"Conformity isn't one of your strong suits": I was just denied a promotion...

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

Someone said to me, 'If you've been branded...you're done for.'

I tell people in my company and within my LOB, that the company is cliqueish...and if you're in the kliq [i actually will say KLIQ'D UP ] you're good...you will have a great career here...if not...you're done. You'll flounder forever.

constantly proven right.

 

[Kid McNamara]

sweeping decisions have been made about him that he's not going to shake. Agreed; its time to move on OP.

You can flip it but much like a relationship it's an uphill battle once they're onto you. You can possibly turn it into, "I took your advice and I have done thess actionable things to improve myself and my position in the company."

And also office politic until you can taste the booty hole of your higher ups.

 

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

and plus...CONFORMITY isn't something that should be looked for / rewarded / applauded. TEAMWORK should, and so should COLLABORATION but thats radically different from confomrity.

Plus job interiews in jeans? This doesn't sound like a company you should work for in the first place man...

 

[DaddyTime]

I also had one interviewer who I felt didn't want me to have the job regardless of how I performed, she snapped at me, 'Do you see this department as a stepping stone to get what you really want?' What kind of interview question is that?!?!?!

A couple of the other people in the room looked at her like .
.

They were all in on it. I feel these situations people ALWAYS come in with predetermined decisions.

When she snapped they were like "DAMN bytch BE COOL, WE GOTTA LOOK FAIR"

 

[WeSeeIt]

and plus...CONFORMITY isn't something that should be looked for / rewarded / applauded. TEAMWORK should, and so should COLLABORATION but thats radically different from confomrity.

Plus job interiews in jeans? This doesn't sound like a company you should work for in the first place man...

Who are you telling?! I was sitting there thinking, 'Let me get this straight, you DON'T want me to speak up if I think something is amiss?' Also, as far as their attire goes, I was under the impression that they were going to take the interview seriously. I wore a suit jacket and everything. It was only when I started getting odd questions thrown at me and scenarios that required SPECIFIC situational knowledge that I knew they weren't trying to give me the job.

 

[Kritic]

plantations suck. you'll build them just to be fired. i built 2 or 3 in the past..

 

[Kid McNamara]

and plus...CONFORMITY isn't something that should be looked for / rewarded / applauded. TEAMWORK should, and so should COLLABORATION but thats radically different from confomrity.

This here must stop.

Teamwork and Collaboration are tools for keeping you happy and complacent in your position, making money for someone else. Until you really learn the space and can truly generate large amounts of revenue on your own (or through your contact network), you should focus on conforming. Lower expectations slightly and then consistently produce above-average work (or, if you're a type A dude, try and be a superstar, this has drawbacks though).

If you're junior enough to be receiving the type of feedback OP got, you are likely there to learn the space and perform tasks, not necessarily generate revenue. I'm guessing he is not in a revenue generating role because, well, if he was, his sales would kill all of this. Once you learn the space and can provide on your own, you start branching out and doing your thing.
No one said it was fun, but it is office politics

 

[WeSeeIt]

I just don't like the corporate environment. It's poisonous in my opinion. Have you ever seen someone agree completely with someone 15 minutes prior, only to throw everyone under the bus in a meeting in an attempt to distance themselves from any fault or involvement?

 

[the cac mamba]

Then it can't be that great of a company then

with that many certs/6 figure employees

 

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

This here must stop.

Teamwork and Collaboration are tools for keeping you happy and complacent in your position, making money for someone else. Until you really learn the space and can truly generate large amounts of revenue on your own (or through your contact network), you should focus on conforming. Lower expectations slightly and then consistently produce above-average work (or, if you're a type A dude, try and be a superstar, this has drawbacks though).

If you're junior enough to be receiving the type of feedback OP got, you are likely there to learn the space and perform tasks, not necessarily generate revenue. I'm guessing he is not in a revenue generating role because, well, if he was, his sales would kill all of this. Once you learn the space and can provide on your own, you start branching out and doing your thing.

No one said it was fun, but it is office politics.

Focusing on conforming over collaboration? both are means to the same end; a collection of people working toward a company's greater chosen good over your own individual benefit..the former however supresses individuality while the latter brings individual points of view together.

I'm not promoting the HR-friendly "collaboration/teamwork approach" I was just commenting that this is what 'good' employwers look for over 'conformity'. You will, however, never get me to lower my expectations and produce above-average work. Ever. That does nobody, any good. Thats really bad advice man.

 

[Kid McNamara]

I just don't like the corporate environment. It's poisonous in my opinion. Have you ever seen someone agree completely with someone 15 minutes prior, only to throw everyone under the bus in a meeting in an attempt to distance themselves from any fault or involvement?

But you have seen this all of your life right? No need to complain about it. Analyze the situation and make an adjustment that leads to your success. Don't depend on your co-workers to be your friends. Have a life outside of work.

 

[WeSeeIt]

But you have seen this all of your life right? No need to complain about it. Analyze the situation and make an adjustment that leads to your success. Don't depend on your co-workers to be your friends. Have a life outside of work.

You definitely have a point. I worry about viewing colleagues as pawns in my own agenda.

 

[Kid McNamara]

Focusing on conforming over collaboration? both are means to the same end; a collection of people working toward a company's greater chosen good over your own individual benefit..the former however supresses individuality while the latter brings individual points of view together.

I'm not promoting the HR-friendly "collaboration/teamwork approach" I was just commenting that this is what 'good' employwers look for over 'conformity'. You will, however, never get me to lower my expectations and produce above-average work. Ever. That does nobody, any good. Thats really bad advice man.

Suppress individuality? What does that mean? "Good" employers are looking to make money, no matter what industry you're in. Everything else is company speak to which there may be some validity, but if you are valuable to your company (can help them generate revenue or gain business), you will be in a great position to succeed and maybe create your own destiny. Conforming doesn't mean blindly trusting leadership, it means learning your space, paying attention and putting yourself in a position to succeed within said space...especially if you are not in a revenue generating role (no one cares about your individuality).

Again, if you're a type-A who enjoys that abuse and can consistently meet those expectations, go for it. If you're looking to get ahead, the path is different and politics play a much greater role. Perform great for the first six months and buy yourself 2 years. Then look to lower expectations and produce above-average work. Save your best work for higher ups.

 

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

Again, if you're a type-A who enjoys that abuse and can consistently meet those expectations, go for it. If you're looking to get ahead, the path is different and politics play a much greater role. Perform great for the first six months and buy yourself 2 years. Then look to lower expectations and produce above-average work. Save your best work for higher ups.

We'll just have to dissagree and move on then. That is an awful plan.

 

[WeSeeIt]

This looks like I'm going to need an entire mentality shift in the near future. I always used to say to a few people, 'I don't do the cronyism thing. When I speak to you, it's because I have something to say to you. You should take comfort in the fact that we're having a conversation because I think you're cool, not because I have some ulterior motive or because I think I can get something out of you.' Maybe I'm just doing it wrong.

I've also had someone else say, 'Being nice is great and all, but if you don't have an agenda, you'll be eaten alive...'