MetaChat - Into The Gaping Maw of Doom

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14 November 2007

Into The Gaping Maw of Doom Tomorrow →[More:] I'm driving down to Sussex tomorrow to hang with the Luddites. The ex-director came in today and bought us all lunch. While we were in the pub, the one manager guy (who isn't really my boss anymore) cornered me and gave me the whole "do you want to know why you're REALLY going to Chichester?" routine.

He seems to think that they're having me down to assess me/decide whether to keep me/etc (they use IT consultants, and may decide that they can do better without me... which is complete rubbish).

He was giving me all sorts of odd advice... essentially, "your personality sucks: pretend to be someone else... I don't want to lose you". Fair enough, since I'm one of the people who make him look good. The man can't even type an email, for fuck's sake.

Fuck it. I'm not sure I really care anymore. I'm starting to think that the best thing would be a golden handshake.

post by: chuckdarwin at: 13:46 | 6 comments

Would be better than a golden shower. Why is it that bosses think they can best do their job by being disrespectful and mean?

posted by Citizen Premier 14 November | 14:18

Ugh. Try to shake it off, I think. I don't know what his deal is, but if he thinks making you fearful and suspicious is going to greatly improve your impression there... well. Be sharp and ready, but don't walk in angry or sullen or it could end up a self-fulfilling prophecy woven from thin air. Just go nice and friendly, and ready-steady. Either way, it will be better.

posted by taz 14 November | 14:43

Is the manager guy normally reliable, or a paranoid freak? Because he sounds here like a paranoid freak, and if he's often a paranoid freak, then you can probably just brush off what he's saying.

And if he's not normally a paranoid freak, then just try to take any bits of *useful* advice he's giving you and disregard the rest, lest *you* become a paranoid freak :-)

posted by occhiblu 14 November | 14:46

T, this manager, and I don't *get* each other. Never have. He's in a bad place, because he's sort of our highest ranking guy and he doesn't know ANYTHING about computers. Thus, he has always been suspicious of me because he cannot understand anything I say or do. Several times, he has walked away from me while I was speaking to him.

He can't type, he can't write well (his written English is like a child's) and even his handwriting is illegible. He doesn't answer emails. He can't do a powerpoint or understand a spreadsheet. I don't even know if he's ever launched Word.

Everyone's all skittish - especially him - because everyone at our head office is essentially superfluous now. No one knows who will survive this 'merger' thing... (that's not really what we call it, but...)

Yeah, he's projecting.

******

These folks I'm going to see also have poor computer knowledge/skills. I think it's probably another scenario wherein people are afraid and therefore would rather overpay some consultant (who baffles them with bullshit and overcharges for doing nothing) than keep me on (because having me around would remind them of their pressing need to invest in their non-existent network).

We shall see.

posted by chuckdarwin 14 November | 15:01

You haven't seemed happy there since the big event. Be your best self and let them make of you what they will. Good luck.

posted by theora55 14 November | 15:58

Thanks, theora55! That's exactly what I was thinking.

Metachat rules. I'm going to hang out with my wife and then go to sleep (because I have to do our AGM thing - which I hate - on Saturday).

posted by chuckdarwin 14 November | 16:11

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