Getting your player ready...
Dear J.T. & DALE: I have been the office administrator for a nonprofit for the past two years. I have gone above and beyond. They have now decided to call the position a community admin. The job description is what I do, with a degree of added responsibility. I am confused and frustrated that they are not just promoting me, but they said I am first in line to apply and interview. However, I still could end up being bypassed. Do you have any advice? Do I have any rights? – Anna
J.T.: I am sorry you are experiencing this, and I wish I had better news: When a position is “redefined” and you are asked to reapply, it generally means that either management is not happy with your performance, or they have come to realize that they need a different type of worker in the job. As for your rights, what they are doing is a way for them to legally remove you from the position. You are an at-will employee, so they are allowed to change the job and the person doing the job at any time. DALE: Sadly, I have to concur. There’s a chance that this is a motivational tool, utilizing the old management-by-fear approach. But if my guess is right, this isn’t just a move to replace you, but a management maneuver that smacks of Machiavellian genius. Rather than face up to firing you and then looking for your replacement while shorthanded, they can keep you in place and, having dangled the new job in front of you, expect you to redouble your efforts. Meanwhile, while you are beavering away, they can openly run ads and interview candidates. If I were you, I would ask your boss to sit down and tell you what skills and qualifications you lack for the redefined position. The response should clarify if our suspicions are correct. If so, don’t quit. Instead, initiate a major job-search effort so that you, too, can make use of the time. J.T.: You mentioned having gone above and beyond. Do you have any performance reviews or written proof that your performance has exceeded expectations? Those could help you in your efforts to get the redefined job. Also, if they don’t hire you and you haven’t found a new position, you can use that written material to prove that you were laid off and not fired, which can help you collect unemployment. Dear J.T. & Dale: I am a senior brand executive who recently was laid off as part of a major restructuring. I am looking for a new job, but one of the opportunities available to me is to take a year off to get my MBA. At nearly 40 years old, I have plenty of experience, but not the formal qualifications to compete in the open job market. Thoughts? – Todd J.T.: Getting a degree might NOT be worth the time away from your career. Not all employers seek out MBAs; in fact, I’ve seen cases where employers assume that MBAs are more expensive and not worth the additional salary. DALE: This is one of those cases where you need to work backward from the job to your decision about how to pursue it. Make a list of the companies/positions you’d like to target. Then use your connections to arrange meetings, where you can ask for advice on getting the additional degree. This is a great way to network while getting the answer to your question from those who really know. If it looks like an MBA is truly going to be a prerequisite, then you may come across some other option that is preferable to that year off, like finding a company that would pay for you to get your master’s while working for it. J.T.: If you do end up going back to school, make sure you network like crazy to get internships. While getting an advanced degree can challenge your mind, it won’t guarantee you a job. Working while going to school can help you make connections and show potential employers that you kept your skills up-to-date while earning your degree.
