Negotiations continue. . . . or maybe Goodtimes. . . . no, the title is "took a whole lot of trying, just to get up that hill"

Well, I went and done it now. I threw down the gauntlet and dared them to pick it up. Some of you might be thinking I am refering to the semi recent rash of mean commenters that I had stopped by to visit, but I'm not. I'll give you the back story,

You may or may not have known, but I have not been too happy with my job lately. Pay, stability, management, hassle. . . . all very shakey and annoying for several months now. I could deal, but information came to light that put me on the job hunt. Basically, the company I work for is being bought by another company. No problem. Our senior management decided they wanted to start thier own company and moved 3 blocks away. . . . . I can see my old boss's window from my window. . . . . it just seems weird. Again, not so much a problem, or at least it doesn't have to be. Anyway, that leaves us Jr management positions in a prime spot to step up to Sr management. Right on! shorten that curve a little, I can handle it.

The thing is, the engineer with the most seniority couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the directions were written on it's heel (give it a second. . . . see what I mean). I would be next in line and a department head, but he'd be the head engineer. I wouldn't even have to answer to him. I'd rarely even have to consult with him. . . . but he would be responsible for client development and setting the production schedule. This is where the boat runs aground and starts to sink.

His level of dedication and attention to detail are somewhat short of mine. He also believes that rank has more priviledges than responibilities. I believe that the best leader does whatever needed to serve his clients and employees to promote a good environment and encourage production. He thinks telling someone to stick around for a few extra hours a night this week or stay til 10 pm is fine, but he's in at 9:30 and gone by 5.. He thinks if he goes and plays golf on Friday and misses his deadline, it's ok to turn it in late (apparently, the client won't care) or maybe the project gnomes will come in and do everything for him (little known fact - project gnomes are also known as jr engineers). Needless to say, this causes me to twitch and contemplate disembowelling him with a rusty piece of barbed wire. . . . . Maybe not that harsh, but there have been close moments.

Anyway, so I have been on the job hunt. I found a sweet position with another firm and we have been haggling over the offer package. Some benefits are a little better, some not as good, money about the same considering travel time and other intangibles. Really it would be making a lateral move monetarily and a small step back in opportunity, but a good jump forward in sanity. So, they made an initial offer. I told them they were below what I made now and I couldn't take a step back. They made an ammended offer that just barely eeks out an increase on the surface. With all the associated 401k vesting, insurance premiums, drive time, hours, fixed benefits, current situation, etc etc considered, it was really an even draw. So, I made a counter proposal. I made it a little step up in each consideration except for the fixed benefits, which I offset somewhere else. Basically, I made it a reasonable deal for them and a slight step up for me. Really the bargain is now about equal when you consider worth to compensation. . . . I know how much money I made the company last year, and their overhead costs. I know how much I am, in turn, worth.

Since I am not ready to start my own business and take over the world, I am waiting to see if they accept my counter proposal to their 2nd offer. I believe they will. There is the gauntlet thrown.

If they do, it will probably mean a loss of some of my blog time because I will actually have work to do. . . . yes, I read the paragraph up there too. I am being hypocritical to an extent. My work still gets done on time. My deadlines still get met (usually ahead of schedule). I put in my 40 hours, but put out 50 of production. So if my 40 turned into 34 of actual work recently, and my production is only down to 44. . . . I'm still a freakin bargain, so ptttttttb!