Drowsy. Tired. Frustrated. I work for a person who has a lot of education, but has a severe lack of management skills. My "manager" wanted something three weeks ago, and I got it to her. It wasn't exactly on time, due to other problems in the office and the organization, but it got done in the shortest amount of time possible.
This project was stemmed off of another I was working on and was closely related. I was asked to replicate the process using only one different variable, which I promptly did. This took some time getting data, but I got it done, had it verified by a coworker, and sent it to my "manager". Two weeks later (last week), my "manager" sent the document back to me (via someone else) and noted a problem with it. I took it straight to her and told her that there was no problem; I just shouldn't have included that one piece of information; it wasn't relevant.
So she made up some case where it would be relevant and wanted the right answer by the end of the day. I was a big pushover and told her I'd try. I'm a good sport. For this one small change, I'd have to get more data with which I'm not familiar and use it blindly.
It took two people to decide which data was best (they've been here longer, so they should know). After thirty minutes, one of them found a nearly-two-year-old file on a CD somewhere, and said "...that should be it." Two hours later, it was time to go, and there were problems with the whole thing. This wasn't going to get done that day (Friday). My "manager" notified me and the guy helping that she couldn't wait around for us to finish, but she'd be in through the weekend and to leave it in her inbox. Two hours after that, we sent a "give up for now" letter along with the evidence of the (lack of) progress. We would have to start again the next week with other data.
Keep in mind that I wasn't given a date that she needed this stuff, or who else to talk to about it, or exactly the purpose of the analysis. I was not empowered to even make assumptions, because I didn't have the context of the project. I call myself "Internal Third-Party."
So we started late yesterday on getting new data from a more reliable source, and started over. Apparently, my "manager" needed this data on that day, and wasn't in the office. We looked very closely at this new data today and deemed it fit. I completed the analysis, took it to my "manager" and got a "...and you were aware that I needed this last week?"
"Yes," I replied, but I didn't tell her that she held the "wrong" shit for two weeks, when I could have got the whole thing sorted for her well before she "needed" it.
This is horrible. I hate that "manager." She's probably a good person, but she's a (what's the opposite of fantastic?) communicator. I know she expects a lot from me, but I don't see that as a burden until she makes me look like an asshole. Then it's a lot. I would love to do my work and have immediate responses to it so I can be a better analyst. I'd love a job where I can be creative and feel free to ask questions without getting shot down.
I see that this has become my outlet. I didn't want it that way, but you're reading, aren't you? I recently thought about writing on technology here, but I haven't had the time to read anything interesting. I promise I'll get 'round to it. After I read all those books, buy a house, get a baby, and settle down a bit. Then I'll keep you more informed.
No comments:
Post a Comment