Sick of being overlooked (RANT)

[0iD]

Firstly I'd have a polite sit down with your boss & voice your concerns in a chatty conversational manner, but at the same time let him know you're serious. Your manner will allow him to be more open & you'll more than likely get an honest answer. That should enable you to form a more fact based opinion of your current standing in the company structure & in your bosses eyes. From that point you can play it by ear really & decide your next plan of action.

I will say though, if you can't move up, move on.

[Disturbedguy]

Well I am supposed to have a one to one with my manager today, to go over my stats for the week..so lets see what is said in that, might just be time to vent some stuff to him.

[TheAnimus]

Don't vent, it makes it easy for people to be less amicable to you.

Ask questions, ask him WHY they overlooked you, WHY they think your not good enough and HOW you can better do what they want, and WHAT is is they want too.

[Disturbedguy]

He tells me I am good that is the thing.
He puts me as being one of the best.
I come in and work hard every day, even when my sister was in hospital, or when I was ill.

Sometimes, someone just cant win can they?

[golwg]

I would be looking to leave mate. Maybe your face doesn't fit. It happens.

Looks like your manager is two faced.

[Splash]

Reading this thread I have to ask a question... Disturbedguy - does the company name begin with A? If so... I suspect I used to work for them. Drop me a line in PM.

[TheAnimus]

Yes so ask him directly, WHY given all the things he has previously said/emailed. WHY you didn't get the promotion.

[scaryjim]

I come in and work hard every day, even when my sister was in hospital, or when I was ill.

OK, that's one problem right there. If you keep working regardless of what's throw at you, your employer will assume that they can throw anything at you too. You're creating an expectation that you'll just keep your head down and get on with it, so they'll feel justified in treating you badly, because (as they see it) you don't mind - you just keep coming in and doing your job.

If you're ill, don't go to work. Simple as that. You're likely to give everyone else in the office whatever it is you've got, you'll be less productive, and you will be caning your immune system with the stress so you'll take longer to recover.

If you have a good reason to request compassionate leave, ask. That lets them know you have more important things in your life than this job. They may turn you down, but at least you've made a point.

If you keep acting like a doormat, I'm afraid they'll keep treating you like one...

[Disturbedguy]

OK, that's one problem right there. If you keep working regardless of what's throw at you, your employer will assume that they can throw anything at you too. You're creating an expectation that you'll just keep your head down and get on with it, so they'll feel justified in treating you badly, because (as they see it) you don't mind - you just keep coming in and doing your job.

If you're ill, don't go to work. Simple as that. You're likely to give everyone else in the office whatever it is you've got, you'll be less productive, and you will be caning your immune system with the stress so you'll take longer to recover.

If you have a good reason to request compassionate leave, ask. That lets them know you have more important things in your life than this job. They may turn you down, but at least you've made a point.

If you keep acting like a doormat, I'm afraid they'll keep treating you like one...

I know what you are saying, but working hard is something I have been taught all my life and something I have always done.

Dont get me wrong, if I am ill to the extent I am dying then I take time off, but if its a cough and a bit of a runny nose, I dont like most of the people here do.

There are other people on the desk that are classed as doormats and they are proper yes sir/ no sir types, where as me, if I dont agree with something will speak up, but yes I understand what you are saying.

And Splash, yes the A is correct, check PM

[Splash]

And Splash, yes the A is correct, check PM

Thought as much, didn't want to name names in open forum as it might get back to you, which would suck. See my PM for thoughts.

[Disturbedguy]

Indeed Splash, small world eh.

Well just had my little one on one, my starts for the week are fine, I had one bad-ish day but for the rest of the stats, my stats basically pulled up the rest of the desks stats. The areas I havent been "that" good in, in the past have improved.

Didnt really get to ask anything, it was basically these are your stats, your doing well, cya.

[scaryjim]

... it was basically these are your stats, your doing well, cya.

Sounds like they're starting to take you for granted. It might be worth collaring your boss and saying "I'm considering looking for other jobs, I just wanted to let you know, and check that it's OK to use you as a referee?" That doesn't commit you to leaving, or even looking for other jobs, but it does make it clear to him in a reasonably polite way that you're not entirely happy there. If he just says "fair enough" then start looking because they obviously don't value you, they're just taking you for granted. If he actually asks why you're looking, you can start making noises about the lack of promotion opportunities and that you feel you're being passed over for opportunities to improve your skillset.

Most employers nowadays understand that their employees are there as much to learn new things and improve their job prospects as they are to do the job, and they *should* expect you to be a little bit selfish in what you do. If you're not learning anything or developing in the job, then it is perfectly natural for you to be wanting to move on.

[Disturbedguy]

Indeed Jim, def something I am going to have to look into.
Need to do something, my main goal is pass my test and get a car..either before leaving or just after..

[floppybootstomp]

The advice rarely given when you're new to work is the most important thing to cope with is not how well qualified and how well you can do your job but how you survive the inter-staff politics.

Especially where the staff number more than five and/or there are tiers of management.

There will always one or more people out to bring you down cos sadly that's the way some folk are.

It took me a long time to realise this, me being Mr Naive, but by about the third job I'd got it sussed.

Work isn't school or college it's a battleground.

Never offer more information about yourself than you have to and be just friendly and helpful enough not to be obnoxious.

There's more but I thought I'd add that comment. Good luck.

[scaryjim]

Do you need a car, living in Manchester?

I owned a car when I moved over here (to Bolton, in fact) ~ 2.5 years ago. The car sat by the road and only moved 3 times in the next 6 months. I was eventually forced into getting rid of it because the engine seized, but since the road tax was pretty much up I was planning on getting rid of it anyway. Since then, I've not missed owning a car - I can get pretty much everywhere on public transport, which is pretty damn good in Greater Manchester (even better now I've moved south of the City and can use Stagecoach buses ).

Sorry, slight off topic ramble As I say, you don't have to start looking for jobs, but mentioning that you are thinking of it should get some kind of a reaction, and that should help you judge what your employers actually think of you. Frankly a year is about the right length of time to spend in an entry level position before you think about moving up. You'll find that each step up the ladder you take adds another year or two to how long you feel is appropriate to stay in a job!

The advice rarely given ... how you survive the inter-staff politics.

We cross posted, but I had to add - this is spot on. Most reasonably intelligent people will have to go through a lot of promotions before they start encountering work they struggle with: you will encounter people and relationships you will struggle with on day one! And I'm afraid this one doesn't get easier with experience, because every situation is different. So, I can't give you any advice on how to handle the office politics, but if you're aware that there *will* be office politics then at least you can keep an eye out for it...

[Disturbedguy]

The car is more for myself, for the weekends when I would just like to get away on a drive somewhere, out of Manchester and stuff like that. Yes the public transport is great, but it irritates the hell out of me.

I know what you are saying, but I am just getting to the point where I want more...challenging stuff to do. Something that will test me more than...ok I will reset your password or refresh your password or even restart the PC (I hate using this one, feels so cheap).