HSH


I've been offered the opportunity to apply for the next step up the job ladder at work, but don't think I'm ready. Do I apply anyway for the interview experience, or carry on stuffing envelopes?
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 19:39, 75 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Apply even if it's
only for the experience. When you feel you are ready for the next step, you'll know what to expect and how to prepare :)
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 19:42, Reply)

This is what Bosslady says.
The interviews would be with my manager and my performance manager, and the rest of the team think I should definitely go for it. Thing is, I'm not comfortable with the idea of leaving a job I can do in my sleep for one that is infinitely trickier...
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 19:46, Reply)

go on, you never know how brilliant you'll be if you don't try

( Lisette von Falcon, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 19:50, Reply)

This one will involve a lot more complaints-handling than I'm accustomed to,
since they only pull me off admin if we're really, really slammed. I also find it easier to write letters in French, but put me on the phone to French people I turn into a gibbering fool. I think the fact I could do my job in my sleep is a sign I'm ready for a new challenge, but I have Teh Fear.
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 19:55, Reply)

try preparing more for the position because it's worse to have the job and not be able to do it than to stay in your current position for a while

( Lisette von Falcon, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 19:59, Reply)

Bosslady is trying this by getting me on refunds and so on.
I'd save them training since I already know all the systems inside out, know the compensation policy backwards, but I don't feel as empowered as they say I am to judge appropriate compensation (if any). Recruitment is soon so I imagine this will come with more practice...
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:01, Reply)

The good thing about a job you can do in your sleep
is that you can do it when sleep-deprived and gain extra free time by shifting your sleep into your work.

But on a more serious note, I'd say basically go for what everyone else said. But if you find it too much, would you have a chance to go back to your old job?
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:23, Reply)

I don't know - I'd need to talk to Bosslady in depth about it.
She spent about five minutes today dropping very unsubtle - but still subtle enough for me not to realise she was dropping hints - about applying, so she clearly thinks I'm capable. Boss is on holiday this week so I may run it by him first... it would mean no more 3 hours in the afternoon with very little to do!
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:24, Reply)

go for it
I feel much better now that i have a more challenging job. But I didn't realize it until I looked back on my previous work.
( willenium Fist bump for verification, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:34, Reply)

This is all starting to look pretty unanimous, isn't it?
I think I will get bored if I stay in the job I'm doing for ever, and besides it doesn't require more than a bit more legwork and a change of title, plus a pay rise, and I don't even have to move offices!
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:44, Reply)

Think of it like career exercise
It should always stretch you - either you'll grow into the position or you'll pull a headmuscle.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:13, Reply)

I do a lot of what I would be doing now,
just in a more customer-facing role. We discuss things a lot in the office and talk over how to handle cases; I've just had less practice than the others. Bosslady is determined I should go for it.
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:16, Reply)

Evening
Didn't get much sleep last night. At work I suspected the documentation I was reading was making itself up as I was reading it, and ended up reading stuff that just wasn't there.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:25, Reply)

No sleep
is like being high and on a comedown at the same time.
( willenium Fist bump for verification, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:35, Reply)

And the portal between my office and my dreamland opens up

( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:46, Reply)

This is in no way a good thing

( willenium Fist bump for verification, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:30, Reply)

But that's cool because you can essentially make shit up.
"9057 failed in tunnel, 120' FREE RETURN and the Queen of France has announced that she will be levying a tax on all unlicensed ostriches who do not have three toes."
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:35, Reply)

I still dont think it is worth it

( willenium Fist bump for verification, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:37, Reply)

That was in fairness a bad example.
It would probably, knowing me, involve the insertion of song lyrics: "SNCB staff striking today, no Brussels service. Free exchange or refund within 60 days never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you..."
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:40, Reply)

There may be ostriches blocking the tunnel in one direction
but there's a whole lot of Rick Astley clones blocking the tunnel in the other direction.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:54, Reply)

My colleagues and I would love that!
"Supervisor 1 and Supervisor 2, Rick Astley is in the tunnel!" "Woo and yay!"

We also get daily reports about the VIPs that travel and are waiting for Mr Astley to appear...
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:58, Reply)

So let me guess
The Channel Tunnel now has a traffic jam of ostriches and you have to deal with the resulting complaints. Serves them right for putting a big pile of bird-seed in the middle of the tunnel.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:44, Reply)

Oh, don't say that. We're doing well so far this month - no delays more than an hour!
I will be amused if I get into work tomorrow and that's on the alert screen, though...
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:45, Reply)

But these are cartoon ostriches
They can eat birdseed at lightning pace and be done in just a few seconds. The delays may be short, but the backlog will be huge.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:48, Reply)

D: I hate backlogs!
We had the mother of them all this time last year and I was begging the boss to get me some temps...
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:54, Reply)

Was this when one of the tunnels was b0rked?
This coincided nicely with my move back to UK after having previously lived on the continent. And to make things even more awkward that day, all the trains were taking bizarre routes.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:06, Reply)

Oh yes. Don't talk to me about reaccommodations and the amended timetable.
Mal does not like. I would fireproof the tunnel myself to never be that stressed again!
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:16, Reply)

I now have a mental image of Maladicta strapped to the front of a Eurostar train with a spray-gun spraying fire-retardant foam everywhere as she goes along.

( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:26, Reply)

Works for me!
hur hur hur, you said retard
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:34, Reply)

Do it.
The worst that can happen is that you don't get it and waste half an hour - hopefully of your employer's time - preparing the paperwork.

But I'm assuming you've heard of the Peter Principle? Your not thinking you're ready is thereby neither here nor there.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:34, Reply)

I'm going to pimp my CV, since I've not done it since I got the job and no longer needed to play with it all the time.
I don't know of the Peter principle, I must admit!

You alright now, good sir?
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:41, Reply)

Yep, thanks.
The policeman came this evening, and was a bit meh about the whole thing - and I do wonder whether I overreacted.

But I was quite trembly about it.


The Peter Principle, just in case, says that people get promoted until they're in a job they can't do - on the basis that if you can do it, you'll get promoted. This is why most institutions are run by imbeciles: the non-imbeciles have taken a better offer elsewhere, where they've become imbeciles in their own right.

Cunning, eh?
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:51, Reply)

I'd rather be safe than sorry myself - he did seem unhinged from what I read.
Not to mention the amount of previous that was dug up on the guy; you expect that kind of thing if you piss off 4chan, but not here!

I like this idea; it accounts for a lot of the middle-management I have dealt with throughout my life (especially Dell when trying to get them to actually show up with my PC; I had to use the Voice "if you can't do this, then I want to be escalated to your manager." ... who said the same thing.) By this logic, I could go pretty far!
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:57, Reply)

:)

( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:58, Reply)

Glad to hear you're ok, Mr Professor Sir
Are you coming tomorrow?
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:02, Reply)

Yep.
I'll be the one with a black eye and broken teeth.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:16, Reply)

Oh dear :(

( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:19, Reply)

Do it.
CV, experience blah blah (as already said by many). And they wouldn't have suggested you go for it if they didn't think you could do it.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:49, Reply)

They seem enthusiastic to give her more money.
I've never seen the problem with that...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:52, Reply)

Hello, where have you been?
What I find amusing is that Bosslady eventually had to say "Maladicta, would you apply for this job?" for me to get the hint that she wanted me to!
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:53, Reply)

I've been lurking...
and occasionally posting. Work is manic. I wasn't offered a choice in going up the career ladder - it was thrust upon me like an overexcited dolphin-cock. And I wasn't offered any more money.
That's the classical music industry for you - all mouth and no trousers. Or all work and no money. Whichever.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 20:56, Reply)

Is having a metaphorical dolphin-cock instead of a metaphorical ladder standard in the classical music industry?
That may explain the lack of trousers.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:27, Reply)

go for it.
Is the pay better?

IF YES new shoes
IF NO bitch til you get more pay for a more senior (yes I know two comparitves shut up) position
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:03, Reply)

By enough to make a difference.
What concerns me is how hotly it will be competed for, even if there are two positions going!
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:17, Reply)

You never know, you might get it.
You don't know unless you try :)

AND THINK Of THE SHOES
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:18, Reply)

I'm going to do it.
FOR THE SHOES. And the lulz. And great justice.
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:19, Reply)

Good to hear :)
Do you have to do a lot more work?
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:23, Reply)

Less fiddly admin work, more complaints handling
and less mucking around in Excel!
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:33, Reply)

Sounds ideal
Just that you'll probably be more angry towards people rather than Bill Gates.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:38, Reply)

Oh, I already find customers bizarre and amusing in their requests.

( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:44, Reply)

I think you mean
Graet justice
( willenium Fist bump for verification, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:29, Reply)

And that!

( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:33, Reply)

I've stuffed envelopes
I hated it.

Go for it.

Hello everyone!
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:36, Reply)

You've not been around for a while.
Last time I remember you I think I blathered on about the assiento. Or asiento. Can't remember which.

How is it all going?
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:39, Reply)

Yes
we did talk about the asiento... well remembered.

I've been busy - finishing off a degree and now adjusting to unemployment.
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:50, Reply)

Nah, I just remember you were doing Hispanic Studies or something interesting like that
Something South American. And that you had an interesting username.

How's the job going? I've just started my degree, and loving it. Definitely want to do further studies :) I've got my reading week now, yeah! Even though I've been ill this week and missed most of my lectures :( I still did the work...
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:54, Reply)

Yeah Latin American Studies
Job at the moment is in Oxfam.

And editing work on people's Masters and PhD theses. Doesn't pay much but enough to keep me busy.

Reading week? My sister has that next week (I think). As far as I can understand her plan is to hit as many gay nightclubs in Brighton without any drawbacks of going to lectures hungover the next day.
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:56, Reply)

That does sound interesting :)
I have the suspicion one of my friends will end up as a spy either in South America or Russia. She's fluent in about 5 languages (at the moment) and is possibly the cleverest person I've met. Definitely the sort of perosn to get on MI5 Fast Track.

What do you do there? I've never understood that- do you have to come up wiht something completely original? My lecturer in Latin told us he did his on obscene poetry. I love the guy.

I'm going home tomorrow, going to the b3tabash, then slobbing around with free food, a TV that shows Charmed, fast internet, and my kittycat. Could not be happier!
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:02, Reply)

I did
my thesis on politics in Argentina in the 1850s. Its really a great help when applying for jobs.

MI5 eh? Hm. Now you've put ideas in my head.

Sounds like you've got a fun week planned. I'm off to a concert tomorrow night in a local pub organised by Oxfam. God knows what the bands are going to be like. Dire, possibly.
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:04, Reply)

Aha! Though I don't see how obscene poetry would help you any more.
My aim is to be one of those academics that go on Radio 4 and talk about absolutely weird stuff. But I don't think I'm clever enough to be an academic. I'd do something on myths and legends, I think. It really interests me :) I do love creation myths. Eg.

God makes 2 people from mud.
2 people make a lot more people.*
God decides people are ruining earth.
Sends a big fuckoff flood.

Sound familiar? ;)

*albeit by taking stones and throwing them backwards over their shoulders...

My sister is going to work for the Government next year, I think. The SNP love her, she worked for them a lot of last year. No one understands why she loves the SNP so much, being not Scottish at all.

Ah, have fun. I worked for Oxfam over the summer as a steward at the festivals, I'm definitely doing it again. It's a reet laugh. Apart from the 8 hour shifts on your feet.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:09, Reply)

Its the Ancient Greek creation myth isnt it?
Yeah I stewarded at reading for oxfam a few years ago with a friend. Neither of us could speak properly at the end of it. Thinking about doing it again, it was great fun.

I've applied for Govt work, waiting to see how that goes. Just kicking time here at the moment really.

Fed up of being broke :(
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:13, Reply)

Correct :)
I've just done that bit in Metamorphoses. Yeah, that's in Latin, but the Romans nicked everything worth nicking from the Greeks.
/grumble about the Romans

I loved the little area we got, it was still nice and fresh and green at the end of the weekend, despite being there since Wednesday. Makes you realise how scummy the proper campsite is! Not to mention dangerous...

Mhm, where abouts are you based? I'm sure there's plenty to distract you! I'm just getting used to the feeling of having over a grand in my bank account. Not for long though, I don't think :(
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:17, Reply)

I had
to read part of the Metamorphoses in school. It were interesting, but I never got around to reading the whole thing. It was in English of course. My latin never got much further than Caecilius in horto est, or Senex in Amphiteatro dormit. And i've probably got them wrong too..

I'm up near Coventry (well about 10 miles from there). Yeah there's enough to keep me occupied here - especially now that a friend of mine got made redundant and dumped on the same day.
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:22, Reply)

I'm shockingly poorly read for a Classics student
It came out at my interview I'd not read the Aeneid cover to cover. Still haven't. Ah well. And no, that's perfectly correct. I'm having to deal with sentences like "Pelidae tunc ego forti congressum Aenean nec dis nec uiribus aequis nube caua rapui", which has got several nasty bits in it. Not least because there's no participle of "to be" in Latin...

I'm in London, so I can safely say I'm never bored. I love it here! But can't wait to be back in good old Manchester, where a train into town will cost me £1.25 both ways...
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:29, Reply)

Now that
is Latin way beyond me... I only did it for three years and I was bad at it.

Never read the Aeneid either. Read most of the Odyssey, which I actually quite liked. I want to read the one by Petronius about Trimalcho's dinner party, but I've not found a copy anywhere yet.

Hopefully I will be moving to London at some point... the bright lights are calling!
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:38, Reply)

Ha, that sentence took me ages, with my uberdictionary and grammar.
It's got stupid things in it like Greek accusatives and ablative absolutes with no verbs (due to aforementioned problem with esse). If it makes you feel any better, if you talked about political problems in Argentina in the 19th century I'd be just as at sea :)

Oh, the Satyricon? I've read bits of that. There's a bit about playing with young boys' balls in it. One of the tattoos I want has something to do with that. Trimalchio's Dinner Party is interesting, it's nice to see the problems with the "nouveau riche" is an age-old problem. Juvenal's Satires are good too. Very entertaining :)

I've no idea where Coventry is. I know it's South, but my geography is Highlands of Scotland down to Edinburgh down to Newcastle down to Manchester down to Birmingham down to London down to Cornwall. So very patchy :)
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:49, Reply)

Hai!
Right, that's about 20 votes for yes, including my flatmate.

How are you, good sir?
( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:44, Reply)

Healthy
just had chicken and ham pie for dinner
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:51, Reply)

Evening Zaphead
Maybe if you put a pleasant surprise in an envelope every couple of envelopes, you'll get a warm glow by thinking you may have made somebody's day.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:44, Reply)

Like
a kinder surprise, but more papery?
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 21:51, Reply)

It could be a nice photo. Or it could be Origami
Speaking of Kinder Surprise eggs, I now find my childhood's been ruined because in each Surprise, they now have a warning in numerous languages. I think the whole non-verbal-ness of it all has been spoiled.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:01, Reply)

Or
a £5 M&S voucher?

Although that could start to get expensive...
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:04, Reply)

Capital Bonds, surely?

( Maladicta, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:19, Reply)

Or diamonds
Specifically blood diamonds.
(Zapiola zip-zap-zop, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:20, Reply)

Nah
The best gifts are handmade. I still reckon Origami. Perhaps the contents of the envelope could be Origami'd.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 22:28, Reply)