Excellent advice.

Nothing worse than being bored at your job.

But before you jump, is there anyting else you could do at your present employer? Different department? Different challenges?

Good thinking. Totally agree.

Bing’s advice sounds to be very down to earth. Only you can be in the driver seat of your life. Put it in gear, accelerate and point it in the right direction. If you don’t do it, don’t whine, complain and blame others because you didn’t make it to your destination.

I disagree with one comment in your advice to the person who wanted to quit his job before finding a new one. The comment was “And when you do get that next job, quietly back up your hard drive and leave with two or three hours notice.”. If that person did something like this, it might come back to haunt him in the future if word gets out. I would suggest to him to do his job and once he finds a new job, give his notice w/reasonable time like a week or a few days w/reason that the new employer wants him to start asap. This not only makes him look professional but may also earn respect from his current boss.

IMHO

There are some bosses out there who absolutely detest doing reviews. I have one and he admits it. If there is a job he hates, he puts it off and avoids any (underlined) sort of confrontation or praise. He stays in his own little world. What do you do with them?

Bing:
I like the story on the third guy, but I’ve found that a boss that it ‘wrapped up in the technical issues’ means one of two things:
1. He does not have good management skills. This is the kind of boss that you can help by taking over some of those technical issues. It’s easy, ask him what needs to be done and do it, very well.
2. The boss is doing YOUR job. That means that you are coming in on a daily basis, disappearing for hours, leaving the BOSS to do the work. You just might find yourself walking pavement and soon. Your advice to get out of the boss’s face about a raise is great. Do some WORK, that is what they pay you for. If you don’t know what to do next, read the last sentence of #1 above.
In either case, the boss does not want to discuss a raise. It may be for several reasons, let this issue lie for a while was a good suggestion.
This is a good continuation of the ‘Crazy Bosses’ issue.

Advice was good for the employee with a job concerning when to look for another. It is always better to look for a job while you have one.

On the other hand, some factors you may wish to consider:
1. If you are having a baby soon, you can expect stress at home, it might not be the best time to change jobs to a stressful, long hours job which bears the risk of not working out.
2A. You can use the time to research the job market and then,
2B. If you find there are liscences or other education that would help you, you can use all the free time on your current job to study, and get paid for it, then jump.
3. If there is a possibility you could get a big severance package, and a good possibility you will find a job after being laid off, that also might argue for staying.

Bing is totally off base re: his comments about people in HR. Most people DO go into HR because they are caring professionals. However, their ideals get beaten down by the company’s desire to cut back on costs through reduced benefits and merit increase budgets – while still expecting committed attitudes from their workers. It isn’t HR MAKING those decisions it is HR IMPLEMENTING the company decisions for cost cutting. I’m speaking from experience here.

My counter-advice to that caring professional: Explore Coaching as a profession. With your background in therapy it is potentially a natural extension of your current skills – without the burnout because people come to you who WANT help and support. In addition, there are many ways to serve a ‘niche’ market where you can further find people whith whom YOU want to work. Good Luck!!

I disagree with Bing’s last comment regarding performance reviews.

A daily “atta boy” or look of disappointment is insufficient. Performance reviews should be taken seriously. Not just to tell someone what they are doing well but to also help to find out what the employee is planning and lay out a path for the employee to reach their goals. You need to give constructive criticisms of where improvements can be made. A performance review is an opportunity to set aside time where the distraction of current work/projects won’t get in the way of discussing the overall progress & expectations. Perhaps it is just my military training that gives me this mentality as we would do NCO evaluations quarterly and counseling for our subordinates monthly, in addition to end of year reviews.

Ever heard of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire? Think carefully. Having a new born is very stressful. Will the new job be demanding and challenging during the period of life when a job takes a backseat? Sleepless nights and a lack of focus may lead to failure in a challenging new position. What about focusing on other areas of your life for now. Work is not the only place where challenges can be found. It’s nice to diversify, experience and find new interests.

There is advantage in moving w/in the
company/firm, if it’s doing well
outside of the start-up, nothing-to-
do new department.

Startups in large companies don’t happen. And, if you are in a startup and you are not downing in work, that startup is failing, and so are you.

If it really is a startup, you won’t find many corporate employers willing to hire a potential entrepreneur.

Why don’t you have some goals that will give you a sense of achomplishment even if your management isn’t telling you what to do? You better have a better story to tell, because you are telling on yourself.

great advise..also ask stanley’s son where he’s presently working so i can apply for his present position when he leaves the company..i never had a well paying do nothing job in my 30 career in the work force

The advice on performance reviews is off base as is counting on daily positive/negative feedback. A performance review should reflect long term performance not a daily atta boy or you screw up. Performance reviews should also include a development plan and measurable goals which can be monitored with accurate metrics over the course of the evaluation period. For the employee it should be kept in mind that there is a clear delineation between having a performance review and getting a merit increase in salary. The two do not always go hand in hand.

For the employee complaining about not much to do I would say use that time to put your resume together, start some serious networking and find a better job. I have been in that position and for someone who does not like a lot of idle time at work it drove me nuts but I took my own advice and it was one of the better steps I have taken.

I think that this was not a very good response. I have a pretty hectic, stressful job, and had my first child six months ago. I’m guessing that when this guy’s kid arrives, he’ll be begging for that easy, boring, but lucrative job back!

Bing” has some “solid” advice. However,I believe that his advise about revenge is morally wrong and is “self destructive” to those to whom he writes, and more importantly, those who are led to believe that it is O.K. to get even.
On the surface, his advise is justified and feels great- it satifies our flesh- giving the employee the feeling of empowerment.
The problem is, the the departing employee will develop a “Mindset” or mistaken belief that giving it “back to someone” is a jutifiable acion.
The truth is – this attitude and behavior is insidiuos and sets up future “bad” behavior in other seemingly unrelated matters.
The truth is – it is VERY HARD, for all of us, to return good for evil, but if we can muster the inner strength to do so, we become better and happier people who can then live our life in a fashion that gives tremendous peace and joy.
The rewards from the attitude and actions that I am recommending are NOT immediate, BUT the resulting joy and peace far out distance the temporary joy of getting even.

I wish the best to all my fellow readers.

Whether you do or don’t performance reviews, one thing that needs to be certain is to stay consistent with it. If you have a review that is comprehensive (has goals, measurable metrics, whatever), then these need to be done and not done when there is a problem that needs correcting or done when someone “feels” like doing them.

But more importantly, the atta boys to me says less professional corporation and more guys’ club. The atta boys and pats on the back are the things I would expect from my friends. My employer should be more professional.

Currently, I’m going through that process right now where last year it was a big deal but this year they don’t want to do it. (last year wasn’t one of my better years but this year I’m shining big time)

“I’m also about to have my first kid with my wife.”

Um, this is not a good time to switch jobs, trust me. When you start a new job, you need to be at your best and be able to give it more attention than you might later, because you’re making a lot of first impressions. You will most certainly not be at your best when you have a new baby (especially your first). You’ll be sleep-deprived and adjusting to a rather serious change. You won’t be able to work a lot of extra hours. You will definitely appreciate a low-stress job that doesn’t make a ton of demands on your life.

From what I’ve heard of investment banking from people I’ve known in the field, that is *not* the kind of job I’ve just described.

Or put another way – if you start a new high-pressure job right before having your first baby, either your performance or your marriage will suffer, and probably both. Sit it out for a year and see how things are, make a decision then.

You’ve provided pretty worthless advice, can the answer be any more apparent. How about a situation based on reality that presents a bit more thought….???

Right on target! As I said to a young man once, right before firing him, “Nobody’s going to pay you to do nothing forever!”

During the 4 years that I was unemployed, I never once thought of stealing from a drunk, thank you.

Excellent!

1)First earn the raise, by doing something helpful.

2)Ask for it.

3)Leave.

I like the advice overall. However – NEVER LEAVE A JOB ON SHORT, INCONSIDERATE NOTICE. One thing you never want to do, regardless of your job or your mean boss is burn bridges. In a world where personal PR can get you the next job, or can take it away, you ALWAYS take the high road. Nothing good can come out of screwing someone else. Give the appropriate notice (usually around 2 weeks) and when given the opportunity, respectfully communicate your disapointment in the senior leadership, and offer improvements.

Well Bing’s comment is something what we call being in control of the situation. It doesn’t make you less if you see the overview of the situation. Choose a job that you enjoy most no matter whom you are working with and whom you are mentoring with as long as you enjoy work, life will be too easy. You feel you are no longer working but cascading your expertise.

Using company time to get yourself setup with a new job? Not very ethical. May also cost you a good reference. Use your own time to look for the new job.

If this is a startup company, why not try to take some initiative and find things to do. Make the most of it. Talk to your boss and tell him/her that you want more responsibility and challenges. Could lead to a promotion and better job satisfaction.

Given my experience as an MBA with a long career in both the public and private sectors, I gotta say that this advice is abolutely on target. I am hoping my two kids, newly wending their way through the world of work, read this column!

With regard to tha final situation, I would want to know a) was there an understanding at time of employment that a review would occur at such and such a time? and b) a certain percentage raise be given for achieving a certain level of compatance?

I had a similar situation ohhhh mumble mumble years ago, and I held the company to their word. A co worker sat back for 4-6 months before advising them that he hadn’t been reviewed yet. When he was reviewed, the raise was not retroactive to his anniversary date. i.e. he lost $$$. I found it useful to remind my boss about 2 weeks before my anniversary that my review was coming up, and I didn’t miss a raise. After several years the review process was “Did you see anything different in your check last week?” So if I hadn’t been on the ball, I would have been the loser. After 5 years I had to ask for a sit down just to see what we really thought of each other. More $$$.
Just my $.02

I agree with Patric that quitting with just hours of notice might not be in the person’s best interest. However badly others behave, always be professional. It shows maturity – you don’t know who else is watching besides the “jerk” boss.

If there are vacation days left then give notice and take vacation. No vacation days? Show up for for 2 more weeks and wrap up your work in a manner you define.

I think you are wrong in your assessments of human resources professionals. I have been in HR for over twenty years now, not only do I consider myself to be caring and compassionate, but the majority of my peers are as well. Certainly there are a few bad actors as there are in any profession. However, I take pride in ensuring that employees are treated with respect and dignity even in the most trying circumstances. No employee anyplace I have worked suffers a termination without being given several opportunities to improve their performance and the information and tools necessary to achieve the improvement. Yes, it’s also part of my job to protect the organization from risk, but that also means I’m protecting the entire employee population of the organization. If the company no longer exists, then all employees will lose their jobs.

Shame on you for making such a broad statement, and in my opinion a false statement.

My dad’s name isn’t Stan, but you are dead on in your counsel re getting out of an unchallenging/unrewarding position. I think retirement fever makes even young people think a job with no apparent purpose is a beautiful thing, but it is the worst. Love and work define us, and the absence of meaning on either front is a heavy burden.

YOUR INFORMATION ROCKS !!

The person should ask for a performance review before Sept.
The person should not wait. Waiting until Sept. makes the person seem non caring about their role in the company.
The person has to approach the situation as how a performance review will benefit the company (and therefore himself)

On that last situation, I think it’s incredibly unprofessional and rude to have delayed a performance review by months. Provided the guy has been doing his job, he deserves the courtesy to sit down with his manager to see where he stands.

Great Advice!

Comment for guy whose dad’s name is Stan: NEVER change jobs (especially with a young one on the way) without having an Emergency Fund of 3 to 6 months of expenses in the bank. Grass always looks greener, but sometimes it is from the frying pan into the fire. So protect your family by first having an Emergency Fund of 3 to 6 months expenses saved up.

I think your generalisation about HR people was unjustified. Perhaps, you’re sharing your personal experience which you have every right to do. From my direct experience, HR professionals are increasingly becoming more focused on adding direct value to organizations through better practices and process in areas of pay, talent management, employee engagement. So, if your frame of mind is that an HR person should be warm and fuzzy, then your point is duly noted. Get with the times Mr Bing!

Although I do admit, leaving a job on good terms is the professional thing to do and avoids burnign bridges, I once gave zero notice to an employer I despised and my, did it feel good! Hearing (and later remembering) my boss asking “what do you mean you’re not coming back” over the phone brought a smile to my face for weeks!

Right on !!!

Are you nuts !? The guys got a good thing going. I’d say enjoy it while it lasts

I think Bing needs to talk some sense into CBS to renew “Jericho” for an additional season.

http://www.jericholives.com

Its very bad

When the priest goes into HR take his job. Then you give give advice all day long and be godly at the same time.

About time we got some new material on the Ask Bing blog. I sent in a question two weeks ago and, no bingo, nada.