I'd like your input please

[craftygirl]

This is sort of an update to my previous "Four Chiefs and One Little Indian" tale.  



Um, things aren't getting better.  Basically this place has turned into a pretty uncomfortable place to be.  It's apparent to me from watching the goings on that:



1.  The Chicago bunch want full control of the company and want my bossie out.



1a  Bossie may not be able to keep it from happening.



2.  My sales manager is working to help them to that end.



3.  Kissing someone's @$$ is more important than actually doing your job.  (I have a sales rep who works remote and hasn't turned in a call sheet in Four Months, and hasn't done NEAR his sales quota, but when bossie tried to fire him, CEO said no.  Said sales rep is a first class buttkisser.  This is not the only example but it's the best one.)



4.  Independent thought and opinions are not welcome.  Especially not from "the admin."



So I was up front when I interviewed about what I wanted from a job and what I feel my strengths are, what I can 'bring to the table.'  I have done my best to be independent and proactive and strong and all the things that I feel I'm good at.  I've solicited feedback to little or no avail.  I'm getting pretty stressed out, and I've decided since I have a car it is probably time to hunt.  I dusted the resume and have even applied for a job or two.



Now my questions:

1.  How do I ask the right questions to get insight into the sitch so that I don't end up some place like this again?



2.  How do I best explain the fact that I had four jobs last year?  (I was temping for a good part of that, and that is the explanation that I have used.  Also, the job market in VA at the time was really hot and it was in my best interest to move.)



3.  How do I best explain leaving this sitch?  Can I simply say that what I was told at the interviews and what the job sitch turned out to be were different?  I don't like that because I'm pretty adaptable.  But ideas are greatly appreciated and all input, including how to hang in until the place bombs or I land an awesome job, are welcome.



Thanks as always,

Shannon

[countrigal]

Not a lot of help, so I'll apologize up front.  But I read your note and thought it deserved some response from me no matter how inadequate.  I'm sure others will come along soon and give tons of excellent advice.



My only help is with question #3, how to explain leaving that situation.  And I'm sure others will have other advice, but here's mine:  something to the effect that you are looking for professional growth and felt that the position was not giving you the advantages that this position would give you.  Looking for professional growth seems to be a positive reason for leaving a position and since no one interviewing you will be aware of the full story behind this position I wouldn't think it could hurt to use it - and it's truthful.  You can also say something about the fact that you've been "finding your way, your niche" and now know the direction that you want to head and are looking for a good, strong position with a company that offers professional growth.



That's my $.02-worth... Good luck.

[whitesatin]

Just a question. Why have you had four jobs in the last year? Sometimes it takes quite a few jobs in order to find your niche, but could it be that you are leaving your jobs at the first sign of trouble?  Sometimes it pays to ride the wave of adversity even though it's scary.



If you can find it in yourself to try and weather this storm, perhaps you will find yourself in a lovely place that you could never have imagined.



I don't know your circumstances, so I may be way off base here.



WS

[craftygirl]

I don't think you're way off base, WhiteSatin.  Believe it or not, I'm doing my best to hang it in here.  However, I have overheard some plans that would make my job obsolete.  So I'm trying to plan "just in case."  I'm also still trying to do my job the best I can, because this is what we do.  :-)



To answer, my four jobs last year went like this:

0.  End of 1999 I was temping too BTW.



1.  Started out as an admin, went through 4 re-orgs in 6 months, ended up as a database administrator, tried that for a while and realized I'm not a database administrator.  I hated it and I was miserable, but I took that position because my previous job had been eliminated.



2.  temp job!  I temped at a law firm because the pay was phenomenal and I didn't mind the work.  (Much better than being a dba!)  However I DID mind the long distance from my b/f of almost two years, and so did he, so after careful analysis of our situations we decided it made more sense for me to move.  I moved to FL where I got job



3.  temp job until I found something permanent which turned out to be



4.  where I am now, which I started six months ago.  



So I don't see it really as running at the first sign of trouble.  I temped mainly because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or because things were a little up in the air for me.  Technically I'm on contract here, too, we all are, but the duration is long-term indefinite.  We were supposed to have an HR manager by Jan 1, but that has, too, been put off indefinitely.  *sigh*  We do have minimal benefits, though, so at least that is something.  



Oh heck maybe I'll put my notes together, call the book "My life at a Start-Up" and get a whopping advance.  LOL



Thanks

Shannon

[officewiz]

Now my questions:

1. How do I ask the right questions to get insight into the sitch so that I don't end up some place like this again?



I would ask the interviewer if there is the possibility of a takeover now or in the near future because I want a stable job situation.



2. How do I best explain the fact that I had four jobs last year? (I was temping for a good part of that..)



Sounds like an appropriate response to me.



3. How do I best explain leaving this sitch?



I would tactfully let them know my reason for leaving my present position.  I'd also ask what a typical (if there is such) day would be like working in the position being considered.  



Best of luck!

[ccolleen413]

Was the temping through one agency?  If so, then I think you could just list it as one job with multiple assignments.  That is what I did on my resume.  When asked I just explain that some assignments were only a day or two and some were several months.  Maybe that would work for you.



Wish I could help with the other questions but I'm still learning  

[solargal]

Before I got this job (which was a 4 month temp to begin with and lucky for me I've been here 10 years in June) I was sending resumes, etc. to get a full-time job I would put the temp agency and I would just mention that I was on several short term assignments and long term assignments.  For the long term assignments I would mention the companies such as ABC Company, especially if it was a well-known company.  It worked fine.  

[whitesatin]

Hi CraftyGirl,



Sounds like you're getting a lot of good advice here. I would also mention to the interviewer(s) that you relocated. There is always a difficult transition period with relocation.



I hope you didn't take my question as a criticism. I was speculating and trying to feel out the situation further. I know it's really hard to find the right niche and as they say, "Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your Prince."



I think if you follow the advice in these posts you should be in good shape. Let us know how you are progressing. We care.



WS                  

[craftygirl]

WhiteSatin, no offense taken.  Your question made a lot of sense to me, and based on the information you had, you were dead on.



Thanks everyone; I'm weathering the storm for now.  :-)



Shannon