Conference 7.286::digital

    Maybe a better question would be: what do *you* want to do?  You
    need to get that question answered first.  It sounds as if staying
    in your current situation is not satisfactory -- fine.  What are
    your options?  Would you be open to relocation to another part of
    the country/world?  If so, start defining what your options are,
    and which sound most attractive to you.  Then your current manager
    and/or your personnel rep will be better able to assist you.
    
    Good luck
    Jon

    I know what I want to do and the problem is that the jobs posted
    aren't of interest to me or I'm not qualified for them.  I don't
    want to move (married; have house; husband happy with job) and I
    am beginning to look outside, but until I find something, shouldn't
    DEC be responsible for "taking care of me" since the job change
    wasn't in my control?  (Reaching a Personnel Rep and getting accurate
    information is difficult...especially doing it discretely, since
    I have to use the phone or visit their building.  Turn around time
    for mail between us has been approximately 1 week for each response
    to my inquiries.)

    re .3
    
    I think I know what you're going thru -- I was there awhile back;
    in fact, based on your node name, in the same facility, so I can
    understand the problem.  If relocation is not a possibility, or
    perhaps a "special project" where you could remain located there
    but report to a manager elsewhere (I know some people in that facility
    that are currently doing that), you may be stuck.  I would hope
    that the local management there realizes that you felt you were
    doing the traditional "right thing" by sticking it out after the
    others in the group had jumped ship, and they would hopefully be
    more helpful than an attaboy in your personnel file.  But as far
    as officially "owing" you anything, I'm not sure that's applicable.
    
    Good luck
    Jon

re: .0

I encourage you to try to strike a compromise and tough it out.
Your base note is evidence that you are indeed a professional
and valuable employee (articulate, objective, informative).

Here's one tack you might try with your manager:

	"You don't know me very well but I believe I'm a valuable
	employee.  However, my style and the style of this
	organization aren't entirely compatible.  I can adjust
	to it, but if I adjust too much I'll be unhappy, eventually
	leave, and then you'll be unhappy.  What I'd like to
	do, if it is agreeable to you, is this:

	"Dress code: I'll do it when it is appropriate, but doing
	it when no customers are present, or important meetings
	demand it, appears to me to just be "pro forma".  I'd
	like you to trust my judgement as to when it's necessary
	to "dress up".  Be sure to let me know of any problems
	that arise because of that.

	"Seriousness/style: Some folks are serious all of the time.
	Too much work and not enough play can make Jill a dull girl.
	I'm always professional and serious when the situation calls
	for it, but I think DEC has always encouraged a certain
	degree of casuallness, and I think I use good judgement as
	to when that is appropriate.  I'd like you to call any
	misjudgements on my part to my attention, and help me
	understand them.

	"So, if you see this as a reasonable mutual understanding,
	then I'd like to stay on for awhile and try things out.
	If it works, we both win and so do the company and
	the customers.  If it doesn't, I'll look elsewhere with
	no hard feelings.

If you try this, and it works, be _sure_ to follow up with written
minutes of your meeting to your boss and yourself.  This will fix
the agreement in writing, and also might be an important document
to you in the future, should a hostile relationship develop (and
I certainly hope it doesn't.)

- greg

    Many thanks to Jon (yes, you have the proper locale) and Greg. 
    I had one "speak easy" with my new manager and the first things
    out of my mouth (not in such a concise manner...I got in there before
    reading your note, Greg, and I wish I would've checked here first!)
    were on the order of Greg's suggestions.  The only thing remaining
    to be defined (and I got a commitment for a response upon my return
    from Beantown 8/15) is what my job tasks in this new organization
    are supposed to be.
    
    Here's where Jon comes in...
    
    If the job tasks are not to my liking, you raised an EXTREMELY
    intriguing and very plausible recourse...Work locally doing something
    else for someone else.  Hmmm....Perhaps I can lay a few stepping
    stones in that direction, just in case I decide to pursue it.
    I don't want to get to the door with muddy shoes and find no Welcome mat.)

    Me again...
    
    I just wanted to let you know that as I was entering .6 (what irony)
    my Mgr asked to see me.  He has given me my first task and it sounds
    like something (and somebodies) I can associate with.  My other
    considerations are still that, so I'll come back to this note with
    updates once in a while.
    
    Again, thanks much for the thought-provoking discussions here and
    in my personal mail (i.e. Joe).
    
    -- SJH

    I'm glad you feel reassured about your first assignment; it will
    lend credibility to what I have to say:
    
    You can do the work, and do it well.
    
    You should therefore concentrate on how you feel about the work.
    
    							Ann B.

    I enjoyed your description of "professionalism".  The evolution that a
    "hands-on individual contributor" has to make to be effective in the
    role of "inspirational individual contributor" is just as tough as the
    one transition into "manager".
    
    Skills that seemed unimportant before like time management, writing and
    speaking effectively, and dealing with difficult people become more
    important than technical knowledge, and, in effect, become your job
    performance metrics.

    One last remark before I'm off on business for a week:
    
    RE: .8
    
    I'm not sure yet, but I'll give it a chance.  If I am expected to
    do what most others around me are doing, it isn't a matter of lacking
    confidence; these guys have 5-10 years experience on me that I can't
    compete with (and shouldn't have to).  My Mgr seems to understand
    my concerns and desires more than I thought he would, and I'm willing
    to give anyone one or two tries before I make judgements, as I expect
    them to do for me.  (Okay...sometimes 5 or 10 tries...)
    
    RE: .9
    
    That's why I came to DEC.  I was told that I could be myself and
    still be happy.  For the most part, it's true.  I suppose
    reorganizations and impositions of revenue generation and the like
    make for miles of hills and valleys for everyone involved to encounter.
    It always seems like my hills are the steepest and my valleys the
    darkest.    

    Everyone starts somewhere.  Sometimes experience helps and sometimes
    it hurts.  Sometimes a fresh outlook is good and sometimes it isn't
    enough.  You'll have the experience sooner or later, meanwhile keep
    learning and don't sweat that nasty little detail.  When you do
    something right, savor it.  If you blow it, pick up yer paycheck
    and try again next time (same as those experienced guys did when
    they started.
    
    Good Luck,
    Bob
    (12 years at the same location)

    You might be suprised, if you looked close enough, at what abilities
    some of the 5 - 10 year veterans have. Do not sell yourself short.
    There are plenty of 5 - 10 year folks around (even in the great
    halls of DEC) that don't pull their own weight. Of couse the
    rest of us pull double duty to make up for it. That is not to say
    thet there are plenty of 5 - 10 year veterans that are REALLY good
    and helpful. The most important things to know in this company is
    know what you capabilities are and know when its time to ask for
    assistance. Most GOOD veterans are more than willing to give
    assistance to anyone smart enough to ask for help.
    
    
        jzw (6 + years)

Don't forget... theres a big difference between 10 years experience,
and 1 years experience repeated ten times.

Bob

    Anytime you need a referral.  Have them call me.
    
    I'm glad that you're staying.  You helped bail me out on that 
    18 month BASEWAY residency.
    
    Thanks again - Kurt

    Thanks, Kurt...But did you have to mention the "B"-Word?  
    
    So much for anonymity...
    
    And things are still looking up, folks!  Graci'!

    Well, it's a done deal now...
    
    I'm moving onwards and upwards (still with DEC) into a Field Service
    support position.  If it's any consolation, I had to acquire and
    peruse the Job Postings on my own and I worked the proper procedures
    through Personnel and the hiring manager.  It took 4 weeks from
    posting inquiries to paper submission to interview appointment to
    interview to final offer to acceptance (part of that was my absence
    delaying the interview date) but it turned out to be well worth
    it for me.  This new position is a sizable promotion for me and
    a chance to start anew with new management and new peers.
    
    A truckload of thanks to those of you with supportive and helpful
    suggestions.  To those of you with whom I've have the pleasure to
    carry out business with, I wish you the same good fortune in whatever
    endeavors you seek.