resigning because of management... what to do?

[Wicca]

here's the thing: a lot of people in our office (like half) are looking for new jobs already, myself included. we're a small company and most of us want to leave due to management problems. we've only been here since october 2001. before our batch, people have already resigned because of the same reason.

now that i'm looking for a job, what should i tell the person interviewing me? i know it should be something positive and it wouldn't sound too good if i tell them the truth. its difficult if i give "personal & career growth" as a reason naman because of my short stay here. and they're also questioning the fact that i've been with the company for a short time only and now i want to leave.

any suggestions and tips would be much appreciated. thanks

[JDELEON]

Dear Wicca,

Your challenge is that you do not want to burn bridges but you also seem to want to effect positive change.

First. clarify what you mean by "management problems." It is important to identify the problem so that you can address it.

Is there one bad manager ruining your lives? What makes him/her so bad? Can you get transferred?
Is it absence of leadership? Do your bossess lack vision? Do you have an alternative plan for them?

Next, knowing the problem, decide how important the relationship with the company is to you. You could choose to burn bridges completely (strongly NOT RECOMMENDED). Or you could leave on a Pollyanna note telling them that everyhing about the company is perfect (again NOT RECOMMENDED). Decide what mix of naughty and nice you want to be.

Finally, prepare for your exit interview. Outline some of the key negatives of the firm. Be specific and if possible outline possible remedies. Then reinforce that it is a disappointment because of some of the positives of the firm which you do like. If it applies let them know that if they ever fix the aforementioned problems, you might want to come back.

Hope that helps.

May Angels smile upon you,
Joe

[badnugly]

Medyo naiintindihan kita dyan tsong. I actually resigned just recently from my previous job perhaps for the same reasons that you have. The difference is that I spent two years with them kaya most interviwers bought my story with wanting to expand my horrizons etc.

In your case, a couple white lies might help . Tell them that you feel that you will have a better future with the new company that you are applying to and that you are certain that if they hire you, your years of service with them will be fruitful (or something to that effect). BUT whatever you do, DONT TELL THEM THE TRUTH!

Hope this helps

[Wicca]

thanks, guys!

actually its a very small company (less than 15 people) of course our manager owns part of the company. and the other partners occupy key positions.

anyway, our complaint is that they let us do things thats not part of our job. example, i handle marketing but sometimes i end up editing the website (doing html, etc.) and sometimes, messengerial work. i've complained to the other partner and he said i was right and that he saw my point. he tried talking to his partner but she just doesn't get it, and she continues doing what she does.

another problem is that they treat us like statistics and not like people. i mean a little coffee break and we get dirty looks from the boss already. thing is, we don't abuse it naman. our breaks normally last 15 minutes max.

a lot of people have resigned before our batch (only 2 from the original ones are left).

[Drood]

The best way (and probably the hardest) is to tell them the truth. Express your sentiments about the company but always support your concerns with suggestions on how they can improve the business. Make them feel that you are still concerned with the company's well-being, and that if they r ready for a cool change, they can still reach u.

With regards to what u should tell the person interviewing u, honesty is also the best policy. Try to apply the same concept as stated above.

The problem with our society nowadays is that we unknowingly are breeding a bunch of liars. Get employed in the govt and u might join the club.

The truth can also set us free if played professionally.

[ah_basta]

hey there!

i have dealt w/ the same situation b4. our dept. normally hires diff. people every yr. because we can't seem to get along w/ my superior...she's too strict and obsessive-compulsive.

nway, i suggest that you stay longer with the company. at least 6 months. from the point of view of an employer, i think 6 mnths s not too bad. f u want more leverage when u seek new employment, then stay longer. in the first place, its so difficult to find a good job.

2nd, don't tell ur interviewer that ur leaving ur present job coz of your reasons. they want to hire someone willing to do extra work, from time 2 time no matter how large the co. s. just tell them that u have been employed in a relatively small co. & u have decided to take on more challenges. (don't tell them that u refuse to do extra work, kahit n b gaano pa kadami pinagagawa syo ng employer mo ngayon n di naman ksma s job description m, it might not sound as intelligent as u would want your explanation to be. why bother the interviewer w/ such details?)

3rd, do you think your employers are afraid to replace you? as u have mentioned, the same thing happened b4. 'u r just a statistic'. a pawn, f i may say so...

don't let their stares keep you from taking ur break. its ur right & u r allowed 15 mins break morning & afternun & 1 hr lunch. as stated in the labor code. ur employer might not know that!

a few may not feel ur sentiments. i know a lot of guys who can't bring themselves to find new employment coz they need to support someone or a few other people. or sometimes, they're just too stupid to realize it coz they have been stuck there for as long as they can remember...whehehehe

4th, you'll deal with worst people in the future. goodluck!!! i hope you survive.

[gemyl]

we somehow have the same similarities in our work, but dont let them get into you!

its a new year!!! i hope you'll find a better career! good luck!

[Morgoth]

Resigning from your job because of management is a bad precedent. You're running away without giving up a fight. Furthermore, when you change jobs, you don't have a guarantee that the new management will be better. So what are you gonna do if you get another group of lousy managers, resign again? It will go on and on.

My advice? Stay there. Be proactive. Initiate needed changes.

Originally posted by Wicca
here's the thing: a lot of people in our office (like half) are looking for new jobs already, myself included. we're a small company and most of us want to leave due to management problems. we've only been here since october 2001. before our batch, people have already resigned because of the same reason.

now that i'm looking for a job, what should i tell the person interviewing me? i know it should be something positive and it wouldn't sound too good if i tell them the truth. its difficult if i give "personal & career growth" as a reason naman because of my short stay here. and they're also questioning the fact that i've been with the company for a short time only and now i want to leave.

any suggestions and tips would be much appreciated. thanks

[EdwardNorton]

same here ... but ive been in the company for over a year and a half. im just finishing my contract with them, the bond thing.

there are just times that whatever you do ... no matter how great it is ... still it is not recognized ... even if you tried harder ... then the time has come to jump to the other boat.

[acquiesce]

Hi wicca, i guess we're pretty much in the same situation...but the difference is, di pa ako aalis! hehehe...ganyan din dito sa company namin eh...mga 20 (or less) lang ata kami, tapos within the less-than-5-months span na i was in the company, around 5-6 have already resigned because of management problems din. it's either di nila matiis yung ugali nung boss, di na defined yung mga tasks na pinapagawa (kung ano ano na pinapagawa) or di na sila natututo...(pero most of them, di matiis yung boss). On my part, kaya ayaw ko pang umalis, is because i'm getting exposed eh. i go to the clients, i sometimes deal with the client themselves and maraming ginagawa. naisip ko kasi na mahirap din maghanap ng job ngayon tapos medyo ok pa yung scenario namin (home office lang kasi eh, so medyo lax when it comes to being late and the attire... ). ewan ko, i'll see in the next month kung oks pa rin ang mga pangyayari...

[Tortiana]

haaay...this thread just made me feel a lot better. sama ba? wala lang, i just had a crappy day in the office, and after reading this thread, parang "grabe, hindi ako nag-iisa!".

but they're right, mas magandang magtiis muna. that's how you test the strength of your character. better if you do make some changes in the company you're working in.

but anyways, i'm really in a rut right now. feeling ko i'm in a worse situation dahil wala akong suweldo coz i'm still training. tapos ang labo pa ng usapan. tapos ang labo din nung training, ikaw magt-train sa sarili mo (self-study kumbaga). tapos delayed lagi yung allowance mo. tapos...ah ewan ko! daming problema talaga, but the company is known for its crappiness, and the people there are also crappy. they actually call it the snakepit. so, if you survive, ibig sabihin magaling ka. and i'm out to prove that. yun na lang ang iniisip ko.

in the meantime...dito na lang ako magwa-whine...tiis muna ko...hanap din ng raket...

[mrsfiggs]

one day you'll appreciate all those multi-tasking (editing, marketing and yess, messengerial work) that the management has asked you to do. Generally, it is better that you experience those stuff while starting in the corporate climb. Training din yan. Ganyan din ako before. Later on, those experiences will be of your advantage. Goodluck!

[gemyl]

hmmm... ok un multi tasking ah! i learned a lot of things from my previous work, un nga lang ndi ko na sya nagagamit ngayon

[Izzandro]

wicca,

friendly advice, tell your interviewer that you fell in love with your supervisor there nothing wrong if you fall in love , but your company don't allow employee and 'visor's relation. so you have to choose one , since you are a human being you choosed love rather than job . It's new alibi and I'm telling you it will going to work. Don't tell the truth cause just like the managers the interviewer sucks. you have to play the music they want to listen .GOOD LUCK FOR YOUR NEW JOB>

[AllyMcBelat]

hi Wicca!!!
i can relate. un first job ko, super gulo ng management nila. Bobo at inefficient pa yung mga HR. hay naku, i'm saying this kasi that was the worst company i've ever bee so far. as in grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!

[raven23]

Originally posted by Morgoth
Resigning from your job because of management is a bad precedent. You're running away without giving up a fight. Furthermore, when you change jobs, you don't have a guarantee that the new management will be better. So what are you gonna do if you get another group of lousy managers, resign again? It will go on and on.

My advice? Stay there. Be proactive. Initiate needed changes.

I agree with Morgoth wholeheartedly, but his advice may be a bit too idealistic for some.

I don't know if this is still relevant, considering your initial post was a month ago...

Find a new job first.

When asked why you're leaving, just say you want a better job / position / salary. Employers don't take it against potential employees for being ambitious.

Only when you're certain of the new job do you resign from your current one. Typically, this means giving 15-30 days notice, so make sure your future employer is ok with that.

Good luck.

[Mymnosene]

hi, wicca!

seems like we're in the same boat. Dadalawa na nga lang kaming editor sa magazine (I have been here almost a year na, my ed for 6 months), and the company is scr3wing us sideways, so we decided to resign na lang. I had begun looking for a job, but then along came the straw that broke the camel's back...just this afternoon. I have finished making my resignation letter, effective Feb 28. Bad move on my part...I know that one should not resign before one has a job waiting in the wings, but this is too much!

Bad pay, bad bosses, bad company, bad name. leche. I do not mind doing extra work and being treated as a statistic. I'm used to the drone life, but being stabbed in the back and having your work sabotaged by upper management is too senseless to comprehend. I'm leaving and I am telling the truth and naming names when I leave. Some peeps said that staying for the sake of change and job security is the way to go, but I beg to disagree. Not in this case.

However, if changes were possible, I'd say stay din. Have you talked to your bosses? Maybe they're uptight because they don't know any better.

See you around, peeps......

[GARFIELD M]

Originally posted by mrsfiggs
one day you'll appreciate all those multi-tasking (editing, marketing and yess, messengerial work) that the management has asked you to do. Generally, it is better that you experience those stuff while starting in the corporate climb. Training din yan. Ganyan din ako before. Later on, those experiences will be of your advantage. Goodluck!

I agree with this. Multi-tasking gives one varied experience and the chance to practise time management. When you get to the top, you will be more appreciative of your subordinates thus making you a better manager. As to messengerial work...it depends on the work...Is it related to the work...like dropping or picking up some materials, stuff , etc...If it is....then make the most of it....if there are things to learn about them...then grab the chance.


If they are personal...and it is frequent...then it is abuse....there are many ways to decline and avoid the situations whereby these kinds of bosses can be turned off...

Since you are practising wiccan...then do your stuff...throw some positively-charged powder in the air....

[Astro Cool]

ur not alone ...

[art727]

Originally posted by Wicca
here's the thing: a lot of people in our office (like half) are looking for new jobs already, myself included. we're a small company and most of us want to leave due to management problems. we've only been here since october 2001. before our batch, people have already resigned because of the same reason.

now that i'm looking for a job, what should i tell the person interviewing me? i know it should be something positive and it wouldn't sound too good if i tell them the truth. its difficult if i give "personal & career growth" as a reason naman because of my short stay here. and they're also questioning the fact that i've been with the company for a short time only and now i want to leave.

any suggestions and tips would be much appreciated. thanks

WICCA, first of all let me give you some rough figures, when turnovers like this occur,such as an employee like you as an example who wants to leave the organization to be replace by a new worker....Wicca, you are right that most turnover occurs during the first few months after hiring and maybe you don't know or even the company you are in now, doesn't even know that TURNOVER is much more COSTLY than most people suspect. It could be from personal situations,sickness, marriage or death....but most CAUSES of High Turnovers nowadays lie within POOR MANAGEMENT....and listen to this Wicca! IT IS EITHER TO POOR SELECTION or to INADEQUATE INDUCTION OF THE EMPLOYEE..I hope they did not commit mistakes in selecting you...It also depends on what kind of employee are you...such as (specialized employee) they are expensive to replace and very very costly...as I said before.. It may cost them P25,000 believe me this caused the company to look into hidden cost of TURNOVERS..let me cite some expenses in replacing you and also what they spend in hiring you...
1)Advertising, based on the inch or page or column it paid.
2)Each hour spent in interviewing an applicant is costly in terms of the salary of personnel involved.
3)If the department heads and supervisor was involved their time must also considered in the cost analysis.. could you imagine how many are there applicants?
4)Physical examination, most organization they absorb the medical expenses to make sure it wasn't a HOKOS FOCUS..
5)Investigating References,by phone,interview or letter, in any case time and expenses were involve.
6)Clerical work,paperworks and forms to fill up, and files to be set up..
7)Training undergoing some kind of training...FORMAL TRAINING over months or even years....Now WICCA, I hope you learned the expenses the company INVESTED in you...DON"T get me WRONG if you are NOT HAPPY, I agree 100% you are doing the right thing......MY piece of ADVICE....IN YOUR INTERVIEW...."TELL THE TRUTH" and let them buy it..because they don't want to take a risk ...that you MIGHT LEAVE AGAIN!!!if they HIRE YOU....as I said THE TRUTH WILL PREVAIL!" have no fear...goodluck......art