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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Employer keeps moving goalposts

37 replies

Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 11:26

I think I'm BU but can't help but to feel annoyed. So last year I got promoted, the idea is that I will lead my own division after a series of "internships" within other departments. The idea behind this is that I need to learn about them as I will have the same departments /same type of direct reports under my division. The original plan is that it would take me a while year to do so. I've been moved to my next "internship" as of next Monday. I mean I'm glad it's happening that quickly but I don't think I learned what I was supposed to... AIBU?

OP posts:
Doyoumind · 04/01/2021 11:28

Not enough info here to give an opinion. If you have concerns then flag them

Cadent · 04/01/2021 11:32

Eh? How can we possibly say if you are BU, you've not told us how long you've been on an internship for.

Original poster
Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 11:34

HR or CEO? HR has not been involved at all apart from signing my promotion.

OP posts:
mrsbyers · 04/01/2021 11:35

A whole year in each area ? Are you sure they didn’t mean a year overall ?

MaliceOrgan · 04/01/2021 11:36

LTB!

Original poster
Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 11:36

My current "internship" lasted 3 weeks. I went off on annual leave and the first thing I hear is that I'm going to get moved my EOW.

OP posts:
Original poster
Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 11:37

Yes it was one year overall which sounded reasonable, but three weeks?

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 04/01/2021 11:40

How many other depts are you expecting to vist?

Was this one a small dept, uncomplicated?

LouiseTrees · 04/01/2021 11:40

Speak to your boss and say that as the 3 weeks included annual leave you don’t feel like you’ve learnt a lot about that area. I mean it does depend how many areas there are though and how relevant each actually is to your future role. Especially if you need to get round lots of departments in a year.

growinggreyer · 04/01/2021 11:44

Can you reflect on what happened while you were in that dept? What did you do during the days? What would the other staff have made of your presence, eg were you hands on, doing things to help them or were you sitting watching while they worked? Were you making notes and looking into their procedures etc. You might have given them the heebie-jeebies.

Original poster
Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 11:46

I only have to do the "rounds" in three departments. My colleagues had no clue I was "just visiting". I was given a formal/proper induction.

OP posts:
Doyoumind · 04/01/2021 11:55

This all sounds like no one knows what is going on. You need the plan and details of your promotion in writing. If your boss isn't making people aware of why you are there it all sounds a bit strange.

Original poster
Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 12:03

The way I explained to myself was to not raise any eyebrows. (I'm newish in the grand scheme of things).

OP posts:
unfortunateevents · 04/01/2021 12:09

Go back to whomever offered you the promotion and is presumably organising this "internship" and ask for at least a vague timeline of how long you can expect to spend in each department, if you should have spent longer than 3 weeks in the initial department then they need to approach that division and explain what you are supposed to be doing and that they need to accommodate you for longer. From your posts, it sounds suspiciously as if you were promoted and then no-one took responsibility for your training so the department had no idea you were coming or what to do with you when you got there.

To be honest, if you are going to be in charge of what sounds like a large number of people you can't worry about raising eyebrows and are going to have to step up and take control yourself.

Callipygion · 04/01/2021 12:31

If there’s 3 departments then surely you should be spending roughly 4 months in each? I’d say go back to your line manager and ask what’s the plan.

sst1234 · 04/01/2021 12:49

What did your line manager say?

Original poster
Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 12:52

@Callipygion that's what I assumed. The plan is that one day I will have my own team. We haven't hired anyone yet though.

I think the CEO (who isn't my line manager) has decided there's more need for skills in the new department I'm moving to

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Jangle33 · 04/01/2021 12:53

Clearly they don’t want you in that department and need you elsewhere. Assuming it’s not eg law where you need to spend a minimum period somewhere, I think you roll your sleeves up and be grateful for the job!

Original poster
Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 13:04

Yea I understand it's all down to business needs but didn't expect for things to move so quickly!

OP posts:
unfortunateevents · 04/01/2021 13:27

At the end of the day, you are going to have to step up and take control of your own destiny here! Do you have a plan for what you need to achieve in each of these departments, have you shared it with your new line manager, have you achieved any of that in the time you were with the initial department? If you have things you still need to learn, you will have to go back there which probably needs to be after a discussion possibly involving you, the head of department and your manager.

Original poster
Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 13:59

I just spoke to the CEO and yes it's all down to business needs but there are no clear timelines.

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ZoeTurtle · 04/01/2021 13:59

You're going to be leading a whole department; you can't be so passive! Take control of the situation. Work out what you need to know and then form a plan for getting the information. Tell whoever's in charge of you what your plan is and what support you need. You can't just wait to be told what to do when you're the boss.

Unhomme · 04/01/2021 14:07

How old are you?
How big is the business?
How big will your dept be?

Orf1abc · 04/01/2021 14:08

Do you have the requisite leadership experience, and these 'internships' are for an overview of each area?

Original poster
Backtoworkk · 04/01/2021 14:26

I'm 36, there's a total of around 100 employees. My department is nonexistent at the moment, but it will grow depending on the needs. I've been.moved to content now as that's how we're attracting new customers. So the more customers, the more need for my own division. That's the logic anyways!

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