Coworkers Assumptions About My Masters of Business Administration November 16, 2011

I recently moved into a new role in my organization. Every person that I’ve talked to that I will be working along side with has at some point said, “Well… you understand. You have your Masters!”

Part of me is bothered by this comment, and here’s why: Just because I hold a Masters of Business Administration, does NOT automatically mean I will “get” everything. Yes, I might pick it up faster… but this new department’s operations are only a fraction of what I studied in grad school. And working in a niche department is far, far, far different than interpreting case studies out of textbooks.

I do appreciate their vote of confidence, and I do hope my MBA training can help me offer up solid suggestions for process improvements or other efficiencies I see in the department. But until I am fully up and running, I feel uncomfortable being told, “You have your Masters, therefore you must know everything!” in our trainings and meetings. Masters Degrees do not always equate to Albert Einstein type smarts.

I figure I might be able take advantage of this and just have people assume I’m smart and maybe it will open the door up to more opportunity for special projects and what-not. But I see a lot of risk in this approach for me because about 90% of the time, I tend to fall short of super high expectations.

Any other perspectives out there?

I have a dilemma. March 10, 2010

I’ve decided I want to test for the PHR as a “recent grad.” I lack exempt level experience, so in order for me to sit for the test, I’d have to do it as a recent grad. At the end of obtaining my exempt experience, I can officially call myself a PHR and I have to submit an official job description to HRCI that proves I’m in an HR role.

I went up to school yesterday to fill out a form for my transcript. I got a chance to speak to my former advisor who is now the academic dean (!!) and she basically offered me a job. Not officially, of course, but she said she would love to work with me and knows I would do a great job within this position.

The job pays $12K more a year that what I currently make, but it’s not an HR position. On one hand, it’s like… wow, $12K more a year sure would be nice. On the other hand, I don’t want to dilute my career path with a job that isn’t within my chosen field, just to chase a bigger paycheck.

The Job: Help students through their academic *experience* – I would be like an advisor, but not an academic advisor. And, I’m sure there is much more to it… I’d probably be responsible for orientation and introducing students to what the school has to offer in terms of physical facilities, software, etc. Additionally, she wants me to teach HR classes once I obtain my PHR license.

I’m kinda torn. I do want a different job and the thought of working in academia is REALLY appealing – especially because the center is growing so fast. On the other hand, I don’t want to take a job w/o the words “HR” in the title because I’m afraid it won’t pass the HRCI’s criteria for the PHR license.

Anyway, if you have any thoughts, I’m open to hearing them!

More of a Rant: Workplace Break-Ups February 17, 2010

Earlier, I heard my ex-boss on a heated call with her significant other… I guess they were talking about $$ and about what bills are coming out when. Here are a few things she said:

• “Why didn’t you tell me this 2 weeks ago??”
• “No, you’re just avoiding it just like you avoid everything else!!”
• “Well, I can’t change it if I don’t know what the hell is going on.”
• “Is there anything else you’re going to tell me??”
• “Are you going to be home Friday?”
• “Well, I NEED TO KNOW….. I just don’t want to be there when everyone else is there.”
• “I need to know if I can go home or not!!”
• “Ok. Yeah. Fine!” ::Click!!:: (Well, SLAM is more like it.)

After the call, she goes, “OH MY GOOOOOODDDDD!!!” And I could kinda hear her crying.

Now, I like a good drama just like anyone else, but honestly, I’m not sure how bad I feel for her. We are in EXTREMELY close quarters I am actually irritated she’s *invited* the entire department into her personal life by talking about it out in the open. Not only is it unprofessional, but it’s distracting to the rest of us. And her outbursts are uncalled for. (We have phone rooms for privacy, and she should have taken advantage of those.)

I’ve personally never been through a nasty break up like that; however, I have known several people (namely, 2 of my hairdressers) to go through nasty divorces, but keep it under wraps, as in, I had no idea until years later. They never once made the environment unprofessional for uncomfortable or me, nor did they bring their personal problems to our appointments. My ex-boss could really take a lesson from them to understand the difference between what is appropriate and not appropriate to “share” out in the open.

I realize this hasn’t escalated to anything crazy, like her significant other showing up with a gun, but it’s been going on for at least a week and today I’m fed up and needed to vent.

Does anyone else have any nightmare break-up stories to share?

Alcohol During Work Hours December 22, 2009

I have always considered drinking during work hours as unethical. But my job has turned pretty stressful these days and sometimes I feel like I need about 2 shots of *something* before heading back to work. I’d never do it, but I have several coworkers of the mind that think, “It’s ok to have one.”

A supervisor in my area said today, “I need a pretend drink because your boss doesn’t think I should have anything.” My boss said, “Just don’t pretend ‘drunk’ and you’ll be ok!”

It made me laugh, but I wonder what everyone else’s thoughts are? In school I learned you followed the lead of the big wig at the table. If he (or she) got a drink, it was OK for you to. But, these days I would disagree. I’m not sure I’d trust myself to get just one at lunch… especially given the amount of crap I have to put up with!

Random Workplace Thought: My Weird Restroom Paranoia November 17, 2009

A few months ago, the Strategic HR Lead was telling me a story about a man he once worked with who would spend 30 – 45 mins stinking up the restroom, with his pants all on the floor. And the worst part: everyone knew who was always doing the stinkin’ up. How? Precisely the point to my Lead’s story: Because his coworker’s pants were on the floor, everyone saw his badge.

Typically, I clip my badge to one of the loops on my slacks, khaki’s, or whatever I am wearing to cover myself up during the day. And my badge just hangs. So now when I go to the restroom, and I drop my pants to sit, I’m always afraid the person next to me can see my badge, which means any noise I make (aside from tinkling) is so very out in the open. The result? I end up *tucking* my badge on the inside of my pants so my badge isn’t exposed to the peeping poopers next to me. How’s that for goofy restroom paranoia?

Do you have any weird restroom paranoia stories? Let’s hear ‘em!

New Method of Posting November 16, 2009

I have totally been out of the loop on blogging. I haven’t lost interest or anything, just feel lazy and like I have a perpetual case of writers block.

That said, I downloaded WP’s app for my less than 1 month old iPhone. I find that I spend entirely too much time on this thing!! But since I do, I want to see if it will help stimulate my love for writing… and to get my opinions going again, since that was this blogs main intent.

So good luck to me as I try to get back into blogging again.

Conference Call Etiquette May 5, 2009

Based on my past experiences I’ve had with conference calls on the phone and on the web, here are list of things that I think are unacceptable anytime you are on a call:

1. Do not overtake or interrupt the host of the call. Let him or her speak, and then you may speak.

2. As the host of the call, please keep to the specified time. Don’t waste anyone’s time by running over.

3. Also, for the host, be organized and have, at a minimum, a framework of what you are going to speak to. Otherwise, participants can and will ramble on items that are completely off-topic and waste time.

4. THE MUTE BUTTON IS YOUR FRIEND. It is unprofessional and disrespectful to:

• Yawn into the mic or speaker. Yes, it may be early or late, but not everyone got 2 hours of sleep last night.
• Slurp in someone’s ear. Everyone on the call does not need to hear you drinking your soda, water, or beer. (Yep, my experience includes someone drinking a beer and he announced it was his 3rd one!)
• Along those lines, do not crunch in my ear. Eat before or after the call!
• Have excessive and annoying background noise. This includes putting your guitar away and focusing on the material at hand; not standing next to your squawking cockatiel when going over the week’s agenda; and please, please, please, for the love of God, SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE!! A consistently ringing or beeping cell phone is unbelievably distracting.
• Carry on a side conversation with someone physically next to you while a presenter is speaking. We get it. You’re not paying attention. But, shut up! I’m trying to listen!

5. Do NOT under any circumstances; address anyone in the group as “young lady,” “young man,” “old man,” “old fart,” or any other age-related phrase. It comes across as sexist and derogatory.

Please be mindful and respectful of others on the call.  Quite frankly, I think most of these guidelines are simple common sense.  This isn’t a long list and therefore, should not be hard to integrate into your next web or phone conference call.

Thoughts?

The Four-Day Workweek December 1, 2008

A four-day workweek is also termed a “compressed workweek.” I think it has several advantages for both the employer and employee.

– Save money on gas! Even though gas prices are low, I wouldn’t count on them staying low. You also save time commuting and sitting in boring traffic. 
– More flexible work/life balance. If you have kids, you can spend more time with them. If you’re like me and are working on a MBA, it allows you more homework time. Maybe you can even fit in a second job or pour your soul into a weekend hobby. 
– Higher engagement and employee satisfaction. Let’s face it; if you knew you had Friday off, would you not be happy? When I was allowed to work a compressed workweek, I gave 110% the days I was there and really enjoyed my 3 day weekend.
– This schedule could be used as a recruitment tool.
– Employers, have you thought about closing your office for a day? Depending on your industry, there might be a real cost benefit to closing one day out of the week.

Are there disadvantages? Well, yes. There are disadvantages to everything. 

– The obvious: Work burnout and fatigue. Working 10-hour shifts is physically draining. Lack of rest leads to poor health and lower productivity. Decreased alertness can also lead to workplace accidents. 
– For some industries, a compressed workweek just is not operationally feasible. Handle with caution if offering the compressed workweek to some positions, but not to others. This can create resentment among staff. 
– Clients or customers can complain if staff is not available. 

Do you have any additional thoughts? What does your employer allow? I personally love the idea of compressed workweeks. Unfortunately, this option is not afforded to me because of contractual agreements we have with our clients. Perhaps in the future that will change for me.

New Blog July 19, 2008

I’ve decided to do more of a “professional” blog and leave my Blogger for friends. It’s mostly personal and doesn’t have real HR situations I encounter on there. So I created this one instead. Will post stuff later. It’s Saturday and I have some MBA homework to catch up on…

Ciao.