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Work Situation - talk to me (long...)
My office has it's fair share of prima donna's - I'd say at least half of which are middle aged males. Our working environment is also what I like to refer to as a "cube farm". Lots of cubicles and the cube walls come up to your waist or so...they are short walls, and yes it sucks as bad as it sounds. Supposed to promote communication but I think all it promotes is people cussing at each other.
Now to my point. I suppose you could say I got "promoted" from engineer to lead engineer for my group on this next project. As a lead, you have to manage everyone's work load, manage the hours charged to the job, backcheck work, meet with clients, yada yada yada. (Also note that I have 4 years of experience with the company and that's straight out of school...so I am kind of young to be in this position).
Up until yesterday, I was sitting in this *sweet* cubicle (sarcasm) that was right next to the printer, at the corner of where two aisle ways met, close to the "gum container" which people frequented often throughout the day... major sources of distraction. Plus people just felt the need to talk to me every.single.time they walked by...probably so they could look at my bewbs, but I digress.
Yesterday I got moved into an office by the project manager and engineering manager. Several people came by asking how I got the office or making wise cracks about "kissing bottom and moving up". Har-har. I totally expected that since some other discipline leads (who aren't engineers) still sit in cubes. I also expected some people to be sore about the fact that I got moved into an office (apparently everyone wants an office, it's a prestige thing I guess).
I expected all of this but I just really don't know how to gracefully handle it all and not piss people off. I didn't ask for this and if I were in their positions, I might be a little frustrated too. All I needed was a place that wasn't the social gathering spot of the year (or proverbial water cooler, if you will). I hate being the focus of attention (much less, negative attention).
So, if you were me, WWYD? Just act like it's no big deal? That's my current game plan...
Re: Work Situation - talk to me (long...)
...and FWIW, I realize that some of you are probably like "OMG, is this the biggest issue in her life? I got vomited on at least 2 times before leaving the house this morning and my children will.not.nap."
So if it's any consolation, I do realize that many of you out there have much larger fish to fry and the things I put out there are pretty low on the proverbial "life's a beach" totem pole.
work drama sucks! It's like, you're just there to do a good job and get paid, leave the other crap at home, you know?
Anyway, I think everyone's reaction is sour grapes. Engineering can be pretty male-centric so I'm sure some of it is "she's a woman and she gets this job...." and then there is the age/experience thing.
However, just remember that you wouldn't have been given the role if you weren't the best person for the job. CONGRATULATIONS!
If it were me, I'd ignore it as much as possible. If someone asks 'how' you go it I'd just shrug or something. If people make a big deal asking about life in an office or whatever I might just be like "it's quieter" and leave it at that. So, yea, totally act like no big deal.
I agree with Naylon. Also being in an engineering field, where we are in cube land (and just moved to more cube land, we were all in separate offices of 2-3 per office). The conversations you hear. Some are work related. Some are people just wasting time. But I do prefer cube land over offices because I can over hear work conversations and can add my 2cents and can easily be included when it is a new design.
You deserve this. They would not have promoted you if they didn't know you could handle it and have not proven yourself in the other stuff you have done! Congratulations!
With this promotion, could you be on the phone more often? I see people get offices who need to be on the phone so 1-they don't disturb other coworkers with one sided conversations and 2-can talk to clients easier without having to talk over the conversations going on in the background.
Enjoy your quiet work space with little distractions!
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Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Definitely more phone time - long conference calls and such that I could multitask and do work at my desk while listening to the call. On the last project I had several phone calls where I, unfortunately, had to have a pretty stern conversation with vendors because they were dropping the ball (thereby making me look like a buffoon). ...when I hung up the phone, basically the whole cube farm said "So, I guess that didn't go so well for them, huh?" ... things like that should be done behind closed doors.
This is the perfect excuse then (mainly because it's true!). Congrats on your promotion, and the quiet office!
My company has serious drama over offices...so much so that during our last office move they even stuck Directors and VPs in what we jokingly call officles (cubes with doors, but they are open to the air - no ceiling). The only people in true offices were those who needed privacy or quiet - developers, sales execs, the CTO and the CEO. It was fairly comical...people got way too upset over it.
First: Congratulations!!! Especially in the male-centric engineering world this is awesome!!
Weren't you telling us recently that you were having to go back and double check someone else's often sloppy work? Or am I thinking of someone else....it's hard to keep things straight when lurking from work.
I would just shrug and say something about how you were pleasantly surprised that all your hard work was recognized.
Our office is similar in that we have a select few who get offices and we always have the great "Well If I had a door I could shut" arguments around here. I think there is a lot of jealously around that stupid door.
Honestly, I have no advice as to how to handle it aside from if you get frustrated just say, "I didn't make the decision." and then walk away.
All in all, congrats on the mini promotion, that's exciting - don't let others get you down.