I wanted to start a thread so that anyone facing career challenges/changes/planning could come here to talk about these issues. It's my intent to come here every once in a while to post a homework type question. I welcome others to do the same. It'll also be a great place for some accountability if you need some of that for tasks that will move you forward with what you are trying to do. Post your to-do list, your challenge to yourself, your request for support or celebration, whatever you need.

I imagine this thread will keep popping up to the top so if you are reading this days or months after we started, don't hesitate to jump in.

Peg

quote:

Originally posted by jillybean:
Then the client and the person looking for a job tend to trust me less for doing that. I'd rather hold off on placing someone for the right job, and not just stick them in any job that comes along.

Jill

I think that's why she's trying to make this seem like it is my fault. I think she's really embarrassed for the client. I'm sure she can find other candidates, but I think she feels like she has egg on her face for sending me there to begin with. I wouldn't have been so upset had I not point blank asked her "Are you sure this is a paralegal position?" She should have explained to me at that point.

Oh well...

Dawn

quote:

Originally posted by johnbol:
Dawn,

You have every right to be upset. Before finding a new recruiter, you might have a discussion with the one you are working with and be adamant about what you are looking for.

Basically a recruiter is a sales person. The recruiter needs to sell both you on the job and the company on the applicant. It is the recruiter's position to eliminate "must haves" and turn them into"would be nice if"

That said, she still should have listened to you.

Hang in there.

Linda

We did talk and I could tell that she was upset with me. Essentially, she didn't do her job, and was embarrassed in front of a client.

I wouldn't have been upset had I not specifically point blank asked her "Are you sure it is a paralegal position and not a legal secretary position?" She said she doesn't think there's that much difference. Well, there is a difference. She said that at that firm there isn't a big difference and I should have stayed for the interview to find that out. I told her "No, you should have explained that to me when I asked you if it was a paralegal position. Had you told me 'They will say it is a secretary position, but meet with them and get the job description and see what you think.' Then I would have, but when she came in and said "We're hiring a legal secretary." I was confused and felt that I wasn't in the right interview."

Anyway... I have a phone interview tomorrow for a job I'm actually more interested in anyway.

Thanks,
Dawn

Dawn,

You have every right to be upset. Before finding a new recruiter, you might have a discussion with the one you are working with and be adamant about what you are looking for.

Basically a recruiter is a sales person. The recruiter needs to sell both you on the job and the company on the applicant. It is the recruiter's position to eliminate "must haves" and turn them into"would be nice if"

That said, she still should have listened to you.

Hang in there.

Linda

quote:

Originally posted by Tayhudson:
Really frustrating situation today. So, last week one of the recruiters I was working with called and said one of the law firms in town is hiring for a paralegal position for a floater in the firm. As soon as she said that I asked "Are you sure it is a paralegal position? I've never heard of a floater paralegal. I've only heard of floater legal secretaries." She said "Oh no, it is a paralegal position."

So...then a day or so later she sent me a typing test. I thought "Huh, I've never had to take a typing test for a paralegal position before." Then one of the attachments said "Secretary questionnaire"...I'm thinking, this really seems like a secretary position.

Well, I went to the interview and it was for a secretary position. I told the HR Manager that I'm sorry but I thought this was for a paralegal position, and that I didn't want to waster her time.

Now the recruiter is mad a me. She was trying to tell me I should have gone ahead with the interview, because I may have found out it was something that I was interested in and blah, blah, blah.

I guess I need to find a new recruiter now.

Dawn

Sorry to hear that happened, Dawn. I work in staffing and I try very hard to only send people to places that I feel are what they are really looking for. I do know, however, that many recruiters will send people out to any job that comes close, just to make a placement. I look at it this way-if I send someone where deep down I know it is not what they are looking for(or what the company is looking for) it most likely does not work out and then no one is happy. Then the client and the person looking for a job tend to trust me less for doing that. I'd rather hold off on placing someone for the right job, and not just stick them in any job that comes along.

Jill

Really frustrating situation today. So, last week one of the recruiters I was working with called and said one of the law firms in town is hiring for a paralegal position for a floater in the firm. As soon as she said that I asked "Are you sure it is a paralegal position? I've never heard of a floater paralegal. I've only heard of floater legal secretaries." She said "Oh no, it is a paralegal position."

So...then a day or so later she sent me a typing test. I thought "Huh, I've never had to take a typing test for a paralegal position before." Then one of the attachments said "Secretary questionnaire"...I'm thinking, this really seems like a secretary position.

Well, I went to the interview and it was for a secretary position. I told the HR Manager that I'm sorry but I thought this was for a paralegal position, and that I didn't want to waster her time.

Now the recruiter is mad a me. She was trying to tell me I should have gone ahead with the interview, because I may have found out it was something that I was interested in and blah, blah, blah.

I guess I need to find a new recruiter now.

Dawn

Oh, Laura!

Congratulations on your positive attitude.

I totally relate to their taking your study time. One could look at it as one more interview experience which will help when it comes time for the big engineering one.

Linda

sorry to hear that but glad you are ok with it.

I got turned down for the job I interviewed for. Why they interviewed me when I was the only one who applied part time (and wasted an hour and a half of my study time for no real reason) only to hire a full timer is beyond me.

I'm more mad about the study time than I am about not getting the job. The new job was just going to be one less stressor in my life, so staying where I am now is really no change in status quo. And I'm truly okay with that.

Diana,
Blowing through here real quick today and caught your post. Things sound really crappy and I'm sorry about that. It's such a drag when work gets that way.

I wanted to add my voice to the "go ahead and apply". I always, always think applying for a job that looks interesting is the right thing to do. There is no obligation on your part to take the job if offered but you only have part of the picture at this point. Only by going through the process, if you get the opportunity, will give you all the information to make a choice. No one assumes that because you apply, you'll take it if offered. Even if this job doesn't work out or you choose to decline if offered, you will be exposing yourself to others in the org who may not know you, you'll be letting it be heard loud and clear that things aren't working for you and maybe that will provide some impetus to changes in your current job and you will also be saying loud and clear that you want to hear about other opportunities. All things that could lead to an improvement without deployment and less-than-ideal hours. At the very least, you get another round of practice at presenting yourself and working on the resume, etc.

Hang in there and only do what you can do. If the boss is going home on time, follow her lead. Keep your life in balance...it's not your problem. You don't get paid to worry about it, try to let the people who do get the $ do the worrying.

Peg

Since I at least applied for this other job, I can handle whatever happens knowing that I at least tried to do something better for myself. If I don't get it, at least I know I tried, so no regrets will happen.

Go for it. At least you'll know you tried, even if it doesn't work out for you. Plus, there are some benefits to not getting up before the buttcrack of dawn.

Diana,

I can totally relate to having a job that is physically and emotionally draining. And chances are that these jobs are not going to change, for myself or for you. That is why I hope you take the opportunity to explore this other job and get into a position that will help you to feel more rewarded and at the end of the day you feel good, not defeated. I wake up every morning dreading getting out of bed because of my job and I know I don't give 100% to my work because I have no passion for it.

I know this is not the first time you've posted about getting out of this job-and I agree with Isabel, that this is an open door for you and I hope you walk through that door, and slam it in the face of your old job!!!!

Jill

diana, it is an open door that has presented itself in your life. must be happening for a reason. i think it is worth a look.

Diana -
What struck me most about your post was that you used "physically and emotionally draining" to describe your current job. Those aren't good thing.

If this new job can inspire you and fill you up rather than deplete you, go for it.

It certainly can't hurt to at least apply for it.

diana, follow your instincts tell you.

here is more from the oprah article i wrote about earlier. what a nice way to think about money.

i have always had a great relationship with money, even when i barely had any to relate to. i never feared not having it and never obsessed about what i had. like everyone, i can remember every salary i ever made. i suppose we remember because a salary helps to define the value of our service--and unfortunately, for some people, the value they place on themselves.

for me, money has always been about an energy exchange, following the law of cause and effect. i give my energy to the work and in exchange am rewarded with a different form of energy--money. this is turn lets me acquire, create, and build other forms of energy, from the necessities of food and shelter to material possessions that enhance the quality of life to endeavors that help others reach their fullest potential. all these many years later, i still know i am not my income. i am not the lifestyle my income can afford me. i let money serve its purpose. but i don't live to serve money.

I don't know, Diana, but if it was me, I'd pursue the new job just have hope and something to look forward to.

D,

How frustrating. I have no words of wisdom, only support. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Tough choices.

Linda

I can't go into all the details, but our team of 9 is now 4. And it's physically and mentally draining me every. single. day. The boss works her hours and goes home--and refuses all offers of short-term help, believing that will get her more people on the team for the long term. But instead, everyone's given up trying to please her, and we're stuck waiting for situations with health and family to resolve themselves so our team members get back.

And...we had a company meeting, and they gave out awards, and again, I was passed over. My boss said that HIS boss didn't approve mine--yet a guy who discussed Final Four games for six hours today (I set a timer on my computer because if I don't laugh, I cry) got a $500 award for "sustained performance to the client." The heck does that mean? Mine was for developing a database and transferring over 900 pages of MSWord INTO that database WHILE doing my other job.

So, a job has come open that I could probably get easily. I'd feel like dirt ditching my current team..and leaving 3 people to do the work of 9. But at the same time...I'm the only one who can do anything about my career. Where I am, there isn't much room for upward progression, and it's not like the world is full of "editing" jobs. The other job would be doing real writing and research; there's a good chance, if I scored high enough on a test, that they'd send me to language school, too.

So I've been swamped and overloaded at work, and with some family health things, and it all weighs so much heavier when you're mentally exhausted every day and have trouble falling asleep. Guh. Enough already.

I e-mailed my boss, and he'd LOVE for me to move to the other job, where I'd be working in the same area as him and would be around a lot of other company people. But the hours are not so good (there are mid- and swing-shifts to work). However, there's monetary compensation for working odd hours. There's also a chance of deployment, which I have to admit, does not appeal to me AT ALL (not like I'd carry a gun and do patrols...I'm not trained for that at all, but it would mean going overseas and probably into some dangerous areas, which would like to kill my mom, after all she went through knowing my brother was in a tank in Baghdad...urgh).

Sorry for the rant. This is a tough call to make. My job now is very safe, but won't get me anywhere else. The other job would be different and potentially risky, but would give me great exposure, great training, and more marketability.

will be crossing fingers and toes, just for you.

in the "what i know for sure" section of oprah magazine is all about work. some passages touched me:

"if you get paid to do what you love, you have been given a gift." (Yes, this feel true to me!)

"work is an exchange of energy. i put energy into my work. and i get energy back--in the form of money" (then why are women still being paid less than men? I think the energy women invest is damned valuable!!)

"the income represents the value of your service." (hmmm..makes me think of all the stuff i have done for free...was i sending a message about the value of my services?)

i wish i had the article in front of me so i would do it some justice but you get the point. all good things to contemplate, eh?

I should hear in roughly 10 days to 2 weeks. Hopefully. Sometimes molasses moves faster than our library.