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Topic: Working blues
| Author | Message |
| PluckyPane | Posted – 10/26/2007 11:36:46 AM | show profile I work for the publishing arm of a mother company that has many (very) different divisions. My division was started 15 years as a vehicle for cheap advertising of the mother company's products and has done well. We net $2M after all is said and done. I'm the managing editor of the mag. Over the last 8 yrs., I've had 5 publishers. The latest, who started 2 years ago, came in with guns blazing. He immediately took over several of my most cherished roles: budgeting and managing the editorial content. I find the expansion of his role much like I find the expansion of the Executive Branch's power: a conflict of interest. We have editorial meetings where he assigns ME the editorial for the month, mostly fluff pieces for his advertisers and industry "buddies." The sales have gone through the roof (what a shock), but the readership is down. My freelancers have been "fired" and my responsibility in writing has expanded (often using pen names to cover up the fact that I write 90% of the mag). As long as the money rolls in... To boot, my publisher is the lifelong, childhood friend of both the presidents. I got wise a few years ago with the sequence of revolving-door publishers and I started taking on writing and editing tasks from some of the other divisions. I made myself indispensible. My publisher is now taking those duties away from me, and with that, my "power" and job security is waning. He does this all with a concerned look on his face, like he's doing me a favor. I don't think he is doing this to get rid of me; I think his sick, megalomaniacal personality is finally exposing itself. He literally brags about how the president "takes care" of him with fat bonuses and a company car while the rest of us get modest step raises with no fringe benefits for the extra duties we've incurred. The pres doesn't care because the money coming in is so good. I manage a skeleton crew, but even their confidence is sagging. I've been looking for a new position for the past 9 months, with no luck. I network, attend conferences, hired a headhunter, expanded my job search area, take classes, constantly find better ways to write my resume, and give it my all, but very little has happened. The one position I thought I had in the bag (literally 3 interviews and 3 flights to Chicago later) was reposted here just yesterday. Talk about crushing. Does anyone have any ideas how I can either get back some of my authority (which I earned after 8 years here) or how to get another job fast? I drag myself to work every day; it's no longer a career but a competition to gain back my authority and self respect. If I can't work things out here, I want to at least learn how to avoid falling into this trap again. Suggestions? Pep talks? Anyone? |
| Jill of all trades | Posted – 10/26/2007 1:15:48 PM | show profile pep talk Try not to be crushed by the reposted job. I'm not sure it means as much as we all think it does-- the HR folks might just do that automatically. Do take it as an opportunity to be in touch with the hiring manager, not to inquire about the reposted position but to congratulate them on a great new issue (assuming it's a magazine job), send them the latest issue of your pub, etc. Chin up! |
| Circ-u-lator | Posted – 10/26/2007 3:20:44 PM | show profile Ouch Wow, I feel for you. That just seems like a really unpleasant situation to be in. My only suggestion would just be to follow up with the folks you interviewed with. There was obviously a great deal of interest but for some reason things didn't come together. It could be easily resolved. As someone who is unhappy in their job I can tell you that what gets me through the day is looking for new opportunities. I probably check the MB job listings 10 times/day. I know that at some point something I can be excited about will come up. Anyway, this probably isn't overly helpful but just know there are others in similar boats. |
| WordyBird | Posted – 10/28/2007 12:01:51 PM | show profile ***Blunt language alert!*** These are all classic signs that you are no longer valued by this company and your days may very well be numbered. They are trying to force you out. The publisher's mental status aside, this company doesn't care what happens to YOU if they are letting this happen. I spent 2 years in misery watching this happen at a workplace, and in the end, I only felt like a masochist. Besides, 8 years with one company in publishing is enough. I learned that the hard way. I thought by sticking around for 9.5, I'd be showing the world how loyal I can be. Potential employers should like that, right? Wrong. I ran the risk of looking "stagnant." In fact, a few potential employers said outright, "Why so long in that one position?" I was able to charm my way through it, "My co-workers were like family, personal reasons, I just loved the work and was happy there, it was fulfilling but now I need a change, blah blah blah," but it did make me squirm the first time someone asked. Really, all anyone seems to expect these days is 5 or 6 years--you know, until you're fully vested--and if you're not moving up or getting MORE responsibility, there's no reason to stick around. So scratch the "get back more authority" thing. Ain't gonna happen. As for looking at postings, why not call the company and say that you've noticed the job re-posted and were wondering what the status was. They may have some sort of autorenew that they forgot to cancel. And? FWIW, I looked for a new job for 9 months long-distance. I had to just bite the bullet and move to where I wanted to be (which was NY anyway, publishing aside). Then it all fell together. Start freelancing on the side if you aren't already. Let a few clients become familiar with you so that if a permanent position opens up, they'll think of you first. And this way, you'll be prepared should the crap really hit the fan and you either get laid off or decide you've had enough and would rather be unemployed than continue working there. |
| WordyBird | Posted – 10/28/2007 12:14:06 PM | show profile PS... Let me give you a big, if unprofessional, hug, OP. Seriously. I know what it's like to put years in at a place, love it, love what it stands for, love the people, love the work, and be truly happy, only to have some numbnut come in at the top and screw it all up. It not only hurts in terms of your career, but it hurts emotionally, both to feel disregarded and to watch something so good become, well, not so good, and feel powerless to stop it. |
