Career change advice

[desmocat]

I am at a point of a showdown with my micromanager boss. I currently am going to school taking a CCNA prep course, two nights a week.My immediate supervisor is cool with the idea, it's his boss who is giving me the grief. Two times a month, I have to go to work about an hour late and last night, he gets pissed because I called and told the person that If nothing is going on, to leave at 7:00, and I would be in at 8:00. He left my supervisor a 5 MINUTE voicemail over this! My work record is spotless, several multi-year stints without missing a days work (15 year tenure, 5 in my current dept), went through a 48 month training matrix in 30 months, have trained several of the most hihgly regarded people in our dept, can do every job in the dept as well as being the" fix my computer" guy when they don't want to wait for IS. What should have been a harbinger of things to come is when I told him I was going back to school, his response was"that sucks!! when I confronted him he said"well, uhh, it sucks for me. but it's good for you..I guess". What I'm asking of you good folks is would you get mad if a long tenure employee wants to better themself? Several other people have done the exact same thing in the past, and nothing was ever said to them about them leaving early/coming in late while taking classes.Our process doesn't demand to have someone there at all times so that isn't a factor. I have a sizeable chunk of savings to fall back on, but I would rather stay employed. Do any of you think it is time to move on with my new career choice?
Everybody that I work with find it hard to believe he is acting this way. Faced with the same scenario, would you try to keep me employed or would you run the risk of me telling you SEE-YA by giving me grief over this? There seems to be alot of level headed, mature people here so I thought I would seek some input from you guys/gals.Don't mean to go dear abby on here, so reply if you feel like it, or send it to the e-mail link. All input is gratefully accepted. Mark P

[tonym]

Mark,

First of all your boss is a moron. Having motivated people who seek out training is supposed to be a boss's dream. You know, the synergy thing. People doing what they're supposed to do..the boss then gets to *direct* and allocate, but doesn't have to get bogged down in the nitty-gritty.
This person, the micromanager, is probably very ineffective at doing what he/she is *supposed* to do (the responsibility list). If the boss is a micromanager, then he/she ascribes to the "if it isn't broke, then let's try to fix it" mentality. They love problems...they'll even resort to creating them just to look like a superhero when it's solved, regardless if it's in the company's best interest or not.
That puts you in his/her crosshairs...you're a problem to be solved, an itch to be scratched, etc. You can't change him/her. You can try to change and adapt, but trust me you'll reach your boiling point soon and your job effectiveness and morale will suffer.
If you've been at your job for so long, don't you have allegiances with other managers/directors/VPs at your boss's level?? Don't you use smoeone there as a "rabbi" -- for advice, or as a sounding board?

The situation you're in sounds pretty unfavorable for you...coming in late and being put under a microscope isn't a very progessive approach to business. I was always told that if I got my job done, I could stay at home if I liked (an extreme case, but nonetheless an example). Why doesn't this apply to you?

Also, your boss may be in trouble and if he has distractions (personnel issues) to deal with, it might temporarily take the heat off his/her **** but give YOU grief.

My advice...seek out a rabbi and don't make a rash decision until you find out if your boss is in trouble. Then it's just a waiting game/test of strength. But if you're good, the other management won't take the chance on loosing you because of pettiness on the part of your boss.

Good luck and keep us advised...


Tony

[Apostle 83]

Well, I'd say go over his head. Talk to his superior. If you get the same kinda response, then you'd have to decide if its just these two or the whole company.

There are web sites where you can post resumes anonymously-and boy do they get USEFUL traffic! I don't have links of the top of my head... i think it was in a pc mag like a month ago...

My point is, it never hurts to look for another job, especially if you can place in the time available spot "Two weeks from acceptance!"

[bdunn]

Mark,

Sounds like its time to move on. Don't wait to get fired. Its much easier to find work while you're still working.

Good luck and I hope things work out well for you. I changed jobs 11 months ago and it worked out well. I found out 5 months from a former co-worker ago that the job I left no longer exists.

[Vincent22]

Desmocrat,
As a former upper and middle management recruiter, (headhunter),I can assure you that you are being viewed as irreplacable. If your situation is such that opportunities are limited, begin now to acquire the needed documentation, and foresight for the move out. Consult with a "creative" resume writer that will accentuate all of your duties and responsibilities, including the ones you perform that are beyond your jpob description, into a clear and concise format that is short on acronyms and long on "layspeak". DO NOT CIRCULATE YOUR RESUME or allow it to leave your hand except to hand it directly to the interviewer for the company you choose. Brush up on interview skills, (more personable and less technical), it's been a while since you've had to do that. Seek an appointment with a confidential Professional Recruiting firm, (not an employment agency that charges you a fee), and schedule with a person who works only in your field. Do not understate your value, dollar wise or otherwise. You want to make friends with this person...If they feel you are a highly marketable commodity they will dedicate themselves to placing you with one of their Top Clients, in a position that meets or exceeds you expectations for pay, position, perks, and future advancement. Remember you are going to be sized up in that first meeting with the recruiter, so SPARKLE!!! Down the line if you find that you are being interviewed by a prospective "boss" that couldn't do your job...request that a department head in your field attend...you dont want to make the person with the hiring resposibility look or sound like a dummy so finnese the request in a manner that shows your interest ie. in the companies equipment, departmental structure, technologies etc. that way you'll have someone there that the suit can rely on to interpret what the heck you were saying http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
Good luck and best wishes

Sincerely

Vincent

[desmocat]

Thanks guys for the advice and words of wisdom. I do in fact know a couple of people where I work that could possibly help me out.
What's cool is that one is a V.P and the other is a general manager, and I am on very good terms with both since I came to work here http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif If worse came to worse, there's nothing like a little pressure from above to"grease the wheels!". BTW, he didn't have the nads to even speak to me when I got here tonight, it may be a case of my supervisor relaying to him that I was ready to leave over this little blow up of his. Anyway, thanks to all that replied. Mark