Where did the time go?

I know I'm not exactly twink-age, but I could have sworn that Alzheimer's was a "later-in-life" disease! I kept thinking I posted a week ago and needed to catch-up, but it's February 10th now! What happened?

Actually, I have been working looooooong hours of late and come home too exhausted to think. I was recently given the opportunity to work in a local field office (I currently work at a Teleservice Center), but, being a supervisor, I have LOTS of things to close out before I can head over there. Granted, I will be returning in four months, and someone else will take over in my absence, but I don't like leaving loose ends! I am trying to write all of my mid-term appraisals (even though they aren't technically due until mid-March) and give them before I go! Nothing like trying to find synonyms for "You should not ACT like a government employee" to get the adrenaline flowing! Go figure!

Anyways, I still intend to do something insightful and magical, but I have to find the time! Since I haven't had comments, I am not sure if folks are reading or not, but I like to think that I can catch a chuckle every now and then!

How YOU doing?

Next week I get to start giving my annual performance appraisals to my 18 employees. As much as I love the thought of making them sweat, this is actually not that much fun for me. I do like getting with folks and having a nice chat, but I have discovered that most government employees aren't going to change a thing about what they do unless some adverse action is at play. Good employees will continue to perform well; bad employees will use all of their leave and complain about why they aren't getting promoted.

This will be my sixth go at this event. I think I'm prepared and that my points will all be valid. I talk with folks all the time throughout the year, so nothing should be a surprise. Yet, it inevitably happens that someone will think they are much better than I gave them credit for, and the discussion gets ugly. We have a new appraisal system where folks must get outstanding in at least 2 of the 4 elements in order to be eligible for an award. Before, you just had to be in the top 20-30% of a unit in order to get an award (and that criteria was VERY subjective). This should be interesting as I only have 3 folks who will be considered based on the new system.

We shall soon see how this goes over!

Can you make wine out of sour grapes?

Alas, I did not get the position that would have furthered my career to new heights. Although I will carry on and smile and do the best job that I can (I'm funny that way), I also have to consider what went awry. What did I do wrong? What am I lacking? How can I develop myself so that I might not be overlooked next time?

Sadly, I don't have an answer for that. I thought I was doing very well and have been told so by all of my bosses.

Without sounding like I'm bearing a grudge or being bitter, the fact remains that I am a young (ish) white male and it seems that this is quickly becoming a bad thing in our society. Granted, I am all for affirmative action, but even then, merit should still be a factor. Not that I am saying we have brought total equal rights into fruition by any stretch of the imagination, but I fear that when we try to be overly PC, we tend to minimize the efforts of everyone. Had I received the promotion, there are those who might say it was because I am a white male. I am sure there will be talk about the Hispanic female who got the job.

My employer states that they take diversity very seriously and our workforce should reflect the public that we serve. If you looked at the actual workforce statistically, you would notice that it does not accurately reflect (at least with current percentages) the population at large. I am a minority (and not because of my sexual orientation). I have never received any privileges because my parents were Caucasian, nor have I benefited from any type of public or private assistance because of who I am. However, I am sure that some would think it of me because I have done all right for myself, and they would still begrudge me any success.

Oh, well, I'll stop whining now. I guess my point is that we still have a long way to go in truly becoming equals. I would never minimize the struggles that people have gone through to achieve the freedoms they have now, but is it right to stack the deck so the perception is that all is well in the world? GayProf stated it much better than I did here, but diversity still is an interesting topic.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering why I thought I was a better candidate...I have three years seniority, I was a sergeant in the army, I am the go-to guy when anyone else needs assistance...and I helped train the selectee.

Go figure!

Still waiting!

I have no clue if anyone is reading this or not (is there a "hit" button that lets you know? I'm clueless in this regard!), but I mentioned that I am waiting on word to see if I get a leadership program spot. We were told after the telephone interview (mid-August) that we would know by September 1st. Well, it's a little past that. Although I would love this opportunity, I will not die if I don't get it. But there are several other positions I would apply for, but I don't want to until I know one way or the other about this one. We'll see what Monday brings! If anyone is reading, have you ever been in this position? What would you do?

Thanks!

The Hunt for New Employment

Since I've been with the government almost 11 years, the only positions I ever applied for were promotions from within. I have received more than my fair share. My partner, on the other hand, has had to change jobs many times. He has been with the County for over five years, but is getting tired of the 60-mile a day commute in really bad traffic. So he is looking for employment closer...employment that is still with a government entity as I have been hounding him that he needs a pension! Because of my work, I hear too many sad stories of folks that don't plan ahead and end up with very little when they should be enjoying their golden years.

The point is, we have all been in that position where we need to find gainful employment. The interview process can be brutal, and no matter how good we think we are, there is always someone a little better or willing to take less pay. I have been reading other blogs about people who aren't happy with their current jobs, but fear the change that might ensue. The almighty "dollah" prevails! No one strives to live in a cardboard box.

I am fortunate that I actually like my job, but I still try to move ahead and must endure the internal processes that we have for these endeavors. I am currently awaiting news on a leadership program I applied for. The interview was over the telephone (which was weird because I couldn't see whether the interviewer was engaged (or laughing hysterically at my answers). The questions were "behavioral-based" meaning that you never know what the hell someone is looking for. You could shine or you could be labeled a deviant or miscreant. It's all in the eyes of the beholder.

So I will close in saying that if anyone is out there looking for a job right now, I feel for you. This is not for the faint of heart!