Previously, on Corporette…

4 Comments

1. I feel like I’m giving my manager management advice and it’s driving me crazy.

   I’m a Manager level employee that works on a contract basis and I’ve been with my organization for 3 years. I was previously a full time employee in the same roll and moved to contract about a year ago after having a baby. The previous Director took a new job about a year ago and a new Director was hired. The new Director is sharp technically but lacks people and management skills. She’s been talking to me about how the employee hired to replace my full time position has been coming in late and not putting in her 40 hours (it’s our slow time right now). My replacement is very sharp and is doing a great job as far as work product, etc. goes. I’m essentially my replacement’s peer now so I think this is inappropriate that the Director is talking to me about my replacement. This is just one example, she talks to me about my replacement’s performance all the time and I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t talk about me to others. It’s just annoying and unprofessional. How do I shut this down and still be professional?? I feel like she wants to vent and has no one to vent to so she vents to me.

   “It makes me uncomfortable when you discuss other employees’ performance or shortcomings with me. I understand you feel like you need to vent but it makes me uncomfortable.” Does that work???

   Instead I feel like I’m teaching her how to manage and I just need to say what I feel above. Instead, I’m saying, “well is this a bone you want to pick? I feel like you have to decide what is important and what isn’t when you’re managing people. I feel like replacement does a great job and gets the work done and buckles down when necessary. Push face time if you feel like it’s necessary but if it were me I’d leave it alone.”

   1. What are your goals at this job? If you converted to contractor for work-life balance, I would accept that the management challenges are not yours anymore, and try to disengage mentally.
      She may be unprofessional, but her lack of management skills is not your responsibility or concern at this time.

2. Are there any other job hunters out there like me who are bitter, frustrated and rage-filled at their failed job hunt?? Been out of work since 10/15 when the company that I strung me around about converting my contractor role in the legal dept told me that their new policy was to not keep contractors for more than 18 Months, and here’s 2 weeks notice to find a new job!! I have thousands of resumes sent out, a dozed face to face interviews, three final round interviews and no offers (and in many cases no rejection emails! ). I luckily found this craptastic contract manager position “perm” position to pay the bills, but I am worried that I will never work as an attorney again!! How do I get rid of the toxic amount of rage and bitterness so that I can get on with my job search and enjoy life again???

   1. Anon- I’m sure there are others and it does seem like you got a really raw deal from your prior contracting firm. ( I remember your posts about it and thought they’d hire you – unfortunate that they strung you along.)

      I would suggest finding a Career Coach or a Life Coach. People here recommend therapists but you don’t absolutely need that – but you need an outlet for the rage to keep the bitterness from stalling your search for a better job and for direction on how to manage that job search. Some Career Coaches or Life Coaches have backgrounds in counseling, others don’t, but talk to a few about their approaches and their expertise. Most will give free introductory sessions so you can see if the fit is right. You might even find a coach who specializes in lawyers and also, coaching can be done over the phone so if the coach is not local, don’t let that be an obstacle. Depending on how far out of law school you are (and how competent your school was) you could talk to the counselors at the school and see if they have services and/or if they know of any coaches that they would recommend.

      There are also job hunting groups for professionals that meet and swap tips, vent and share resources. If you can find one that might also help you direct your energy in a positive manner.

      Good luck and I hope that happy results are in your future.

Comments are closed.