Career related question...
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Career related question...
So, maybe I can get some advice from some of the other engineers / cubie workers... My office has been going through some major restructuring lately, and one of those changes affected my department as well as me. I started working there 4 years ago, the same time as a fellow ME (we'll call him "J" to protect the evil).
Well, during the past 4 years, our paths have gone a bit differently. I have worked on some pretty high profile projects in my office, always getting my work in early and under budget. J tends to stick to smaller projects and does a fair job at those. I typically let my work and results speak for themselves, where J talks himself up pretty big to the management.
anyway, last week he was appointed as the "eyes and ears" of the mechanical department... we were told that basically he's to keep up with what people are working and keep the chief engineer up to date on who's got work for a long time, who's going to need work soon, and what type of hardware we're going to need. not really something i would want to do anyway, seems like more work.
well, within a week, J has asked that we give him weekly status reports of what we're working on, has scheduled a "design scrub" so he can see if he "approves" of what we're doing, and constantly feels the need to remind everyone in front of co-workers that he's been "promoted".
I have some pretty strong feelings about this... part of me feels like it's an unfair promotion even though I don't want that job. I'd prefer somebody, anybody, else get this spot. It seems like he's assuming more than was explained to the staff when it comes to his job description. I'm not the only one who thinks his ego is going to cause problems.
Do i go to the chief engineer with my concerns?
Do i ask the chief to provide a clear definition to our department of J's job duties?
Do i kill J?
Do i start looking for new work since it sounds like i'm not satisfied?
I get paid pretty well for my job, and am otherwise happy there. I can't afford to say "F this, i'm out of here"...
[/***** mode]
Well, during the past 4 years, our paths have gone a bit differently. I have worked on some pretty high profile projects in my office, always getting my work in early and under budget. J tends to stick to smaller projects and does a fair job at those. I typically let my work and results speak for themselves, where J talks himself up pretty big to the management.
anyway, last week he was appointed as the "eyes and ears" of the mechanical department... we were told that basically he's to keep up with what people are working and keep the chief engineer up to date on who's got work for a long time, who's going to need work soon, and what type of hardware we're going to need. not really something i would want to do anyway, seems like more work.
well, within a week, J has asked that we give him weekly status reports of what we're working on, has scheduled a "design scrub" so he can see if he "approves" of what we're doing, and constantly feels the need to remind everyone in front of co-workers that he's been "promoted".
I have some pretty strong feelings about this... part of me feels like it's an unfair promotion even though I don't want that job. I'd prefer somebody, anybody, else get this spot. It seems like he's assuming more than was explained to the staff when it comes to his job description. I'm not the only one who thinks his ego is going to cause problems.
Do i go to the chief engineer with my concerns?
Do i ask the chief to provide a clear definition to our department of J's job duties?
Do i kill J?
Do i start looking for new work since it sounds like i'm not satisfied?
I get paid pretty well for my job, and am otherwise happy there. I can't afford to say "F this, i'm out of here"...
[/***** mode]
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Depending on your relationship with your Chief Engineer, I would just have a firendly chat with him and express some of your concerns.
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Originally Posted by Egan
Depending on your relationship with your Chief Engineer, I would just have a firendly chat with him and express some of your concerns.
when you say friendly chat, is that in the eyetalian mob kind of way?
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Kill J, talk to the chief, look for a new gig, and hand the chief my resume on your way out the door. 
Depending on how things are between you & the chief, I'd go with what Mr Egan suggested.
Depending on how things are between you & the chief, I'd go with what Mr Egan suggested.
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Typical in any line of work.
A kissass that worked on smaller projects now supervises someone that works on more complex projects with results that speak for themselves? Wait, what? Please tell me you're not making equipment for the military when your bosses are this amiss in their judgement. Something tells me you do because I know who you work for. If so, then thank god you deal with the more important projects.
The chief engineer is either oblivious to what's happening or very stupid. If he's very stupid you need to suck it up, stoop to the *********** level and invest in some kneepads, or pop smoke. Otherwise I recommend you and you peers have a face to face with your boss.
What a *****. I hate these types of *******s with a passion. You know what? Forget everything I said. You and your peers need to give this guy a good old fashioned asskicking in the parking lot.
A kissass that worked on smaller projects now supervises someone that works on more complex projects with results that speak for themselves? Wait, what? Please tell me you're not making equipment for the military when your bosses are this amiss in their judgement. Something tells me you do because I know who you work for. If so, then thank god you deal with the more important projects.
The chief engineer is either oblivious to what's happening or very stupid. If he's very stupid you need to suck it up, stoop to the *********** level and invest in some kneepads, or pop smoke. Otherwise I recommend you and you peers have a face to face with your boss.
What a *****. I hate these types of *******s with a passion. You know what? Forget everything I said. You and your peers need to give this guy a good old fashioned asskicking in the parking lot.
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Originally Posted by Salty
Typical in any line of work.
A kissass that worked on smaller projects now supervises someone that works on more complex projects with results that speak for themselves? Wait, what? Please tell me you're not making equipment for the military when your bosses are this amiss in their judgement. Something tells me you do because I know who you work for. If so, then thank god you deal with the more important projects.
The chief engineer is either oblivious to what's happening or very stupid. If he's very stupid you need to suck it up, stoop to the *********** level and invest in some kneepads, or pop smoke. Otherwise I recommend you and you peers have a face to face with your boss.
What a *****. I hate these types of *******s with a passion. You know what? Forget everything I said. You and your peers need to give this guy a good old fashioned asskicking in the parking lot.
A kissass that worked on smaller projects now supervises someone that works on more complex projects with results that speak for themselves? Wait, what? Please tell me you're not making equipment for the military when your bosses are this amiss in their judgement. Something tells me you do because I know who you work for. If so, then thank god you deal with the more important projects.
The chief engineer is either oblivious to what's happening or very stupid. If he's very stupid you need to suck it up, stoop to the *********** level and invest in some kneepads, or pop smoke. Otherwise I recommend you and you peers have a face to face with your boss.
What a *****. I hate these types of *******s with a passion. You know what? Forget everything I said. You and your peers need to give this guy a good old fashioned asskicking in the parking lot.
it's really not as bad as it sounds... there are enough checks and balances when it comes to production that his messes are cleaned up.
i'm on pretty good terms with the chief, so hopefully this lunch meeting thing will go well. I'm pretty sure that J is going above and beyond his job description since he's not coppying the Chief on any of his e-mail traffic. One of the program managers whom I'm pretty good with even comments on J being an irritating person who's letting his ego get out of control.
Last edited by RussB; Aug 16, 2005 at 10:39 PM.
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Originally Posted by ryball
You might want to have an offline chat with our Minister of Defense...
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so lunch with the Chief went very well today. one of my co-workers came to me with the same concerns this morning, so he got in on the lunch as well. long story short, we were correct in our assumptions, J is only supposed to be the eyes and ears for our department, nothing more.
the Chief will have a sit down with J and if things do not change, he will make some "adjustements" to the org chart.
the Chief will have a sit down with J and if things do not change, he will make some "adjustements" to the org chart.
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