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Topic: Passed over for title, despite doing all the work!
| Author | Message |
| Jen480 | Posted – 2/14/2008 1:26:40 PM | show profile I've been the editorial assistant at the same magazine for almost 2 years now. We're a small staff, so the person who was our web editor retired six months ago, and the web editing duties were given to me. At first I didn't want these duties, but I tried my best not to complain, and now I really enjoy it. I've asked my boss several times if I could get the title "web editor," but he's said no. We're currently redesigning the web site, and now another women who works in another area of the publication (newsletter editor) is helping out with the redesign. The latest edition of the magazine came out this week, and I noticed that she's been named "web editor" on the masthead and not me! But I am the one still updating the site every month. I don't know what to do. I'm worried that once the redesign is complete, they're going to take the duties out from under me and give them to her. (Once the site is more user-friendly and easy to update. Right now it's so old school that it takes about 12 hours a month to update.) My boss is really hard to talk to. In the past, when I tried questioning something, he berated me and looked like his head was about to explode. Any advice is very much appreciated. I'm so ready to quit. |
| brainfry | Posted – 2/14/2008 5:18:14 PM | show profile Two years is too long... To be working with such an ingrate. You should have been looking for another job for a while and if not, start looking now and get out of there. They obviously don't appreciate you. |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 2/14/2008 5:31:13 PM | show profile THis sort of happened to me, and that's when I decided to look from another job. |
| MHNewell | Posted – 2/14/2008 5:33:27 PM | show profile Jen, this is a very frustrating situation indeed--and, unfortunately, a common situation, too. It happened to me at my old job--I was associate editor, and then the editor-in-chief and the managing editor left within six months of each other. I was the only one left to really run the editorial for our magazine. But, when they went to fill the managing editor position, they opted to hire from outside, despite the fact that I'd been successfully running the magazine for nearly five months. This kind of crap happens---all the time! Two years as an editorial assistant is a long time. I would think with your skill set up to this point that you could certainly begin a job search and land a position at a company/publication that is looking to help you grow in your career and within the company/publication. Good luck! |
| Jen480 | Posted – 2/14/2008 5:49:20 PM | show profile Thanks for the replies! I have been searching for a magazine job for the past few months, but running into the "you're not in NYC" problem. So, I'm planning on moving there as soon as I can find a place to live. Does anyone think that, in the mean time, I should nicely approach my boss about this and find out why I was passed up, or should I just act like nothing happened and keep actively searching for a new job? |
| foodlit | Posted – 2/14/2008 6:08:09 PM | show profile Jen, I would definitely ask for a meeting and an explanation from your Boss, in a nice way. A good way is to say, "I'm a bit confused could you please help me understand why this person was given the title over me?" And just see what he says. Make sure he is aware of what you do, as opposed to the other person, perhaps she took credit for your work? Even if you don't like or agree with his reasoning, it will still help you understand how he perceives what you do. Then you can decide what to do next...and it sounds like it might be time to look for a new job! Good luck, Pam |
| joyeuxnoelle | Posted – 2/14/2008 8:02:39 PM | show profile I agree with foodlit. Talking to your boss will offer you a better perspective on how he sees you and what you do which will be helpful while you're looking for a new job, something I recommend you do too. Good Luck |
| NYCWriter9423 | Posted – 2/15/2008 10:58:25 AM | show profile Exact Situation Hi Jen, I have lived through that experience for just about the same length of time. I was the EA, our senior editor left, and her entire job was dumped on me. It was a great experience for me, I immediately was perceived as a top editor by the outside community, but the problem was that my company would not properly promote me, in title and monetarily. I fought (strategically), over and over again, and realized that, in my company, they had no reason to promote me, I was already doing the work for free essentially. Long story short: I resigned. The plus: I have a really strong book. If you want to speak with your boss more about it, do so full expecting to not be satisfied with the answer they give you. I would actively look for something better, no one needs to know, and when you go on interviews, let them know that you took on all the web editor roles. |
| Guiseppina S. | Posted – 2/15/2008 12:05:25 PM | show profile Jen, I'm in the same situation now, only in reverse. From my perspective, they told me that they brought me in because the staff, while fabulous in their current roles, were not "marketable" outside the company or promotable (they refuse to take classes). In other words, I was hired to be "the face" of the magazine. It sounds horrible, but the skills that I brought to the job were exactly what they wanted from the position, skills that the current staff do not have. It has breeded so much hostility in the few weeks I've been here that I'm considering resigning. Consider seriously speaking with your boss. Maybe you were passed over because, while doing the job, you don't have a certain something that they want. Or maybe this new hire was a favor. Or maybe they really like you in the role your currently have, save the web end. Or maybe they really are trying to screw you. It could be anything, but don't jump to conclusions. Whatever happens you will at least officially know the reason (or at least the canned one they gave you). Then you can make a better decision about your role in the company, or if it's time to leave. |
| MHNewell | Posted – 2/15/2008 1:50:01 PM | show profile EditYourself makes a great point. As you look for other jobs, you should be sure to let them know the additional work you've done, even if you didn't have the title behind it. Magazines (and any company, for that matter) are always interested in the person who can rise to the occassion and take on extra responsibilities during times of staff turnover and transition. This can be hard to spell out on your resume, since you don't have a title change. But, including a little "story" about how you stepped up to the plate and, thus, gained extra experience goes nicely in a cover letter. |
| joyeuxnoelle | Posted – 2/16/2008 11:11:54 PM | show profile | email poster when your boss is a belligerent jerk I think everyone is giving great advice, but I'd really like to hear someone address the OP's concern about her boss berating her when she asks questions. I had a boss like that once and not being able to talk to him about ANYTHING motivated me to seek out opportunities else where. |
| face | Posted – 2/19/2008 12:58:38 AM | show profile Jen, where do you live now? I had the same "Not in NYC" problem, but was scared to move there without a job. In retrospect, this was probably me just being a chicken. In fact, I may have found a job faster if I moved their sooner. But while I was looking, I changed my address to a NY one (borrowed from a friend). A lot of employers won't even look at a resume that has a non-NY address, as they'd have to pay relocating costs and don't want to deal. In the media biz, there are so many people in NY who can do the job that it's unneccessary to shop outside. If you live close enough, this works for interviews. |
| photo | Posted – 2/19/2008 11:14:40 AM | show profile Getting your boss to justify his decision is the wrong approach, IMHO - it only puts him on the defensive and he rightfully can define what type of employee he wants for the title. A slightly different, but similar approach is for him to outline what he's looking for, and then illustrate how you successfully fit that position. Sometimes a boss will select a particular candidate because of their vision and what they're capable of doing in the future. It's not always about maintaining the status quo. And certainly, office politics can play a huge and unfair part of the process. This happens every day...the "best" employee and most-qualified employee isn't always the one to get the job, even to the point of utter foolishness on behalf of the company. Also be prepared to get a dishonest answer. The boss might not "like" you. He might be a snob, he might be sexist - who knows? The important thing is to be honest with yourself and confident in your skills. As others have mentioned, it's important that you make him aware of what you do, but you ultimately only have control over yourself. That often means busting your butt to be overqualified by exploiting every opportunity (such as professional development) to bolster your expertise. As other posters have stated, the situation you're describing is both very common and a good reason to seek other opportunities. An employee's skills are often perceived as more valuable to another company. One heartening note: if you are fully qualified, and your boss is making a foolish decision in letting you go, then you probably wouldn't want to work for a foolish person, anyway. |
| photo | Posted – 2/19/2008 11:17:46 AM | show profile Correction: I said "letting you go," but I meant "reassigning your responsibilities" and passing you over. |
