Office Ettiquette

[chideltjen]

After going thru interview after interview for new jobs after my lay off... it's not what kind of pretty pieces of paper you own and what you know, it's WHO you know. And if you don't know anyone and think you can get by on your pretty piece of paper, you are dead wrong.

And sometimes what is said on paper is misleading. For example: I was told flat out by someone in the meeting industry that she thought graphic designers were weird. I have a BS in graphic design. It may be true that some can't keep a deadline and don't have people skills, but even with admin and customer service experience, I still get written off.

Perhaps you weren't considered for the position because maybe you seem too set in your ways. You have that education and that structure. Maybe mgmt didn't want someone with a textbook background. Maybe this other candidate was fresh and is open to being "molded" into what mgmt wants. So maybe it was a blessing that you didn't get the option to promote. They can say all they want on the job description, but it matters more if the person fits what they are looking for, rather than their quals. It's different with being an MD or a JD or PhD... because you HAVE to have those pieces of paper to be in those professions.

But I'm learning more and more that more and more people are more qualified in other ways. And in some ways, they are over qualified. Maybe you were over-qualified.

But don't write off the girl without a specific degree. I'll be one of those someday when I enter into the meeting planning field.

[honeychile]

May I add one more comment?

Do you remember the episode of Seinfeld when Elaine's medical charts have her marked as "uncooperative" and she's no longer able to find a doctor?

Causing an office to spontaneously combust will similarly follow you, for the rest of your career. When you use that office as a reference, they probably won't give you a bad reference (assuming that your work was good to begin with), but they'll make it clear that they were happy to see the back of you. Trust me.

[mu_agd]

What I also don't get is that it doesn't seem like this girl was competing with you for a promotion, right? She was being considered for a position that really had no affect on you? So then why is it that big of a deal?

[three2tango]

Thank you all for your insight on this matter. I always know if I want an intelligent answer I can come here. I may not agree, but I still value your opinion here.

I don't know if the girl with no degree will get the job and beat out the MBA girl in my department. As for myself - the rest of my promotions for my career path are based on passing exams. I make 38K now and when I pass my 4 exams I will make 60K. Then if I get my MBA I will get a 9% raise on that. The management makes around 70k. I will stick with 1/2 the work and stress at 60K.

Again, Thanks for your candid opinions!

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by three2tango
Thank you all for your insight on this matter. I always know if I want an intelligent answer I can come here. I may not agree, but I still value your opinion here.

I don't know if the girl with no degree will get the job and beat out the MBA girl in my department. As for myself - the rest of my promotions for my career path are based on passing exams. I make 38K now and when I pass my 4 exams I will make 60K. Then if I get my MBA I will get a 9% raise on that. The management makes around 70k. I will stick with 1/2 the work and stress at 60K.

Again, Thanks for your candid opinions!

I love that you have a plan I'm trying to make one now.

/hijack

[Rudey]

If you are competing I would go for the throat but hey that's just me. In that case I don't think what you did was enough. I'd download child porn on her computer and call the FBI.

-Rudey