Q. My boss wants me to take on a new project — honestly, I have no idea how to do it. It’s HTML stuff. I’m a creative person, not a techie. Can I push back?
A. Yes. Talk to your boss calmly. While it’s great you’re being tasked with this new project (and learning a new skill is always a good thing!), ask for support and/or resources. Will there be an online class you can take? Can you speak to an internal coder or shadow them?
You can’t be expected to do something you’ve never done before and do it well — that’s setting you up for failure.
Additionally, if you don’t have bandwidth and you’re already swamped with an intense workload, mention this to your boss. Who will support your other work (maybe lean into resources from other departments or hire a temp) so it gets done while you focus on HTML? I’d be curious to hear why you’re being tasked with this since it’s not really adjacent to what you do — maybe there’s an underlying organizational reason, but overall it sounds like a good thing to learn a new skill. Plus, your boss has faith in you. I’d just be concerned about jumping in without any preparation and also about being overworked.
Q. I’ve been a dedicated employee of a small nonprofit for more than 20 years. Due to management changes, and a resulting toxic work environment, I’ve decided to seek another job. Given my length of service and (presumably) relatively good terms of departure when the time comes, do I owe it to my employer to give more than the typical two weeks’ notice? I want to be considerate of my current and potential employers. Secondarily, I’m afraid that my length of service at this job may actually work against me for future employment, rather than in my favor. How do I counter that, if it seems to be a concern?
A. I’m sorry to hear about the toxic work environment, but that’s great you’ve been a dedicated loyal employee and you’re ready for the next chapter. You don’t owe it to them to give more than the typical two weeks’ notice when you leave. Also, I would tie up loose ends, not leave them hanging, etc. so everything is tied up in a bow when you depart and thank them for the opportunity to work there so your exit is wrapped in a positive note.
Second, this is a valid concern. Although it sounds counterintuitive like, “Congrats, you’re a loyal employee of more than 20 years!” many employers actually do see this as a red flag. When I worked in corporate recruiting, hiring managers were often concerned that candidates were stuck in their ways, unable to adapt to a new and unfamiliar work environment, etc.
To counter that concern, on your resume and during interviews, make a point of highlighting the different roles you’ve had during your tenure. If it’s been the same role or a couple of roles, then highlight the different responsibilities you’ve taken on and what new skills you’ve picked up along the way, how you’ve grown, how you’ve evolved and most importantly, how you’re able to quickly pick things up and assimilate into a new culture.
Tribune News Service