whoa is me
Jul. 11th, 2006 03:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nolapenguinThere comes a point in one's career where the paths diverge and some hard decisions have to be made on where to venture. Having worked in technology since 1998, I've learned that New Orleans, in all it's wonderful rich culture, does not possess a lively I.T. market. At least none that I've been a part of. I'm what you'd call a periphery expert. I know a lot about a lot of things, but I'm no expert. I can tell you a wealth of knowledge about the stuff I work on, but beyond that, like what the rest of the industry does, I don't know squat. Microsoft? I'm your guy. Apple? Sun? Unix? Linux? Nope.
So my choices dwindle as how to play out my job life. I could go back to school part time, in one of those dismal MBA-type things. That's at the very bottom of my list. I really hate school. I'm too much of a slacker to keep up work, family and school.
I could become an expert at what I do. That's a great idea, really, because then I'm that much more valuable, both to the company, and in the job market. But that leads me back to the above issue. I can be as certified as they come, but that still doesn't get me schnitzel in a dead job market.
Ah, but there's another alternative out there. I move up on the food chain. Last year, about this same time in fact, I applied for the manager of this department. Mostly it's a thankless job, one carved of misery and overtime, but it's more money, better bennies, and you have direct reports. I like direct reports. Above all, however, I get to look my current employer in the eye and tell them how we're going to work together instead of this constant infighting between client and vendor. Let's face it, I'm the ideal candidate. I have seniority, experience, and a great willingness to lead. I'm also the only guy who can navigate this outsourcing bullshit by swimming with the current instead the current manager, who insists on beating back the river with hand grenades. Said manager is in his last weeks at the helm.
So it's time to polish the resume and drink some drug-clenz, right? Apparently not. I'm being told, again, that I'm not allowed to apply. The last time around it was because the job was listed internally and no outside applicants were allowed. I'm a vendor now, but not inside, a twist of logic I don't agree with. There was also mention of a policy that forbid anyone from hiring me back from the outsource company. No one could give me a limitation on that rule, but let's say it was a year. That I might buy, but I still wasn't happy. So I let it go.
But I'm getting the same story now. It's been eighteen months since my "transition" to the outsourcer, a period that one would assume is a helluva long time to keep shafting the old employees. It's the same tale: "We can't hire you here because you're over there and we made a promise, oh my." My patience is not as elastic on this go round. Now I've got my legal counsel on the case.
First stop was the local HR VP. I know her pretty well and she's a good egg. She does a tad bit of legwork and is told that I'm off limits again, but gives me two names, the boss of the position I want to interview for and the Big Bad HR Guy at corporate who may or may not be responsible for the "policy" in effect. So I call the boss. His story sounds a lot like my friend in HR. He's talked to HR and been told the same shuck and jive (although he himself has been responsible for quite a bit of shuck and jive in his day). There was an illustration of how he's tried to get a couple of my company's folks through the application process, but was immediately rebuffed by HR, who said the "policy" prevented them from going any further in the hiring process.
At this point, allow me to digress. I asked my current supervisor last year about this scenario. I said I had an opportunity with my old company and was there any issue with me pursuing it. His answer was that they'd never stop someone from furthering their career and good luck with it. Of course you know what happened from there.
So back to today. I know that my company is not the source of the "policy". I know that the local HR department and supposedly the CIO of the division have no problem with interviewing me. So who does that leave? The Big Bad HR Guy at corporate.
I talk with my counsel, who advises that I apply for the job first, showing that I'm making the first effort, then, once I'm refused, ask for the policy in writing. Under Louisiana state law, they cannot refuse me the right to interview for the job based on hearsay. The actual policy must be presented to the potential job candidate. If said policy is presented, and a non-compete clause is indeed there, it has to be compared to the standards set by Louisiana law, which are very dimly viewed as it is. In other words, if I didn't sign a non-compete, then their non-compete doesn't apply to me. In any case, there is no reason to keep someone with eight years IT and four years local experience from interviewing. I'm talking interviewing, not even hiring.
So I've called the Big Bad Guy. I'm waiting for a response. Perhaps there will be none. Or perhaps my lawyer will send a certified letter tomorrow asking for his documentation.
Either way, I'm not happy about it.
So my choices dwindle as how to play out my job life. I could go back to school part time, in one of those dismal MBA-type things. That's at the very bottom of my list. I really hate school. I'm too much of a slacker to keep up work, family and school.
I could become an expert at what I do. That's a great idea, really, because then I'm that much more valuable, both to the company, and in the job market. But that leads me back to the above issue. I can be as certified as they come, but that still doesn't get me schnitzel in a dead job market.
Ah, but there's another alternative out there. I move up on the food chain. Last year, about this same time in fact, I applied for the manager of this department. Mostly it's a thankless job, one carved of misery and overtime, but it's more money, better bennies, and you have direct reports. I like direct reports. Above all, however, I get to look my current employer in the eye and tell them how we're going to work together instead of this constant infighting between client and vendor. Let's face it, I'm the ideal candidate. I have seniority, experience, and a great willingness to lead. I'm also the only guy who can navigate this outsourcing bullshit by swimming with the current instead the current manager, who insists on beating back the river with hand grenades. Said manager is in his last weeks at the helm.
So it's time to polish the resume and drink some drug-clenz, right? Apparently not. I'm being told, again, that I'm not allowed to apply. The last time around it was because the job was listed internally and no outside applicants were allowed. I'm a vendor now, but not inside, a twist of logic I don't agree with. There was also mention of a policy that forbid anyone from hiring me back from the outsource company. No one could give me a limitation on that rule, but let's say it was a year. That I might buy, but I still wasn't happy. So I let it go.
But I'm getting the same story now. It's been eighteen months since my "transition" to the outsourcer, a period that one would assume is a helluva long time to keep shafting the old employees. It's the same tale: "We can't hire you here because you're over there and we made a promise, oh my." My patience is not as elastic on this go round. Now I've got my legal counsel on the case.
First stop was the local HR VP. I know her pretty well and she's a good egg. She does a tad bit of legwork and is told that I'm off limits again, but gives me two names, the boss of the position I want to interview for and the Big Bad HR Guy at corporate who may or may not be responsible for the "policy" in effect. So I call the boss. His story sounds a lot like my friend in HR. He's talked to HR and been told the same shuck and jive (although he himself has been responsible for quite a bit of shuck and jive in his day). There was an illustration of how he's tried to get a couple of my company's folks through the application process, but was immediately rebuffed by HR, who said the "policy" prevented them from going any further in the hiring process.
At this point, allow me to digress. I asked my current supervisor last year about this scenario. I said I had an opportunity with my old company and was there any issue with me pursuing it. His answer was that they'd never stop someone from furthering their career and good luck with it. Of course you know what happened from there.
So back to today. I know that my company is not the source of the "policy". I know that the local HR department and supposedly the CIO of the division have no problem with interviewing me. So who does that leave? The Big Bad HR Guy at corporate.
I talk with my counsel, who advises that I apply for the job first, showing that I'm making the first effort, then, once I'm refused, ask for the policy in writing. Under Louisiana state law, they cannot refuse me the right to interview for the job based on hearsay. The actual policy must be presented to the potential job candidate. If said policy is presented, and a non-compete clause is indeed there, it has to be compared to the standards set by Louisiana law, which are very dimly viewed as it is. In other words, if I didn't sign a non-compete, then their non-compete doesn't apply to me. In any case, there is no reason to keep someone with eight years IT and four years local experience from interviewing. I'm talking interviewing, not even hiring.
So I've called the Big Bad Guy. I'm waiting for a response. Perhaps there will be none. Or perhaps my lawyer will send a certified letter tomorrow asking for his documentation.
Either way, I'm not happy about it.
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 08:47 pm (UTC)since that is not the case, you’re one of the few guys I’ve worked with that I would not have a problem being led by. in this scenario, it’s mainly because like you eluded to, you’ve been on this side, you know the processes/procedures, and you know how to follow them to accomplish what you want accomplished. that being said, if you get it and simply turn into #9 in 11 years, I’m kicking you in the balls.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 08:54 pm (UTC)I would make drastic changes to the way that office handles things internally. This strife created by the current management is way out of line and the result of petty bickering on who's the bigger swingin' dick. It's absurd.
Technology management should be more civilized, even if it is provided for a bunch of skirt-chasing, whore-mongering department managers. And I mean that in the most compassionate way.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 09:02 pm (UTC)and you have seen how it goes when the IT manager basically puts himself on the blacklist right? yeah. you wouldn't want any of that my friend.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-12 12:08 am (UTC)That's the best I can do for now. But, in any case, I can offer a shoulder, an ear, and advice. *hug*
Wanna job?
no subject
Date: 2006-07-12 01:48 am (UTC)Update on the situation being posted...