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Original poster

I am so fed up of being patronised by consultants

12 replies

OrmIrian · 22/01/2008 17:32

I work in IT. For a food manufacturer. I've been at the same place for years and I've done a variety of jobs. Anyone who knows me knows that I've done pretty amazing stuff (though I say so myself ). Recently we have started replacing all of our legacy systems and we are overrun with consultants. All of them male. From where I sit they have decided that since I work part-time I am of no consequence at all and because I don't have time to hang around talking cr*p and willy-waggling with the boys.

At the moment I'm involved with a project that I could do alone more or less standing on my head but I've been placed as part of a team under my immediate manager who doesn't have the knowledge that I have or the time TBH. I went in to work today specifically to attend a meeting - "you've come in just for the meeting have you?" was one of the comments on my arrival accompanied by raised eyebrows. Well yes, I am involved! My manager made the progress report for his team, amply supported by technical details from yours truly. But there was not one single thing I said that wasn't addressed back to my manager as if I was a child that needed adult backup. Every time! I felt like getting my MP3 player out of my bag putting it on and saying 'when one of you actually want to listen to anything I have to say, let me know!'

And what's with the irritating managment speak! I hate it. I think my boss must have had The Glossary of Arsey Office Speak for CHristmas. The completion of a project is a 'hand-off', a problem is a 'stand-off' or a 'roadblock'...What is wrong with using normal words?? I wonder what a j*rk-off could be ????

I am so cross I want to scream.

OP posts:
Twiglett · 22/01/2008 17:36

can you send your manager (and her / his manager) an email saying that you are a valuable and you believe crucial member of the team with unique skill set and experience and that you wanted to let them know that you do not appreciate being talked down to by consultant nor side-lined by other team-members.

Twiglett · 22/01/2008 17:37

bear in mind that 90% of IT consultants are twats

bossykate · 22/01/2008 17:37

start working on your cv and try for another job?

Original poster
OrmIrian · 22/01/2008 17:37

I might. Actually I might send one to the new head of group IT. He fancies me

OP posts:
Original poster
OrmIrian · 22/01/2008 17:39

Oh lord - that's a can of worms bossykate. If I leave there I will have to do major commutes to stay in the industry and atm I get to do school runs and work from home. If I leave here I will seriously have to think of doing something completely different. I have been TBH but the money thing is freaking me out.

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bossykate · 22/01/2008 17:46

no harm at all in sprucing up the old cv, testing the market and doing a few interviews. if anyone makes you an offer, you can make the case for pt working - they can only say no and provided you are discreet about it, you won't have lost anything.

i think women, myself included, let themselves get crapped on for the sake of maintaing pt work.

bossykate · 22/01/2008 17:47

or of course you could make the head of group IT into your erotic slave and carry out your every desire...

silkcushion · 22/01/2008 17:49

Orm - if it helps DH is in IT in financial services and he thinks IT consultants are tw@ts too. They seem to be the major cause of stress in his workplace. I expect it is worse being a woman and , heaven- forbid part time as well.

I work in financial services and it is full of w@nky management speak which I am rapidly picking up . dh keeps pointing it out when I say it - I want to punch myself sometimes.

Original poster
OrmIrian · 22/01/2008 17:49

Yes we do!

Most of the other people in my dept have kids too but they also have a wife/partner at home. So they don't have to be sympathetic to my situation.

I know. I must have a go at the CV. But I really really don't want to do anything like this anymore. I've only really stayed here this long because the condition suit me so well.

OP posts:
Original poster
OrmIrian · 22/01/2008 17:53

Hmm... I could do that. But he's of dubious attractiveness TBH

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Original poster
OrmIrian · 22/01/2008 17:54

silkcushion - that is the worst of it. You do end up using it yourself.

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Original poster
OrmIrian · 23/01/2008 10:05

Oh this gets better. I have now been 'pencilled in' for some training on the new system which requires me to find someone else to pick up the DCs from school for 3 or 4 days. DH can't without taking a day off which is too expensive. Parents would willingly but I won't ask them to do more than 1 day. I have to do this (they're 76 and live nearly 20 miles away). Ah well I'll manage but it's just more hassle.

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