One phone interview down, another coming up

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I interviewed with the folks of iAnywhere (owned by Sybase) today for a temp to hire position. It look promising and if they like me, I could be working there as early as this Friday or Monday. That would be good since I cleaned out my desk at Sakson and Taylor today.

I have to say the thing with Sakson and Taylor came out of the blue. Here I was all "fat and happy" thinking I was doing a good job and that everyone was satisfied. Then last Monday, the work dried up. I figured it was the lull between the end of one project and the beginning of another so I let it slide. Tuesday came around and I asked about work. No word came back the entire morning. I asked again in mid afternoon and was referred to the VP at our local office.

He spun some sort of story about how work wasn't coming in that fast and that the project I was really familiar with was transferred to their Colorado office and such. Figuring this wasn't the whole story, I asked if he had any issues about my work and he said he'd heard that there were some problems, not so much with the project I'd just finished but with something I'd worked with early on.

Now that surprised me a little. I was aware of those issues but the Project Manager I was working with acknowledged that there was just as much a problem on the customer side as on ours that that I didn't have anything to be concerned about. Now I'm finding out this is still hanging over my head.

Initially, he said it might be 2 to 4 weeks before any "appropriate" work came my way but late last Friday, he called to say that I needed to clean out my desk. I was floored. I didn't have a long conversation with him because I was afraid of what I might say. I already knew I had a job interview this afternoon and another job situation pending from a prior interview so I wasn't completely high and dry.

I did kind of stew over the weekend over how this whole thing was handled. I'm kind of old fashioned but if somebody has a problem with me, I want them to come to me before it gets to be a big deal. In a work situation, if someone thinks I need to be doing a better job, I'd expect they come to me with a plan to remedy the situation before it gets to be a big deal.

Alas, it wasn't handled that way. I have an email in to the HR person in Seattle to verify that my termination status is "laid off" or "contract expired". I'm gonna be really hot under the collar if it's anything but that.

Anyway, I got a voice mail from Photronics saying that I'm still in the running and they're still interviewing. The interview at iAnywhere went pretty well as I mentioned before. The Almighty be willing, I could be pulling in a steady paycheck in another week or so.

In the meantime, I've still got a book to write, a six-course lesson to revamp and a one course lesson to write...the latter two due by the end of the month. I won't be bored.

I am still stinging over my current lay off situation. It just seems like the problem was ignored until they decided to let me go. Idaho is a "right-to-work" state which means that an employer can let go any employee at any time for no reason so I guess this is legal...but it doesn't seem particularly ethical or honorable. I take pride in my work. I someone has an issue with it, I'd like to hear about it. Otherwise, how the heck can I fix the problem?

 

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It's a shame about that trip, but pardon my french you get chicken shite managers out there that do not have the backbone to come out with the truth.

 

On the other hand, the HR people have been great. I turned in my key card to the local gal and she was so sad to see me go. She even gave me a hug. The HR person in Seattle has continued to be very helpful as well. My terminiation status is "lack of work" so I'm good there. I just left a voice mail with the HR person at Photronics letting her know that I'm getting other interviews. She asked to be informed of that and sometimes relating that information can make you look more marketable (and besides, it's the truth).

I'm sure this guy doesn't see himself as "chicken sh1t". From everything I can tell, he's a real wheeler and dealer in terms of getting business moving but employee relations just may not be what he's good at. I'm still kind of p1ssed at him but there's nothing I can do about it. I got what I wanted in terms of my termination status, I'm interviewing for jobs and it's time to move forward.

 

Trip,

Does this company you were just working at know of your internet "handle"? If they do, and someone was keeping tabs on you and your posts, your posting that you were looking for another position could be the entire problem. I've known a lot of employers who would fire an employee just because something was mentioned in passing about another employer, and you have been discussing other interviews here. It isn't right, but it's fairly common practice.

The fact that your supervisor had said earlier that the problem wasn't just you, but other people were just as at fault, and then this is the reason you are give for being let go says to me that this was the excuse given to you to disguise the real issue. And, I think the real issue is one that they are not willing to talk about. I've been through it, and I can say I probably got even hotter under the collar than you did. I flat out told the boss he was a liar, and not telling me the truth. He didn't like it, but he didn't contradict me either. He just wouldn't say what the real reason was, because the real reason for being let go would have left them liable to being sued.

 

I don't think so, Freddy. Anyway, it would be pretty difficult to prove. Not many people IRL know my "dual identity".

 

Trip, thats just too much disrespect on their end. I've come across people like that in the past, and with the way I am about speaking my mind right away, I can't imagine how you kept it all to your self. You got control trip thats all I am going to say about that.

Anyways good luck with the job interview trip.

 

Your name is tied to your handle within posts on here, especially those talking about your book. Wouldn't be too hard to Google up.

That said, the situation sucks. Sounds like you're better off NOT being there, considering their behaviors. I wish you the best of luck with these GOOD opportunities!

 

If that is the "true" reason then why make some BS up about their being "lack of work"

No wonder someone created a book called "The Little Book Of Management Bollocks" of which I have a copy

 

Because some managers would rather take what they perceive to be the "easy way out" for themselves, and not have ANY confrontation at all... they'd rather lie, and cover it up until the last possible minute.

Sucks.

 

Got a call from my recruiter today about the job interview I had yesterday. The potential employer said they liked me a lot (all three interviewers, apparently) but still need to meet with the executive board on Thursday at 11 a.m. before any decision will be made. I'm the only one to interview as far as anyone knows so you'd think it would be a slam dunk. Having said that, nothing's done until it's done. I'm not banking on this only to have some sort of glitch come up at the last minute and "snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory". We'll see.

I also got an email from someone that wants to know if I'm interested in doing a website update and some other content generation for a SharePoint based company. I emailed them back asking for more info. Depending on workload and time frames, who knows?

 

Sorry to hear that Trip, it does indeed make me want to spit. However, you are a fighter and when one door closes, another one opens.

Best of luck with the next one buddy!

 

I agree with blue. For as long as I have know you. You have always had something in your back pocket to keep you busy. I'm sure it will not take long for someone to realize that they need your talent. I got my fingers crossed for you tirp!

 

Ok, I just got the call from Photronics saying that they're going with a candidate who is more experienced in terms of what they need. I sort of thought that's the way it was going to happen, but at least I made it to the "short list". I won't hear anything from iAnywhere probably until this afternoon. I'm going through TEKSystems to get this as a temp-to-hire (hopefully the "hire" part). They have to have a meeting at about 11 this morning and that means I won't hear yea or nea until around 2 this afternoon. They were supposed to have this meeting yesterday and I was on pins and needles all day long. Guess I'll have another round of anxiety for today. If they say "yes", it'll make a sweet weekend. Here's hoping.

 

Hi Trip, it would all work out. I must admit and say I admire your persistence and determination. Best wishes

 

Thanks. It beats starving.

 

When one door closes another one opens.

Best of luck buddy