November 30, 2005

I just need to vent....

First - my keyboard is screwed up again. So no little "emotions" are possible. You'll want to read between the lines........

My job.

Sucks.

Can I just say that? Let me explain.

I'm a sales person. I have a bit of experience behind me. It's not my first time at the Rodeo. Plain and simple.

So I work for a company that doesn't believe in the individuality or decision making ability of the individual. Not. At. All.

I'm used to being given my accounts - whether I'm inside or outside sales - and running my desk as if it were my business. Oh - management is there if you need help, but it's your business. Pricing, delivery, promises, extra charges, solutions. It comes from us. Within guidelines of course, but we know our markets, we know our customers. We know what it takes to grow the business. That's why you pay us above average pay for this area. We ain't dummies.

Not so here. I get bids to quote. I hand them off. No input at all. I just fax it out when it's done. Then get in trouble when I don't get the order.

No input on pricing at all. In fact - no reasoning or logic behind the process - at least not anything that has been offered as an explaination.

I'm terrified to make a decision in case I do something wrong.

Now - we handle all the calls. I've got a full desk. All three of us do. We offer solutions. The answer? "Duly Noted." Then nothing happens. So - we take the calls. We have to wait for answers. Wait for someone to give us solutions.

If it weren't for the spreadsheets I make and maintain I haven't used a braincell in 6 months.

And now things are bad. Folks are complaining, parts are late, we're losing out to better pricing. And all we in inside sales can do is look at each other and say - I knew it. I said it.

Add to that the fact that now we are responsible for collections, rejections, quality, accounting. Oh - we still don't have a say. We're just responsible.

It's insanity I tell you pure and simple. My first thought in the morning is NOOOOOOO PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME.

I know I'm lucky to have a job. I know I'm lucky to have a job that pays decent money. But DAMNNNNN. I just wonder how long this can last.

Ok - I feel a bit better now. I'm gonna go have a piece of pumpkin pie. Thanks for listening. I needed to get that off my chest.

Posted by Tammi at November 30, 2005 06:49 PM
Comments

I'd hire ya (but I know I can't afford you, let alone my 10 year old next door neighbor to do my lawn) Sorry about the job, at least you're working your way up the ladder. Sleep well hun.

Posted by: Sean at November 30, 2005 07:56 PM

My hubby is in the same place (dissatisfaction w/ work wise). *sigh* Hopefully it will all improve soon.....

Posted by: Richmond at November 30, 2005 08:21 PM

the worst job I ever had was all Sales, and all commission. I have the ability to retain the knowledge of why our product was better, I just didn't have the killer instinct to force people to buy it. I went from 60k bartending at night in a massive bar/restaurant to 25k in sales while others made 120k. I just don't have that killer instinct. Sales people usually earn it, often for a reason...Start slitting some throats!

Posted by: waltoncad at November 30, 2005 10:20 PM

It really bugs me when a smart and talented person says something like "I know I'm lucky to have a job." It more than bugs me - it makes me very, very angry. I feel it is the wrong attitude.

(many, many angry words deleted here)

Tammi, it's *your* life dear. God gave you lots of talents. Yes, you have to be conservative right now because of your current situation.

But don't - please - don't ever demean yourself.
It is possible for you to keep that crappy job yet still believe in yourself be proud of who you are and what you can do. Just 'cause you aren't using all of your talents now is no reason to knock yourself.

(And before anyone comments something like; "she is just saying she's lucky to have a job" - I'm throwing Johnny-O's bullshit flag. To me, that's a loaded self-depricating statement. And I learned a lot of things from Michele and the most important lesson is that self-deprication is.not.permitted.)

_Jon angry now. _Jon smash things. _Jon not type more.

Posted by: _Jon at November 30, 2005 11:13 PM

Oh a lighter note from _Jon's comment, is it snowing up there on your weather pixie??? ;-)

Posted by: Bou at December 1, 2005 06:57 AM

Sometimes I think I'm the only person in a management position that isn't a farking arsehole... I'm just an arsehole.

Posted by: Contagion at December 1, 2005 07:31 AM

What? Was that too harsh?

Posted by: _Jon at December 1, 2005 09:35 AM

I got one for ya, Tammi, my dear!

The office is miserable. They (the powers that BE), ask me to figure out what the problem is. I KNOW what the problem is! We don't have enough work to do, people are bored, spending too much time up in other people's business.... I tell the power that we need more work. They tell me to make it happen. I go out and find jobs for all of us. Power says to me, pissed off like no other, "I can't believe you would put those jobs on our plate! We're going to be so busy now! Why do you want to rock the boat?"

Uhm, yeah. I got the memo. Shut up and color. I changed jobs by choice three months later. Best decision of my life!!

Keep your chin up!

Posted by: allicadem at December 1, 2005 09:47 PM