Afraid to take on this new assignment (Full Version)

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savedbylove112 -> Afraid to take on this new assignment (3/3/2008 3:57:13 PM)

The place I work has been bought by a new company, and they want to get heavy into a "Web presence". I don't know too much about techy-Web stuff--I get online and surf, and I can find stuff pretty well, but I can't program or write code or anything like that. Still, our department is looking for an Online Managing Editor, and rather than hire someone from the outside (and incur the extra expense of paying another salary), the big-wigs suggesting having someone currently on staff do this. After asking a couple of others who turned her down, my boss asked me if I wanted to tackle this.

Now, I REALLY did NOT want to. I read the Job Description she gave me that they were going to use in a job posting, and it is SO not me. But my boss feels she can trust me with this--she seems to think I have this Web-savviness--and she seemed at the end of her rope. She's been really decent to me, and I didn't want to let her down, so I agreed to take it on.

Now I'm regretting it, and I'm thinking of going back and telling her that after giving it more thorough thought, I may not be the best person for the job. I mean, if I thought I COULD do it, I'd certainly try--but I DON'T think I can do it. I don't have a mind for things techy--I'm an old-school editor--I love words and will do what I can to help, but I don't want to take on such an overwhelming position, only to have it crash-and-burn at my (and my boss's) feet, and she gets torn up for putting such a bubble head (me) in such an important position.

Should I at least TRY to tackle this? BTW--she said she'd try to get me some extra income for this, but she can't guarantee it. My main concern is blowing it because I just don't have a techy-mind. Thanks in advance!



rainbowtvp -> RE: Afraid to take on this new assignment (3/3/2008 8:12:16 PM)

I'm not exactly sure what your job will entail... but if it is just setting up and maintaining a website- You CAN do it. It is surprisingly easy now. If you can use MSWord, you can use MSFrontpage! If you can upload/dload files, do attachments, etc- you will be fine.

Ask if they will send you to some training courses.

So I vote for try it!

I took on a similar position at work- for a similar reason. I have a clinical background... a degree in psych... but since I know more about computers than most of the others on staff (and no one else wants the job!)... I was given the task of working on our MSAccess database. I also was given the job of creating the manual and have gotten other writing & technical tasks, even though that isn't really where my degree & experience are.

Honestly, there have been a couple of specific tasks where I tried and had to yield the project or at least seek out assistance. BUT even when it hasn't gone perfectly or smoothly, my boss has been grateful that I have at least tried. AND a lot of the tasks have been highky successful! It has made me so much more confident in my abilities.

The funny thing is... even though I didn't want this and didn't feel qualified to do it... I have actually found out I like doing these things!

Tara P



stimulus -> RE: Afraid to take on this new assignment (3/3/2008 9:38:52 PM)

Hi, I manage the website for my department, as well as developing websites and writing for them as an independent contractor. So I know what we're getting into. [;)]

What kind of website does your company currently have? What specifically are they wanting you to do?

If your company already has a website and they only want you to write new material for it, then publish those pages, you can certainly do that. If they are wanting someone to develop a new website from scratch, you might be in over your head.

You don't have to "program, write code, or anything like that" to create Web pages and get them online, provided you have the right tools. What software are you using to create Web pages?

Depending on the goals of the website and what resources you have available (software, training, etc), you might be able to pull it off. Online Managing Editor sounds like the job is primarily content-oriented, not technical or design, so that's good. But tell me more.



savedbylove112 -> RE: Afraid to take on this new assignment (3/4/2008 10:32:54 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stimulus

What kind of website does your company currently have? What specifically are they wanting you to do?



That's just it--I have no idea! I can post a link for it My Job's Website, but they keep talking about re-vamping the whole thing anyway. I have an idea of what they want to do, but I have no idea how I'm supposed to help do it. I told my boss I would be willing to try, but I just don't want to total mess it all up, and them someone rains down on HER for recommending me! [&:]



stimulus -> RE: Afraid to take on this new assignment (3/4/2008 8:51:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: savedbylove112

quote:

ORIGINAL: stimulus

What kind of website does your company currently have? What specifically are they wanting you to do?



That's just it--I have no idea! I can post a link for it My Job's Website, but they keep talking about re-vamping the whole thing anyway. I have an idea of what they want to do, but I have no idea how I'm supposed to help do it. I told my boss I would be willing to try, but I just don't want to total mess it all up, and them someone rains down on HER for recommending me! [&:]


Google indicates that there are about 6,000 pages on your website. Google's numbers are often 2-3 times the true number of pages on a site, but regardless, you're talking about a pretty large website. Are you supposed to be overhauling the website on your own, or is there anyone else involved?

Your site is dynamically generated, which can make the pages easier to update. However, it requires more technical skill to setup or overhaul that kind of website. You've also got some ecommerce portions of the website (like registering for classes) that require additional knowledge.

If they are just wanting you to change the text on some of the pages, you can learn how to do that. But if they are wanting the site dramatically changed, they need to spend some money. Expecting you to do that part-time while managing your other work, with no experience, is ludicrous.

Whether or not you can pull it off depends on what they want done, but I wouldn't commit to the project unless you get them to commit to giving you the resources (money, personnel, time) to actually succeed.



savedbylove112 -> RE: Afraid to take on this new assignment (3/26/2008 1:11:37 PM)

Thanks for the professional input, stimulus. I think they just want me to help with the text, although the way they described it made it sound a whole lot worse. I just don't want people to think I can do something I can't do.

The weird thing is--I'm over here, and it's been about 2 weeks, and I haven't even started training on this yet! And they tell me they can't start training me for maybe up to 3 months! [:@] I'm like, so what was the big rush? I'm starting to think about asking them to go ahead and hire someone who knows what they're doing in the next 3 months, rather than try to train me on it and have it go down in flames. [8|]



stimulus -> RE: Afraid to take on this new assignment (3/27/2008 10:41:48 PM)

A website of that size likely could use a full-time editor. That's a lot of content for you to edit and update on your own.

Good luck convincing them!



savedbylove112 -> Great. Now my boss hates me. (4/8/2008 5:14:42 PM)

After being in this department (Web) for a few weeks and attending several meetings with these nice people, it has totally dawned on me that I have bitten off WAY more than I can chew. It seems there is a LOT more involved in this position than my manager thought, and I'd have a better chance of waking up 100lbs lighter tomorrow than being able to do all that this job requires in the time they require it. I mean, I'm not stupid, I just don't have a quick head for techy stuff, and they need someone who knows this stuff NOW. I told them, you need someone who can walk and run, and I'm barely ready to crawl. And they certainly don't have time to baby me on this. So I approached the head Web guy and explained this to him, and he seemed glad that I came to him when I did (I told him, better now than 2 months down the road, when you really need me to do something I really can NOT do).

Then I had to tell my boss. She was NOT happy. Apparently, she thought there was less involved with this position than there really was, and she is kinda miffed because she was so ready to recommend me for the job, and here I am backing out. But I explained it to her like I did the Web guy--they need to me know how to do this stuff NOW and I DON'T and they don't have time to teach me. They thought I was someone I'm not--someone my boss hoped I was able to be.

Then boss-lady talked to Web guy, and I think she finally understands that I had taken on something I was incapable of completing. I think she's still mad at me for accepting, though, even though I didn't feel ready at that time. But at that time, I thought it was what SHE thought it was, and THAT I could handle. But we both thought wrong, and thank GOD for giving me the wisdom and humility to admit I couldn't do it before things really got sticky! I just hope my boss gets over being mad at me.



stimulus -> RE: Great. Now my boss hates me. (4/8/2008 7:05:42 PM)

I'm glad you've made it clear that you can't do the project. I hope things with your boss blow over. Just keep trying to reiterate that you thought, based on what she told you, that it wasn't that hard\large of a project. If things do get sticky, the Web team would be a good resource for you, as they can probably help explain what you had thought it entailed and why you can't do it. Get them to back you up if you really need to.

The odd thing is, I'm in a similar situation right now at my job. I do graphic and Web design for a Christian ministry. Lately, my bosses have been wanting to do more video projects than the organization's single video guy can handle. They seem to think that, because I do "creative stuff on a computer" and video editing is little more than that, I should be able to operate a video camera and edit video footage.

The analogy I'm using is to say that is like expecting your dentist to be able to determine the right prescription for your eyeglasses and diagnose and treat your sinus infection, just because they are all in the health care field.

Not only do I not have the skill to do the work, I don't have the time to learn it or do it once I learn. I have a full plate already, especially since my boss was let go and I've taken on more management functions as well as the creative work she did. I'm been really blunt with my new boss - no, I don't know how; yes, I have the ability to learn how, but not the time; no, I can't do those projects; if you don't hire someone to do it, it won't get done.

Sometimes, you've got to say no. :)



savedbylove112 -> RE: Great. Now my boss hates me. (4/9/2008 12:46:37 PM)

Thanks again for your encouragement, insight, and advice, stimulus. I really needed to vent and have someone who understood where I was coming from. I feel bad for my boss, because she thought the job was something other than it was, something simple that I could handle--but after being here and getting the feel of things, I think she misunderstood, and she's not liking being told that one bit. [8|] So they're working on putting me back in the editorial pool full-time, but still no mention of me being considered for the Associate's position I mentioned in my other post. I'm not holding my breath, but I am keeping my resume current. [;)]



rainbowtvp -> RE: Great. Now my boss hates me. (4/9/2008 1:27:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: savedbylove112
but still no mention of me being considered for the Associate's position I mentioned in my other post. I'm not holding my breath, but I am keeping my resume current. [;)]


Have you asked them to consider this?

Tara P



savedbylove112 -> RE: Great. Now my boss hates me. (4/11/2008 9:40:26 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rainbowtvp

quote:

ORIGINAL: savedbylove112
but still no mention of me being considered for the Associate's position I mentioned in my other post. I'm not holding my breath, but I am keeping my resume current. [;)]


Have you asked them to consider this?

Tara P


In a way--in my other post on this, I think I mentioned that I applied for the position externally (via Monster.com), but when my manager saw that I had applied, she assumed I was "surfing the Web" looking for a new job! I told her NO, that we had talked about getting approval for a new Associate Editor position in a meeting, and since I knew the opening was happening, I went looking for it and "threw my hat in the ring." She says, "That's not how the big-wigs will see it." [8|] I don't know if that's just a scare tactic or not.

Meanwhile, at the fax machine this morning, I saw she had received a resume from someone for this position. I couldn't help but notice--he wants TWICE what I currently make! Wonder if he gets hired? [:@]



rainbowtvp -> RE: Great. Now my boss hates me. (4/12/2008 2:10:35 PM)

I actually agree with her, that it would seem odd that you applied through Mosnter... The appropriate thing to do would have talked directly to your supervisor or whoever does the hiring and apply/submit the resume internally.

As for how much the guy wants- I would be more concerned about his qualifications. How do those compare to yours? Businesses will typically offer more to people with more education or experience up to whatever point a position is worth to them. If he is the most qualified candidate and his desired pay is with the range they are willing to pay... he will likely get it.

Tara P



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