Re: Hippity Hop at the Jobbity Shop

[Robert Plamondon <robert -at- PLAMONDON -dot- COM>]

>I can see in your first few years feeling out a few types of jobs and going
>for more money, but I still consider it the sign of a mature employee that
>he or she sticks with a job longer than 2 -3 years.

2-3 years is an eyeblink at some companies, but is hard time at others.

I knew of a guy who quit a mid-level marketing position at lunchtime on
his first day.  Given the degree to which he had been lied to in the
interviewing process, he probably stayed too long, and set his future
career back by a good three hours.

"Mature employees" know how to cut their losses.  Many (maybe even most)
high-tech companies habitually hire with the "things seem chaotic and
hectic right now, but they'll sort themselves out after product launch."
The faith of such people is touching, much like the dedication of a
person who walks up and down the street with a sign saying "The World
Will End Tomorrow" every day for fifteen years.

Of course, with a hot job market, the monkey is on the manager's back
to retain writers who will be comparing other people's transparent but
attractive wishful thinking with theirs.  When I was managing a Tech Pubs
department for a high-tech company, I always considered Job 1 to be,
"Keeping the Writers from Quitting," since I wasn't going to be able
to write all the manuals by myself.

So, my advice to managers is:  Take the initiative!  He who pays
the piper calls the tune!  Tell your writers you appreciate them and
give them a big raise!  Give one to yourself, too, while you're at it.
What the hell -- it's a boom market.  Better you should get a big raise
now and loyally stay at your desk than succomb to the bamboozlements
of a headhunter at some random point down the road.

        -- Robert
--
Robert Plamondon, President/Managing Editor, High-Tech Technical Writing, Inc.
36475 Norton Creek Road * Blodgett * Oregon * 97326
robert -at- plamondon -dot- com * (541) 453-5841 * Fax: (541) 453-4139