut.
My interview with the credit union yesterday went well, I thought. I had to meet with two reps from HR and one who will be the manager of the branch where I would be working. I did appear slightly unsure of myself when I walked into the lobby, and I was way early, but that gave me some quiet time to gather some thoughts together and write them down. I also sent a nice thank-you note when I got back to my office.
It turns out that the regional manager of the bank where I applied is on vacation this week, so who knows when that’ll be scheduled. But it’s all good, because it looks like I’ll be free for Election Day.
Boyo Jim, at least this debacle is making your decision a bit easier to make, right?
Ms Robyn, good luck!
As for me, I did indeed get a call for the second round of interviews only to have the person who left the job ask if she could come back. I’m seriously feeling as though finding a job in Boston is just not going to happen. So I’m checking out graduate programs–what the heck, maybe I can collect more masters degrees.
Just wanted to join in - I’ve been off since the end of June - the 401(k) has just about run out, the severance is long gone, and I’m hopin and prayin something good happens. And soon. The husband doesn’t have much going on now either - he’s self employed - and unemployment will only last so long (and doesn’t even cover rent.) So please think good thoughts for us. It’s really, really tough right now.
I’ve had a good run of calls from agencies with job leads - one resulting in a telephone interview scheduled for Wednesday, another two where my CV has gone to the company and it looks promising, plus one that called today and emailed me, but didn’t attach the job details, so I’ll hear more tomorrow.
Plus I still have the assessment/interview day on Monday for the local council job.
I’ll think good thoughts for all y’all - I’ve been off since July, I’m ready to go back now (I usually temp), and all the economic woes seem to have puckered up everyone’s hiring sphincters. Oh well. Here’s hoping things loosen up again after the US election.
I just got the bad news today, just before lunch… but at least it’s 3 months notice (by law).
Now to intensify my search to get away from here.
Will be visiting the Canadian and Australian embassies on Monday to have them explain the rules for immigration (otherwise I’ll mess something or other up). Then the real hunt begins!
I got an email from the professor I had an interview with Tuesday. He said I am at the top of the list, and he just needed to check on one last reference of mine. I can’t imagine any of my references giving a bad reference, so I’ve got some high hopes.
I missed an assignment this week. It really is my fault; I only told the temp agency three times to call me at home instead of my cell phone which I don’t turn on when I’m at home all day, every day. My bad. :rolleyes:
(Irritatingly enough, it is kind of my fault - I didn’t even think of turning my cell phone on this week. Dammit.)
I had my assessment/interview day today for the local council job. There was only one other candidate at this stage, so a member of staff was drafted in for the group assessment (a hypothetical exercise about choosing candidates for a housing rent-to-buy project).
The individual assessment consisted of four work-related examples, to which we had to write a plan of action.
That all went fairly well. the interview panel consisted of three people and was a fairly relaxed and non-formal one. About an hour of questions and answers - I felt that I held my end up reasonably well and didn’t hold back (like I did in a previous interview for another job and came across as reserved).
I’m pretty exhausted now. I should hear tomorrow if I have been selected…
Don’t know of any resume critique sites (though I’m sure there are plenty out there). If you’d like me to take a look at it, I’d be happy to. Depending on your field, that might or might not be useful to you.
