Here are three updates from past letter-writers.
1. Should I tell my boss to fire our new hire? (#4 at the link)
I did end up talking to my boss, alongside another coworker who was having an even worse experience working with the new hire. Turns out our boss was already documenting all the issues we’d shared, and essentially told us he would be fired if he didn’t rapidly turn things around.
Well, he did not turn things around and she fired him a few weeks later. According to someone else in the room, he got very angry and defensive, accused her of not training him properly, and then had to get escorted out. I saw a copy of the final project he had produced as his “last chance” and oh boy, it was bad. Here’s hoping he finds a job that better suits him, and that we find a competent replacement.
2. Am I too late to apply for an internal job? (#3 at the link)
Thanks for your reply! Because of it, I asked if I could still apply — and I did end up interviewing!
People who commented on my letter were rightfully concerned about fairness. But internally, that didn’t seem to be much of a concern at all. On the call, I mentioned I was aware it was an awkward situation having been on the committee and that I was fully prepared to hear it was a no. In fact, I did get a no. The concern was that I wasn’t likely to get the job anyway compared to the other candidates, so why go forward with it? But it was a long conversation (I didn’t press on the issue, we ended up talking about other work items), which turned into a maybe by the end of the call, and then turned into a yes the next day.
I was sent into a second round of interviews with a different panel and different questions. It went well. I think it’s still a long shot. But I’m happy I went through with it. Ultimately, it’s better to live without the regret, even if there’s a slight ding to my reputation. (I do believe I’ve built enough cachet during my time here that it isn’t a huge deal. As a self-deprecating person, it’s hard to admit, but when multiple people on an executive team tell you to apply, you’ve gotta internalize it!)
Again, thanks for your quick reply. I was so in my own head about it, and that was the push I needed.
3. When during a hiring process do I bring up my spouse’s medical appointments? (#5 at the link)
Thank you for answering my question. You and commenters gave me a lot more confidence on how to handle this. I had started applying for jobs when I wrote in, and very shortly after you replied to my question, I received an interview for a job I ended up accepting.
I used your advice and script to talk about the appointments after I received an offer. The job is hybrid, but the appointments happen on an in-office day. My now-manager said she was fine with granting me an extra work-from-home day each month to accommodate the appointments and I accepted the job.
I’ve been here for just over two months, and I’m relieved to say the appointments are absolutely a non-issue. Although they happen on in-office days, the organization is pretty flexible about people working additional time from home so I’m far from the only person to occasionally work from home an extra day. My team is also spread across two locations, so every team meeting automatically includes a video option and it’s not anything “extra” to use it on days I work from home.
I could write an entire separate submission on the night-and-day difference in culture between my previous job and this one, but I’ll just say I’m incredibly glad I made the move and I’m grateful for your advice that helped give me the confidence to do so.
The post updates: the bad new hire, being late applying for an internal job, and more appeared first on Ask a Manager.
