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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Work - manager getting involved.

32 replies

Keepthinkingtoday · 30/08/2023 11:36

I work in recruitment and have done for the last 4 years. I recently started a new job, around 5 months ago and I’ve enjoyed it so far. I have a good “relationship” with my manager and I believe he’s happy with my work. I always try to do my best this is why I’m upset by what’s happened this morning.
I have formed good relationships with hiring managers and as far as I’m aware none of them have any complaints. When I started, there were 30 jobs, and now we’re down to 9 (not gloating, just trying to show that I do my best).

Anyway, there is one manager in particular that I have found difficult to deal with, mainly due to his expectations. He wants someone with particular experience which normally wouldn’t be an issue but most of the candidates have either lived miles away or job hopped. He’s not willing to consider someone with the right work ethic, attitude, personality, longevity in jobs etc. He would prefer someone who has experience even if they have only stayed in jobs for 2 months at a time (fair enough, that's his decision) but this is a minimum wage job and the right candidate with a good attitude could be trained up within 2-3 weeks. It’s just pure laziness on his part that he would rather someone come in, have a days training and then be left to their own devices.

Anyway, I made my manager aware of the difficulty with this site yesterday but that I’d keep sourcing. I logged on this morning to find an email from my manager (he’s visiting this site today) asking me to send “Jason’s” C.V over to said manager. No explanation as to who/where this person was from. Confused, I looked at the applications that had come in over night and there was a candidate with that name. I might have it the wrong way, but it’s just really annoyed me and made feel like I’m not doing my job properly. I’d understand if I had rejected this persons application and then my manager questioned me, but I wasn’t even online when this person applied. I would have sent his cv over btw as he is suitable.

I just would have appreciated the opportunity to do my job first, as he doesn’t normally interfere with my work. I’ve never given him a reason to not trust me so I just feel frustrated and unappreciated tbh. I know he is on site today so I’m sure this manager has said something to him and that’s why this has happened.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Tinkerbyebye · 30/08/2023 11:40

I think you are being too sensitive here. They have looked at the applications before you went in and asked you to send one quickly.

its no reflection on your ability. However if you are that upset then speak to your line manager

ShirleyPhallus · 30/08/2023 11:40

I’m a little bit lost on all the various managers but I think the jist of it is that someone has asked you for something and you’ve jumped to a conclusion about why they’ve asked you for it with absolutely nothing to back up your suspicion?

so my first step would be to ask your manager why they want that cv. Then take it from there

Original poster
Keepthinkingtoday · 30/08/2023 11:58

Thank you for your replies.

Sorry if I haven't explained myself properly.

I manage my own work load. I have my own roles that I recruit for (screen applications, book in for interviews etc) and normally my manager doesn't get involved. He has access to the system but doesn't check. The hiring managers on site don't have access to the system.

Maybe I've just taken it the wrong way, but it seems like a coincidence that he's on site today and then taken an interest all of a sudden.

OP posts:
Checkcurtains · 30/08/2023 12:00

Does your manager know Jason? That's what I'd assume.

mosiacmaker · 30/08/2023 12:06

Are you sure Jason hasn’t contacted your manager on LinkedIn or something to say he’s applied to the role, so your manager has asked to see the CV? Or he could know Jason already and told him to apply and now asking for CV in the system to jump Jason to front of queue.

Original poster
Keepthinkingtoday · 30/08/2023 12:06

@Checkcurtains I don't think so..

OP posts:
theemmadilemma · 30/08/2023 12:14

If I was going to visit a client on site, with outstanding open positions, and was in the position to check overnight applications so that I was aware of them prior to arriving on site (in case anything useful turned up - Jayson!) then I would.

Sounds like he prepared for the meeting well.

FooFighter99 · 30/08/2023 12:17

I'd assume that the hiring manager has gotten impatient and gone over your head

That's not a reflection on you though, they're just being a dick

Either that, or your manager thought he was helping get a difficult hiring manager off your back by looking at the cv's and suggesting Jason

IfYouMustThen · 30/08/2023 12:36

Could be a number of reasons. He might know him, someone else might know him. He might have just been nosing given that you've told him about an issue. I wouldn't take it to heart.

VivX · 30/08/2023 12:37

I'd assume that since your own manager is making a site visit that he'd looked over CVs on your system as preparation to the site visit and spotted Jason's CV.
Nothing to be worried or concerned about.

fruitbrewhaha · 30/08/2023 12:41

If your manager is meeting with your client, then it makes sense to send over Jason’s cv before he gets there. Your over thinking it.

caerdydd12 · 30/08/2023 12:43

"Hi manager,

I can see we had a candidate named Jason apply overnight, so not someone I've got round to screening just yet but assuming this is the Jason you mean, I've attached his CV.

Thanks"

You look helpful while also acknowledging it came in overnight and you've not sat on it.

WhatWouldHopperDo · 30/08/2023 12:50

I'm not in the same line as you but my Line Manager visits sites I support sometimes and, if there is an outstanding issue, she will have a quick look at it. If it's simple, she'll resolve it herself, if it's more complex, she'll say 'I know Hopper will be dealing with that, I'll get her to give you an update'

As long as your manager isn't bad mouthing you to the client, it's not a big deal. You might be over thinking it.

AnSolas · 30/08/2023 13:12

Keepthinkingtoday · 30/08/2023 11:58

Thank you for your replies.

Sorry if I haven't explained myself properly.

I manage my own work load. I have my own roles that I recruit for (screen applications, book in for interviews etc) and normally my manager doesn't get involved. He has access to the system but doesn't check. The hiring managers on site don't have access to the system.

Maybe I've just taken it the wrong way, but it seems like a coincidence that he's on site today and then taken an interest all of a sudden.

Anyway, there is one manager in particular that I have found difficult to deal with, mainly due to his expectations. He wants someone with particular experience ...
. He’s not willing to consider someone with the right work ethic, attitude, personality, longevity in jobs etc. He would prefer someone .... even if they have only stayed in jobs for 2 months at a time.... It’s just pure laziness on his part that he would rather someone come in, have a days training and then be left to their own devices.

Anyway, I made my manager aware of the difficulty with this site yesterday but that I’d keep sourcing. I logged on this morning to find an email from my manager (he’s visiting this site today) asking me to send “Jason’s” C.V over to said manager.

You asked for help by notifying your manager that the problem in filling the role was the manager. You are following the screening process your manager is in charge of. One of his KIP is low staff turnover in new hires. If not he would have approved you placing a new hire in the role every 2-3 months. At the moment your team are failing to close out a job which is available with no experience needed.

Your manager wants you to send a CV to the site manager. Thats a work place politic move.

Unless Jason is the perfct fit for the role the site manager will have to explain why Jason can not be trained to the minimum wage job.

Its in person and off the audit trail of written communication. I suspect that your manager is having a little chat with the site manager on how your team do your work and how the screening works.

JudgeRudy · 30/08/2023 13:29

Sounds like you're being a bit oversensitive to me. This is more about your manager and less about you. Maybe Jason is a friend of another worker or he spoke with him earlier and said he'd submit his CV and your boss was on the look out for it. He's stepped in because he's impatient, in a hurry or desperate.

In what way do you feel this is a slight on you?

slipperypenguin · 30/08/2023 13:46

Your being sensitive. If I was your manager and visiting the site manager today I would expect to give them an update and so would likely have a quick look myself. Having spotted the nee applicant he's asking you to get it in front of him before his site visit. Sounds like you have a diligent manager that is all

Original poster
Keepthinkingtoday · 30/08/2023 13:51

Maybe I am being over sensitive.

As I said before it is unusual for my manager to step in, even when making site visits. We're all responsible for our own roles and in the 5 months I've been here he's never involved himself. I didn't ask for his help either. We have a weekly catch up where I have to update him on all my jobs and I just mentioned it then but said I'd keep on sourcing until I found the right candidate.

He might know Jason but it seems unlikely tbh.
He would have known that I hadn't seen the application too as it shows the date and time that someone applied which was this morning at 7am and I don't start work until 9. I check applications every morning when I log on and it just seems as though I wasn't even given the chance to do my job first before he stepped in. Like I said, I would understand if I'd rejected his application but that wasn't the case and when he emailed me it just said "can you send over Jason's C.V to said manager" no explanation to who this person was or why he felt the need to step in. It just didn't feel very helpful, more passive aggressive if I'm being honest.

OP posts:
Original poster
Keepthinkingtoday · 30/08/2023 13:52

He wasn't visiting the site to have a meeting with this particular manager btw. Just to see everyone.

OP posts:
ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 30/08/2023 14:18

You've worked there for 5 months with no compliants.

This isn't even a compliant - it's a request. He obviously knew Jason had applied snd thought he was suitable.

I think you are making something out of nothing.

Original poster
Keepthinkingtoday · 30/08/2023 14:22

@ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees maybe complaint was the wrong word to use, but as I said he doesn't normally check the system so it just seems odd to me that he would randomly start after 5 months with no issues etc. He only knew Jason had applied as he checked.

OP posts:
AnSolas · 30/08/2023 14:32

Keepthinkingtoday · 30/08/2023 14:22

@ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees maybe complaint was the wrong word to use, but as I said he doesn't normally check the system so it just seems odd to me that he would randomly start after 5 months with no issues etc. He only knew Jason had applied as he checked.

You are only there 5 months and will not know the history of the site manager.
You are jumping to conclusions that it is about you or about Jason.
In the 5 months you have been there you have formed an opinion that the site manager is lazy and not managing the site.
Why do you think your manager missed that or has a different opinion?

Uncooperativefingers · 30/08/2023 14:39

Keepthinkingtoday · 30/08/2023 13:51

Maybe I am being over sensitive.

As I said before it is unusual for my manager to step in, even when making site visits. We're all responsible for our own roles and in the 5 months I've been here he's never involved himself. I didn't ask for his help either. We have a weekly catch up where I have to update him on all my jobs and I just mentioned it then but said I'd keep on sourcing until I found the right candidate.

He might know Jason but it seems unlikely tbh.
He would have known that I hadn't seen the application too as it shows the date and time that someone applied which was this morning at 7am and I don't start work until 9. I check applications every morning when I log on and it just seems as though I wasn't even given the chance to do my job first before he stepped in. Like I said, I would understand if I'd rejected his application but that wasn't the case and when he emailed me it just said "can you send over Jason's C.V to said manager" no explanation to who this person was or why he felt the need to step in. It just didn't feel very helpful, more passive aggressive if I'm being honest.

I think your manager has taken your notifying him of the issue as a request for help.

Very few people actually ask for help when they need it, just allude to finding something difficult. He sounds like he's being a proactive manager.

I get your feelings though because I am similar. K now say, "I don't want you to do anything, but..."

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 30/08/2023 14:42

Are you in-house or external recruiters? Either way, in your position I'd expect my manager to speak to me and the hiring manager to try to resolve the issues around filling vacancies at this particular site. It's way better than this is a new applicant than one whose CV you've had for ages and just not put forward.

linlinzet · 30/08/2023 14:45

I studied to become a manager and I really like this profession!

cameldigits · 30/08/2023 16:24

Jason obviously applied on the back of the manager's recommendation

Just be thankful for some progress

Recruiters usually have thicker skin that this. You