STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

kenzie · Chanel

So, this kind of sucks (long)

squishy · Coach

so, that kinda REALLY sucks. from what you've said, you're not undertitled. you're undervalued. they don't realize how much you do and how well you do it because 1. they may not have something/someone to compare it to and 2. you don't complain, but manage to get everything done. and it doesn't sound like there's room for growth. how can you move up if there's no one to take on the more 'basic' work?

is it possible to snag an intern or some other form of unpaid help? is there another department you can semi-outsource to?

no job is worth your mental sanity. i know job hunting is a full time job in itself, but i'd start looking. who knows? maybe when the higher-ups hear rumblings, they might shell out for more people.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

not at all.

I think you should start looking elsewhere. Even if you continue to work your ass off (which is just too much to begin with!), its going to get to a point where you simply can't do it all (sounds pretty close already). Your department is pretty much the one they should be focuing on if they want to continue to expand.... without good marketing and promotion, they're going to self distruct. I hope that you're long gone when that happens (and at a place where you are appreciated so you can sit there and laugh at them when they flop.)

kenzie · Chanel

squishy wrote:

is it possible to snag an intern or some other form of unpaid help? is there another department you can semi-outsource to?

Unfortunately, no, on both counts. I've tried.

And here's another issue that I've stumbled upon. Most people (unless they are managers, by title) are paid by the hour and this includes me. The men in the company that are paid by the hour are allowed to work as much overtime as they want to, but if a woman does, she is told that she is only allowed to work 45 hours maximum, with ocassionally going slightly over that. Seriously, I've heard it from most of the woman there (there are only a few anyway). How messed up is this?

So, not only am I overworked, underpaid and undertitled, they are clamping down on the hours that I can work, so I have no idea how the hell I'm going to get things done. But if I was a man, I'd be allowed to work as much as I wanted to. I've also found that the general attitude in the company is that all women are secretaries (not that everyone thinks this way, but alot do) and they actually classify all women's jobs (including mine) as 'support.'

When I did some research on job sites, such as salary.com, I found that the closest thing to my actual responsibilities is the title Marketing Communications Manager (with the exception of my lack of a department). This is far from 'support staff.' I'm extremely frustrated and I know that a few other women in the company are as well b/c we've discussed it as a huge issue.

Ugh. I hate job hunting.

Oh, and I'll probably delete this so don't quote me.

NCshopper · Hermes

I hate to say it, because I'm going through it right now and it suuuuuuuuuuucks, but it's time to start the job hunt. Really, there's no better time to look for a job as when you already have one and don't have to worry about not being able to make ends meet. Get your resume polished up and organize a list of contacts and a list of people to be your references and once you've gotten that stuff together, then start trying to line up interviews. You've worked at this job for about a year, right? I know you'd ideally like to work there longer to have it on your resume, but enough is enough and I think a year is sufficient to show your dedication.

Unfortunately, it sounds like your employer isn't willing to do what it takes to help you out. And a big reason for that is probably because you've done so well so far--you've proven yourself to be creative and good at what you do and you've still managed to get it all done, so actually you've given your employer no reason to change, which (I think) actually reflects highly of you. But I'm not really sure I see a way to change your employer's mind and thus get you the help you need without letting the quality of your work slide, which isn't what you want, nor is it something I would recommend.

Plus, you've expressed issues regarding sexism/harrassment in your workplace before and you deserve better than that. You're a hard worker and you deserve to be allowed to work as hard as you want AND get paid for it. It's bullsh*t that they cap your hours, but continue to allow men to work as much as they want and get paid for it.

And, bonus!, this would free McStubborn of his concerns about working with you and having a relationship with you. (Just read the McStubborn post and I love the nickname. )

Anyway, keep us posted. If you want me to delete any of this, just PM me and I'll do it.

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

Ok, I think you should leave. BUT NOT YET.

I think this is a great opportunity to start collecting resources and interns and as much money as can be scooped up and ESPECIALLY credit for your department. I wouldn't move - hell no. No matter what reasons you might have, if you put in another year here, working with the idea that you are goign to be leaving, so you build contacts, a successor, and an image in people's minds, you could move up FAST in your next position. And you have everything you need to do it in this situation. An understanding boss, a growing company, a job with a LOT of discretion and decision-making power, the ability to make a lot of contacts, the ability to write your own job description and handle an infinite amount of projects. It sounds like they would even accept LESS than you're giving them too. So you can totally tailor the situation to your own needs. I honestly would NOT give this up to find a better opportunity. Use them. Use the HELL out of them. They'll let you. And your next job can be so much higher up!

So, figure out what your next job is. Collect as much prestige and resources as you can. And tailor everything you do toward getting that next job. And um, this sounds counterintuitive, but if no one knows what you do and they actually want less from you, only put YOUR resources into projects that matter to you and your goals. For the rest, do the minimum that is acceptable to you (IT DOES NOT ALL HAVE TO BE PERFECT. YOU WILL DRIVE YOURSELF CRAZY AND LOSE GROUND).

Good luck babe - I really think you're in a good spot here.

-- Edited by Dizzy at 13:59, 2006-10-07

kenzie · Chanel

Dizzy wrote:

So, figure out what your next job is. Collect as much prestige and resources as you can. And tailor everything you do toward getting that next job. And um, this sounds counterintuitive, but if no one knows what you do and they actually want less from you, only put YOUR resources into projects that matter to you and your goals. For the rest, do the minimum that is acceptable to you (IT DOES NOT ALL HAVE TO BE PERFECT. YOU WILL DRIVE YOURSELF CRAZY AND LOSE GROUND).

Good luck babe - I really think you're in a good spot here.

-- Edited by Dizzy at 13:59, 2006-10-07

Actually, this is what I am doing. I'm taking classes and working on projects that I know will help me with my next move. I've moved on from just doing graphic design (Adobe Creative Suite), to multi-media and web design (Adobe Premier Pro, Flash and Dreamweaver), which is going to make me even more marketable when I start a job search. These are the projects to which I was referring that I want to see through to completion before leaving. Every move I make in this job is calculated and planned with the next job as the standard.

Unfortunately, there will be no interns, no assistants and no department growth, which is my biggest issue b/c despite all that I do, it would look 100% better on my resume to have managed a department. Right now, the only management experience I have is project management with this job and some internship work and also retail management. Maybe though, combined with my current job experience that would be enough...

As always, yours (and everyone else's) advice is appreciated.

-- Edited by kenzie at 21:33, 2006-10-07

squishy · Coach

wtf on the sexist overtime?!

sigh.. anyway, i think you're doing the right thing by carefully and inconspicuously looking for better options. you're smart to think of this at the early signs of stagnation, so you'll be able to do what's right for you. good luck!

and ditto ncshopper on the mcstubborn bit!