Say, mister. Will you stake a fellow American to a meal?

While I know it's not readily apparent by my postings, I really don't mind my job. Well, except for around the holidays. Every year, the week before Christmas, we visit each of our clients to deliver one or more of the following: a card, a poinsettia, and a pie. It is, perhaps, the most humiliating thing I do all year. Conversations go something like this:

"Thanks for spending $500,000 this year. Would you like apple, pumpkin, or pecan with your dying poinsettia? Oh, and don't forget your card. We couldn't pass up those $6.99/box of 16 cards at WalMart. Good thing we have that non-paid intern (i.e. the owner's niece) who can spend her whole day lining up the cards properly with the printer. We think it gives them a homey touch. Don't you?"

We never scrimp or go cheap on anything else all year, but this. The one time we need to throw a few thousand dollars at something and we start pinching pennies.

Think of me tomorrow, when your all snug at your desks, while I'm out sloshing around in three inches of gray slush.

Happy Holidays.
Mave

Hunter Becomes the Hunted

I've been recruited. Me, the recruiter, headhunted! I consider it answered prayer. I can even accept the position without violating my non-compete. I haven't told you the best news yet: I wouldn't have to be on a recruiting desk anymore. Heaven knows I'm a little burnt out on that.

I've been offered an operations manager position for a staffing firm in a different industry. Which is basically what I do now, but with more management responsibility and less recruiting aggravation. I get a budget, I get choose my own staff, I will have time to actually implement my ideas instead of getting pulled away to do all that pesky recruiting crap. Oh, and it'll pay about 20% more to start and go up significantly from that by the end of the first year. The official offer letter is coming tomorrow.

Now the hard part. I really want this new job, but I can't stand the idea of giving notice to my current boss. While I am completely taken advantage of in my current position, I have a few perks that make up for it: flex time, generous bonuses, a boss I can tell to go f*ck himself without fear of being fired, and great co-workers. If I could have the new position at my current place of employment I doubt I'd leave. Unfortunately, we're about a year away from it being possible and I'm pretty sure I won't make it another year in that blasted recruiting chair without sacrificing my sanity or inflicting physical harm on an unsuspecting candidate.

What would you do?

While you are a very talented and charming individual....

.....I couldn't hire you. Because. Of. Your. Socks. I think you're supposed to match your shoes to your belt - not your socks to your blouse. It takes the right person to pull of wearing pink cotton crew socks with a professional business suit and that's not you.

It's not me - it's you,

Mave