Quit or wait for sack?
Email from work I recieved yesterday.
Subject: A little bit of advice…
Prometheus,
Although I hate to be the one to pick on you or the one to be bossy, I’d like to
play the “sempai” = senior card here. Please read the following as constructive
criticism. This is meant to be advice, which hopefully will help you to get by
in this company.
I believe 103 is pretty laid back and we’re getting along cool. That’s great,
but this only works because we all understand that this is a workplace, and we
should maintain a certain level of discipline. Now this is not something we
drill into each other, but yet I believe it is a rule that we naturally abide
by.
Recently, I’m getting the feeling that this professional awareness is becoming a
bit weak with you (it’s quite obvious when you fall asleep during work, or
you’re chatting via Skype or MSN Messenger, or checking your Keitai = cell e-mail, or
checking your Facebook account or whatever other pages you may be checking
out). Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a certain amount of leeway and we all do
some of the above at some point during the day. That’s fine and cool, but it
must remain a secondary if not tertiary priority, which I can’t help feeling is
not true in your case recently (not that I have proof for that, but I think
giving that impression to your surroundings is enough of a reason to think about
it).
You’re a cool guy and I hate to be the one to yell, but I think it kind of looks
bad on you if you keep going with this attitude. The scary thing about this
company is that people are too nice to say anything, but they do take notice and
it does have an impact on your reputation as a workforce. And I don’t want you
to fall into that reputation.
So here are some ideas (my 2 cents if you will):
- Try to reduce the time spent on chatting and private webbrowsing. If you have
too much time, try to find something useful to do. I’m sure you can think of
something. If you absolutely can’t find anything, let me know, maybe I can help
you out.
- Try to keep an eye on what’s going on with the clients, what they are asking
for in the e-mails, how we are going by it etc. (Like John Doe’s case at Company X.
We’re talking about it in the office, but no one will come to you and give you
an extra report. Now let’s say The CEO comes in, and asks you about Company X’s status. How
cool would it look if you could recap the whole thing? …and how bad if you
have no idea?)
- Focus on the topic when others are talking about relevant issues you should
take part in. Don’t address your chat window or keitai=cell phone when people are talking
to you.
- Try to be a more active communicator.
If you get tasks to do from others and it spans across days or weeks, let them
know once in a while how far you got and what you’re up to (remember 104? They
didn’t know if you were still working on their requests and stuff…). Update
your teammates so they know where things are at. Check with them if anything is
unclear.
If the task you are working on is complex, confirm that you understand what you
are being asked to do (as opposed to just a simple “Yeah” followed by silence
until you’re done). Nothing is more comforting than knowing that someone you’re
asking understands your request.
Also, especially this month, you are doing the daily processes. Ask yourself:
- If Mr X and Mr Y were gone, would you be able to run the CD cut with full
confidence? Check the spots you don’t feel 100% comfortable with and check with
the guys. Your goal should be to be able to run all daily tasks and CD cuts, and
be able to take full responsibility for your output. Given your position (one of
the people running cuts and dailies), in an emergency situation you may be on
your own, and then people must be able to trust in your output.
- If The Ceo came in and wanted a recap of todays issue with the CAFs, would you be
able to explain everything? To be honest, I missed some of the things that were
going on this morning myself, since I was busy with other tasks. So what I
did is ask the guys what was going on. You know, just to have an understanding
of the issue. Afterall, you never know when that knowledge becomes important. It
was a bit disappointing to see you sleeping while we were talking (and I wasn’t
the only one to notice…). Try to be aware of what’s going on, especially if it
is something that involves your scope of work (PRICES are part of the database
you are creating today!)
OK, that was a lot of “yelling” which again I’d like to emphasize is meant as
constructive criticism. All of what I wrote is based on what I can perceive from
my desk or when I wander around in the office (I’m not spying on you, it’s just
noticeable). Some of the things I pointed out about you may not apply 100%, or
it may be things that you are already aware of. But I decided to write based on
the impression I get from you, since this may be the impression others may be
perceiving too.
I’m not telling you to be perfect. But you may want to show a bit more proactive
participation. This is me trying to nudge you into the right direction (”right”
as in “the way that is probably expected from you in this office”), before you
get hit by a harder wave in form of a CEO or other influential people around
here. No one knows I’m sending this to you. If this were Mission Impossible,
you’d be now hearing a voice saying “This message will self destruct in 5
seconds.”
Hopefully my message is coming across.
Let me know if I can be of help.
Best,
My T
Meh, it is pretty hard to put any effort in or try hard when the work you do is boring and soul crushing. So thoughts? My tank is on empty lol, not sure if I have the energy or desire to change..
Quit or wait for the sack?
Tags: Add new tag, Ramblings, Silly Me, Work
Nino (55)
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Jamaipanese (26)
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May 23rd, 2009 at 5:33 am
Wow, that’s a pretty tough criticism… did you really fall asleep? Wow.. Then it’s really not your dream job, huh? I recommend changes, but how are the prospectives of getting a new job? I heard Japan was struck pretty badly by the recession. It’s a tough call for you. Wish you good luck.
May 23rd, 2009 at 6:57 am
@Nino
The people and company are cool. I think the market might be dead. I might just start drawing..
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:59 am
You don’t need to actually improve, just put on a halfhearted show. I have been there, too, where the job is just too much to bear any more. The problem is, most jobs really won’t be any better.
If I were you I’d talk to the guy (assuming it’s an appropriate letter for him to even send you). Just lay it on the line and say you are getting bored with things lately but he’s right and you didn’t realize your concentration was slipping so much, but that you have everything down pat and can handle any situation that crops up with no problem.
Then make an effort to type a bit faster whenever people walk by for a week or two and he will feel on top of the world, like he’s an awesome manager, and that feeling alone and the way you responded in such a friendly manner will make you one of his favorite employees.
People never get fired for being incompetent unless something major happens. It’s based 90% on attitude. Arguing with the boss (especially over petty shit) and wasting his time are the sure ways to get fired. Even when you totally disagree, phrase it as total agreement. That’s the most efficient way to get him out of your hair so you can go back to finding out what kind of panties the new girl in your myspace friends is wearing.
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:37 am
Is that real?? LMAO! Wow what a nice guy. LOL he really cares. YOU should be a bigger dick now and just do worse….Sounds like in America when the white boss is trying to handle the one black guy in the office, and the boss has sat through days of race sensitivity and human resource company videos and is tryign to apply what he has learned. In the email there is the sterness on the issues, and the sensitivity and understanding in his word selection and use of jokes…great stuff
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Hmm… not to sound like the devil’s advocate or anything, but that all sounds like… dare I say, valid criticism, and I personally wouldn’t quit just because someone pointed out my flaws.
As you say, you don’t like the job… But wouldn’t it be more logical to first find something you like and start doing it before just quitting your current job? I mean just because you quit, there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to find a steady source of income in say a month or so…
Just my two cents if you will…
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Never quit a job unless you have another job lined up. Keep doing the job and cashing their checks, and make finding a job your 2nd job. (It’s another story if you’re independently wealthy.)
But I don’t know what I’m talking about. So do what you WANT to do
You don’t have to be locked into a situation you don’t want to be in. Just know what you can handle before you leap.
Good luck!
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Thats pretty sucky, I’d have tended to not fall asleep in a meeting though!
Like John Smith (is that the beer one or the Doctor one?) says, its not as black and white. All you need to do is pool your obviously large intellect into looking busy. We always used to call it clipboarding. If you carry a clipboard and appear to be making notes people assume that you ARE busy. Then you just draw smiley faces or my personal favourite, tortured teddy bears.
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I dunno, man. I try not to fall asleep at my desk, too.
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:57 pm
I know how You feel man, I’ve been there as well… The best way should be to outsource the boring stuff to Your coworkers and only do the interesting items. When there is a new project just provocatively grab the good work. The others have to pick the bad stuff afterwards.
May 23rd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
OW.
That totally sucks. Well, the internet is evil, I must say. I used to write for this company and was sent a warning for being late and never handing over my articles on time. I didn’t have FAcebook then, thankfully or I would’ve gotten into so much trouble. But I was caught by my editor looking at a “porn” blog. LOL.
I quit right after I got that warning, I wasn’t happy with the HR anyway. But hey, it’s your decision. Are you happy there? Cuz I wasn’t anymore, hence the quitting. I think you should look for alternatives first before you do anything drastic.
I wouldn’t want a letter like that, I’d feel like I was being spied on every minute.
May 24th, 2009 at 2:08 am
Do something about it if you plan to stay, dude… but if the job’s really not your thing, then get a headstart by quitting. Of course, do take note of the current state of your savings!
May 24th, 2009 at 7:23 am
If the job is so boring and crushing, then that is your answer. Time to look for another job, if you can find one in this economy. If you stay, then I suggest taking your co-workers advice.
May 24th, 2009 at 9:34 am
lol oh boy! Well t least he went about it in a really nice way, kudos to him for that, most would’ve been total a-holes about it.
In my opinion it clearly isn’t the job for you. Unless you can realistically do all the things he’s recommended then I’d say you should seriously start thinking about what you really want to do and try to make it happen, if possible. They won’t tolerate someone they’re unhappy with forever, and a sacking never looks good on a CV.
Any job that makes you feel the way you seem to feel isn’t good or healthy for you, take it from someone who knows, I spent over 2 years in a job that was sucking the soul out of me. But I agree with Michael, if possible you should try to find something else first … I didn’t and it was terrifying, I was only out of work for 3 weeks but I think I had 3 months worth of worry
Really hope you can resolve the situation one way or the other, it’s a rotten position to be in and I totally sympathise x
May 24th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
that sucks…those soul sucking jobs are so hard! ….but unless you have something else lined up or are independently wealthy just fake it ’til you make it and start looking for something better…good luck!
May 25th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I agree with Tornadoes and the rest above who say if it’s boring then get out. Life is too short.
If you stay, maybe you could start a project you find interesting. Work on it when you have nothing else to do.
If one person notices, then many others probably do too.
May 26th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Everything works out in the end! Look for another job right away, if you haven’t been doing that already. This situation will not get any better. Although you are doing your job properly, the sheer fact that you are not jumping for joy at the opportunity to work is what is getting you in trouble. Oh how I’ve been there, we both know that. Why are people spying on you? The fact that you take chances and do things differently, while others have been forced to do everything by the book since birth also goes against you. You are incredibly talented and intelligent and you have a university degree from a rich country and this makes you an automatic candidate for the top 5% of jobs in the world. You can do so much better than this. Even in Japan, just use your imagination.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
personally, I’m of the “tomorrow is another day” school, but then I’m retired and incredibly lazy. And I don’t live in Japan, where the work ethic is so different from my own. Your situation makes for a great post though, and if you do quit, I’d hope you could manage to spend more time speed and body reading.
May 29th, 2009 at 6:11 am
The main questions is: Do you love your Job? If so then we need to change. we can take all these “yelling” for the better and for us to improve. I don’t care what other people think but I care what happens to my character and attitude if I continue to do what’s not right. As they usually say, everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.
June 7th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Just read this and think that your boss was totally decent to do this.
I would not wait to be sacked that would be the worst of the possibilities. Can you talk to him. It seems like you can.
xoxoxo
June 8th, 2009 at 3:43 am
The guy sounds like a pussy, why Japanese people so passive? (my observation whilst out there) dont quit until you have bagged sometin else. if you get a tip off that they are about to boot ya them bounce……