Unusual Question

[ajetrumpet]

I work as a controller right now. Since when did my job description change to "file paperwork"???? Anybody else where a million different hats that you don't have time for?

 

[georgedwilkinson]

Nope, I'm pigeon holed. I can much more than I'm asked to do but I love what I'm doing so everything's fine (for now).

It depends on what size company you're a controller for. I've worked with the 9-5er who filed his own stuff, and I've worked with the high-powered guy who worked from 7 AM until nearly midnight every night, but never even touched paper 'cause he had staff for that. In some ways, I'd rather be the guy who got to go home, even though he had to multi-task.

The great thing about being a total IT geek is that I can work from almost anywhere usually. But there are times when it gets boring.

 

[Banana]

In my case, this is where database development fit in my job description:

"Other duties as necessary."

 

[WayneRyan]

Adam,

"Sifting to the top" has its drawbacks.

Being a computer Geek wasn't so bad was it?

Wayne

 

[Rich]

Can't imagine anything so soul destroying as being an automaton

 

[ajetrumpet]

Being a computer Geek wasn't so bad was it?

what do you mean by this wayne?

Can't imagine anything so soul destroying as being an automaton

i certainly agree with that

 

[WayneRyan]

Adam,

My company and I have had a very long battle. Their desire would be for me
to migrate away from the day-to-day technical stuff and adopt more of a
management role.

I have no inclination to follow that path.

I have had several coworkers that have done that and they missed the
"geeky" stuff and really hated the new requirements of budgets, employee
reviews, etc.

I thought your post conveyed that you were migrating into more of a
managment role.

Wayne

 

[Fifty2One]

I do various tasks as assigned by immediate manager as it states in the contract I am under but by no means does that constitute different hats I dont have time for... I am paid to work and if they want to pay a programmers salary for a file clerk I am fine with that... heck I will even empty the waste baskets, make coffee and go waste an hour fetching donuts from Tim Hortons in the city if they want to pay the time for that
Mostly when I am asked to do such tasks it is a nice break from coding and puting... sometimes during the absence from the machine I can roll ideas around and get some of my best snag fixes.

...but if you are fed up just look through the weekend newspaper at the careers section of the classified and find the most trumped up description of your job and circle the advert about four times with a heavy hand... then sort of leave it on your desk desk at work on Monday morning while you go fetch your morning coffee... not that you are going for a different job... its just a comparison study that may lead to at least some appreciation...

I work as a controller right now. Since when did my job description change to "file paperwork"???? Anybody else where a million different hats that you don't have time for?

 

[ajetrumpet]

I thought your post conveyed that you were migrating into more of a
managment role.

Actually no I'm not, but I sure would like to. Know anyone looking for a manager?

Budgets and new product ideas are right up my alley actually....

...but if you are fed up just look through the weekend newspaper at the careers section of the classified and find the most trumped up description of your job and circle the advert about four times with a heavy hand... then sort of leave it on your desk desk at work on Monday morning while you go fetch your morning coffee... not that you are going for a different job... its just a comparison study that may lead to at least some appreciation...

that will get me fired, but thanks for the offer.

 

[georgedwilkinson]

Budgets and new product ideas are right up my alley actually....

Sounds like a Project Manager job. If you're interested, you could check out the Project Management Institute. They offer certification in Project Management that companies (at least in this area) crave. They published the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) and I keep a copy of it on my desk.

There's a chance you could get your current company to pay for the training/certification (for some consideration, no-doubt...typically a 2 to 3 year contract). Even if you stay a Controller, Project Management skills are valuable for just about every management job.

 

[ajetrumpet]

Thank you for the tip George. Unfortunately I am working temporarily, although the term can be measured in years. I am not employed by the company, so that is a shame...

 

[redneckgeek]

My company keeps bugging me to get a degree, so they can move me into management. My job is 50% Senior Planner and 50% App developer.
I have no desire to manage others, and I'm paid well enough as it is.
Besides, managers spend less time on their computers and more time in worthless meetings.

 

[ajetrumpet]

Besides, managers spend less time on their computers and more time in worthless meetings.

The meetings are not worthless redneckBOY. The meetings are part of the equation that keep your job. Everyday I wish I could step up and move into management, but unfortunately for me, it's very very difficult for me because I've been around computers for so damn long. This is seriously not my strong suit...I somewhere wonder how I ever got involved with them...and in accounting too! Anyone here looking for a good manager??

 

[redneckgeek]

So, since I don't wish to go into management, you feel it is justifiable to call me BOY? Because of my position, I spend a LOT of time in meetings already. Much of what is said and done in those meetings could be handled one-on-one, or is just plain pointless. Maybe it's just my company, but I doubt it.

 

[Brianwarnock]

As a guy who stepped up from geek to manager of geeks I feel I have a minute bit of experience of this topic. Management is fine when you hit the top, anywhere else is not, as you are in the middle, you get all the flak and little of the fun,
However it has its advantages
Bored - call a meeting
Don't know what to do - call a meeting
Want decent coffee and biscuits - call a meeting
want to impress your manager - call a meeting

See management is simple.

Brian

 

[KenHigg]

Manager in weekly meeting with peers and big boss. Big boss: 'We have this problem...". Manager A: "I can fix it". Big boss: "Great, let us know what you come up with by next weeks meeting". Manager A: "Hey pee-on, fix this. Pee-on: "I don't have time!". Manager A: "You'll never make management with that attitude...".

etc, etc...

 

[Brianwarnock]

I remember a programmer being given another priority project by his manager and he said that he allready had a priority job so which was the top priority.
Manager "They are both equal"
Prog "But which one should I give most time to?"
Manager "Neither both are equal, you need to get both done asap."
Prog "OK I'm going to go back to my desk and start coding, I can only write with one hand, which program should I start coding?"
Manager Long Silence then "continue with the one you were working on."

Brian

 

[Fifty2One]

So should I rush the rush work I was rushing or just rush the rush you rushed in with in a rush



The only thing dumber than trying to miutitask is believing that you are an effective multitasker...

 

[pbaldy]

In a smaller company, meetings can be productive. The average larger company, government agency, etc, a waste of time. A buddy works for a company that provides workman's compensation insurance. When he started it was a state agency, but it was later privatized. After privatization, they cut 75% of the jobs. Yes, 75%; 3 out of 4 people are gone. I asked him if there was really that much "fat" in the operation, and he said yes. That many people were just trying to look busy, and he specifically mentioned that they went to meetings all day. His wife works for the city, and says it's the same there.

 

[ajetrumpet]

I asked him if there was really that much "fat" in the operation, and he said yes. That many people were just trying to look busy, and he specifically mentioned that they went to meetings all day. His wife works for the city, and says it's the same there.

I totally know what you mean here Paul. The government is chewing the fat out right now. It IS a really big shame...