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Yet Another Job Thread - Someone brought over from another dept to my dept. and is made my boss, totally underqualified

A

Al Neri

Diamond Member
I will make this as concise as possible.

* Background:

This guy, Ted, is pretty cool.
* He is the son of a former big wig in the company who has since retired.
* About 6 years ago he worked for my company, and when he left his title was AVP. This is one of those company that gives AVP titles out fairly liberally.
* Left about 4 years ago and worked two other, unrelated jobs
* Quit and his father got him a job as a secretary/aide for a different department doing basically different stuff than my dept. about 6 mos. ago

Now

* We were looking to hire someone (basically to help me, since I do the work of 3 people)
* Interview about 4-5 people who are completely qualified with experience in the industry etc.
* Interview Ted
* Ted gets the job.
* My boss informs me today that he will be my boss. I am more than qualified than Ted to do this job.
* I know that I'm going to do all the work and he will basically say "ok" and pass everything I do along... that will be the extent of his job, he wont be able to assist me too much, until I, which I will likely have to do, teach him everything.

Now what this does is adds another hand into my department who is ahead of me with regards to raises, promotions, bonuses, etc.

I want to figure out how I can vocalize this to my boss without crossing a line.

Basically the run down is:

* Politics always wins, I'm not stupid
* I'm more than qualified than him
* I am at the job about 1 year.
* Agewise, I'm 25, he's about 34.
* He doesn't know anything about this job, maybe 10%

How can I say, boss, I plan on staying here for the long haul, now this is the second person since Jan. that they've bumped above me (the first one completely deserved it). Which sucks, because they can't just keep promoting people. I'm now behind the race with the two of them regarding money and job title. Basically, I want to know what is up with me in the future, both monetarily and promotion wise.

If I were to get that job (which I really wanted), he is either going to have to be bumped up or leave (which he wont now that it is nice and cushy for him)...

cliffs:
- Politics got a guy a position to be my boss, $hit happens
- I know more than he does how this position functions
- Now I'm behind one more person in terms of job level and income and bonuses
- wtf do I do? i don't want to go off on my boss.


my plan is to just basically say:

- I'm not questioning what happened and the hiring, but now this means that I am behind another person in terms of job level and salary and bonuses and there's only a limited budget in my group (my boss consistently tells me that). Honestly, what can I expect and how does this stand to effect my professional development, and my future salary and other monetary considerations?

ideas?

comments?
 
Even if I addressed it with HR regarding Nepotism....

a) they'd say he worked there previously as an AVP (so why didn't u rehire him as an AVP??)
b) It'd lead to problems with my boss that I really don't want.
c) ....
d) ....
 
Honestly it sounds like are low man on the totem pole.

You can say something if you like. Probably will have zero impact on what actually happens. Being qualified has nothing to do with title/position - it's all who you know.
 
Ask for your promotion/raise now. If you don't get it, leave and get a better position. Do it quickly so you won't have to train Ted.
 
>You can say something if you like. Probably will have zero impact

I think saying something would have an impact...they'll start looking to replace the OP.
 
idk, my boss is a cool guy...

i really can't afford to leave this job for one more year.

im stuck behind a rock and a hard spot
 
Be a lackey, do not teach Ted to do your job. When "your" Boss asks why things go wrong, refer him to Ted. Simple Office Backstabbing #101
 
Originally posted by: WHAMPOM
Be a lackey, do not teach Ted to do your job. When "your" Boss asks why things go wrong, refer him to Ted. Simple Office Backstabbing #101
Click to expand...

Very true. Don't teach him. If anything gets noticed, tell your boss that you expected your boss to teach you new tricks, not the other way around. Then, ask for your jobs to be switched so you are the boss and Ted is the subordinate.
 
Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
thanks for the ideas

although some are easy to type

not so easy to say to a boss
Click to expand...

Well you're basically spitting in his face politically, essentialy saying "I selfishly don't like your decisions"

Not something you want to hear from a subordinate.

I'd probably just tell you you need to work harder and gain more experience, then maybe you'll move up or get a promotion. Gotta dangle that carrot to motivate them.
 
quit and find another job. its always who you know, not what you know. screw this company. if you are so qualified, you should be getting a new job with 20% raise.

also if you get another job offer, you can get your current company to counter offer- if they don't, they don't really want you to stay anyway, so leave

 
Well, there is nothing you can do IMO that will be of benefit to you in the end. The last thing you need is your new boss, who's going to remain that way regardless of what you say, thinking you are looking down upon him. Even if he's useful as tits on a bull it's apparent to me that having friends is very important in a company, regardless of your performance.

Hate to be negative, but if you're as qualified as you think, why has your company not noticed this?

In reality, many companies make many bad decisions. In your case I would think you'll have to put up with this and either a) continue to try and do good work and maybe ultimately get a promotion or b) get a new job.

Many/most of us who feel underappreciated or underpaid do not try and change where we are but just get a new job. It's quick, loyalty means less and less these days, and it works very quickly. The second I felt I was being held down by a glass ceiling I would look for a new job. Sounds like you are, so the question is how ambitious are you really?
 
well if he is indeed your boss now and 'He doesn't know anything about this job, maybe 10%' then simply allow him to make all the decisions without your input

if he wants to burn down the building just nod, smile and say 'your the boss!'

im sure sooner or later someone will notice the incompetence...

although office politics usually dictate the one who knows how to run things will be the one fired...which in this case is you...so he might end up blaming you for everything...
 
Order a beer, take a swig, then spit it in the bartenders face.

OR

you could rise up and voice your opinion to your boss.

Both will have the same result....your @ss thrown out in the street.
 
Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
idk, my boss is a cool guy...

i really can't afford to leave this job for one more year.

im stuck behind a rock and a hard spot
Click to expand...

well then start practicing reaching down and grabbing your ankles so when it happens you can like it......
 
Originally posted by: Safeway
Originally posted by: WHAMPOM
Be a lackey, do not teach Ted to do your job. When "your" Boss asks why things go wrong, refer him to Ted. Simple Office Backstabbing #101
Click to expand...

Very true. Don't teach him. If anything gets noticed, tell your boss that you expected your boss to teach you new tricks, not the other way around. Then, ask for your jobs to be switched so you are the boss and Ted is the subordinate.
Click to expand...

Yep! This is the truth. Just backstab him. For various ways just watch the Apprentice!


 
Originally posted by: Fmr12B

Yep! This is the truth. Just backstab him. For various ways just watch the Apprentice!
Click to expand...

It's a LOT easier to blame it on staff and set them up to fail if there is a insubordinating threat. Apprentice is all about sabotaging the project manager - meaning the target is mislead.

A manager is not a project manager. He assigns the resources to the task and manages resources accordingly, if those resources fail he is absolved of responsibility. A good manager/director will shield himself from incompetant staff via constant documentation and status/resource reports. In other words, OP hasn't learned how to play the game yet.

Either you play ball, or you don't play at all.
 
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