Archive for the ‘9-2-5’ Category
I’m Just Asking…
Wednesday Jul 23 2008
9-2-5 + Mental Cramps - No BackTalk
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Um…have you ever been in a meeting and wondered to your self, “Da hell am I here for? What in the sam hill are they talking about?”
I mean the kind of meeting where folks are pontificating all over themselves, making sure they sprinkle their conversation with all the latest business buzz words (If one mo’ person talks to me about “vetting” anything, I will NOT be held liable for my actions!!), looking for synergy, yada yada yada…and all you hear is this: “Wonk wonk wonk. Wonk. Wonk wonk. Wonk wonk wonk wonk.”
Sweet Jesus part the sky.
Ever been in one such meeting AND been the deisgnated “notekeeper”? And can’t muster up enough interest to even FAKE being attentive?
She who does not believe in “signs” recognizes this malady for what it is: TIME.TO.G-O.
*SIGH*
Neva mind me…I’m just asking….
They are truly “killing me softly with this crap…killing me softly….with this crap…ruining my whole life…with this crap…killing me softly…with this crap.” (Take it to the bridge now ya’ll!)
Me soooo bored right now,
*~* MsJayy *~*
Planning My Next Steps: 9-2-5
Wednesday Jun 11 2008
9-2-5 - No BackTalk
20 days.
That’s what I *think* I have left on my current 6-month contract with this client. (I say “think” because I’ve been told that, even though it was originally quoted as ‘6mos-temp-to-perm possibly”, this client doesn’t really write in an end date. *shrug* Whateva.)
20 days. Well, actually 19 now.
And then….?????
I don’t know. LOL
I’m a wee bit torn. Do I continue to contract, company to company, maybe even industry to industry? Do I ditch the contracting gig and find permanent employment on my own?
I was asked last week if I would stay with this client either in this department or another area of this subsidiary OR work for the parent company. Personally, giving the raggedy-ness of the current situation, I’d be surprised if an extension was offered. When originally asked, I said I would have to think about it - love the “potential” work/concept of the position but the “reality” of the situation is WAY off. Staying would require them to lay out a whole lot of specifics (which they appear to be allergic to) and me countering with a host of caveats cause I ain’t even trying to be unhappy for one minute longer than I have to be.
Truth be told, I probably need to back it up and move on. Part of the original allure was the potential for this position to encapsulate all the things I love to do. But I have to be honest – part of my coming here was about it being a “comfort zone” of sorts. Ha! God showed me how very quickly a “comfort zone” could become uncomfortable and morph into a rut.
As I look toward the future, I need to decide if I truly want to stay in this industry. And I think I do. If so, I haven’t seen many contracting companies that specialize in this field. (I know they exist - I was contacted by one such firm last December but…they are 100% travel and I’m not sure I want to do that.) Add to that the fact that most contracting firms are looking for straight technical skills and I don’t want to be quite that technical.
Staying in this industry means I need additional certification. I could get that on my own dime but it would be so much sweeter to not only get it on someone else’s dime but also someone else’s time. So…I need a “sponsor” (also known as an employer). One who would cover the costs…and possibly pay ME for being certified on their dime.
Being a business analyst/project manager, my skillset is transferrable across industries. Gathering/writing requirements. Writing/excuting use/test cases. Developing/monitoring a project plan. Those things don’t differ much across industries.
BUT…what I’ve found is that, most BSA jobs are much more technical in nature than I want to be (which is funny since my undergrad degree is “technical”). Personally, I prefer walking that line between business & technical, with my pinky toe over the line on the business side. Looking at what my contracting company has as far as openings, they are heavy on technical offerings. If there’s an option, I’m going to always lean toward the “BUSINESS” side of my BSA skills. Ergo, my quandry.
I’ve been digging through some old papers, trying to find “the perfect job description”. What’s that you ask? Years ago, when I was itching to move up and on, I sat down and made a list of the things that I’d like in my “perfect” job. I need to pull that out, dust if off, and revise it. Once I do that, maybe I’ll have some clarity about what comes next.
I did stumble across three positions that are great fits for me. AND…they’re all telecommuting positions. I’m loving that!! So I’m updating my resume, crafting the perfect cover letters and going to see if I can stir up some interest on behalf of those organizations. I need to have a conversation with my consulting firm too. See what they have available in case my “finds” don’t pan out or take longer than I would like to come through.
We’ll see how it goes as I search for that “near-perfect” fit.
Work Smart,
*~* MsJayy *~* >
Career Conundrum
Thursday Feb 21 2008
9-2-5 + Musings - No BackTalk
They say that life will teach you, if you let it. I say Life will teach you whether you “let” it or not – whether you “pass”, “fail” or doom yourself to remedial classes is up to you.
Can I tell you that in the school of life, I am sitting front row center, taking notes, trying to get the extra credit, hands up asking questions.
So, I’ve been contracting for 1.5 months now. Took on a 6-month possible temp-to-perm position that I *thought* had not only a great blend of the things I like to do, things I’m very good at, and still yields lots of opportunity.
So how come I’m bored? B-O-R-E-D. Perhaps in my desire to find something “familiar”, I’ve walked into something much too familiar and instead of it becoming a “comfort zone”, it’s actually a “rut”. Perhaps in my desire to find something “familiar”, I forgot that as vital as this kind of function is to an organization, it always – without fail – gets treated like a step-child. Not the best situation for a person who, despite knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that the layoff of 2007 was in her best interest, still finds her career-ego a bit bruised. (What? Are you surprised by that statement? Say what you will about me – I am honest, especially with and about myself. It’s one thing to tell a lie, it’s a whole ‘nother set of circumstances to try to LIVE that lie. But um, I digress.)
What’s bringing all this to the surface now? Well, first, I’m bored and being bored for me means I become disengaged which never works out in anyone’s favor. Secondly, there is much too much a need for my skillsets in the organization for me to be bored or have a string of do-nothing days. Third, I’m still getting calls/emails from other consulting companies wanting to place me in other jobs. As a matter of fact, I got one such call yesterday and it is tempting – more so than any other teasers I’ve gotten in a long time. So, I’m reviewing my contract. Then I’m sitting down with my manager for a “where-are-we-heading” conversation. Cause honestly? With all that I’ve seen here (and I have seen A LOT in 1.5 months), there is no reason that ANYONE is sitting stalled. If you don’t know how best to put my skills to use, let me show you. If we can’t get some things on and popping in the next couple of weeks, I need to be on to the next episode.
So, what to do? What to do? Do I tough it out? Do I sit down with the client and have a “look-a-heah” conversation (again??)? Do I sit down with the consulting company and have a little tete-a-tete? Murky waters. Both cases. See, I work for the consulting company who ultimately works for the client. Who’s working for me? Don’t get me wrong – I like this consulting company and the recruiters, account managers. But ultimately, their job is to meet the client’s needs, to fill a seat and one warm capable body is just as good as the next. So….who’s working FOR me? ME. Little ol’ me.
How do I work through that? Who do I have the conversation with? A friend of mine told me I should be very careful about initiating conversations – whether it’s with the client or with my consulting firm. Why? The issue isn’t “initiating” the conversations – the issue is being clear as to what the conversation is about. Making sure I’m having the RIGHT conversation in the RIGHT way with the RIGHT person(s). There’s a good deal of history and personal rapport between the consulting company and the client which adds to the “who’s-working-for-me” conundrum. How do I work around that?
Simple. I have one conversation with the client (that’s where I’m going to start – to go to the consulting company without first trying to work it out seems childish, tattle-tale-ish, too me). During that conversation, I clearly state my concerns, reiterate how I can help them become more effective, more efficient, and press gently for license to do my thing which includes the nod to proceed with multiple assignments. Not once during this conversation will I say anything to the client that I would be bothered to have someone else repeat. Say it in such a way that it can’t be misconstrued. And at the end of the conversation, document what was said, what was agreed upon and then roll up my sleeves and do what I do. No emotions. No extra skin in the game. Just the facts. And at the end of that, if this turns out to be NOT the place for me, I know there are other opportunities to be had (as evidenced by the calls/emails I’ve received this week alone). AND my resume has already been updated. Ha!
So, game on. And guess what? Whether I go or stay – I still win. Why? Because being here has really given me a chance to work on some “softskill” things that could only come to the surface in just such an environment. And any situation that gives me a chance to learn more about myself, to sharpen my own personal saw is worth more than just a paycheck and benefits to me. Believe that.
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