What Does My Boss Want?

[Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 10:55
Last edited 20/03/2017 - 14:28

Hi guys,

My boss told me that I am not performing my job as he wanted.
Long story short: I asked him what I did wrong and how can I do better. He said that he wants me to do everything by myself without needing to ask question or confirming what he wants.

I said OK, however what if I gave you isn't what you expected, or what if I made a mistake because I didn't check on you first?
He said, well I absolutely don't want that. Then I said: ok, so how do I give you what you wanted, without asking what you want, and definitely without making a mistake? Then he said, well that's up to you to figure out, and apparently you didn't, that's why we are here…. Then he told me to find a new job because I'm no longer wanted.

I don't think I'm being treated quite fairly here. How do I make some sense to this guy?

For info I work at a bank as an analyst.

Education & Work

closed Comments

        • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2017 - 09:55
          -2

          @iSamurai:

          Can't believe I missed that!

          The load on my grammar subroutine must've crashed my spelling programming. @_@

    • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 22:38
      -1

      I wonder how long you have been in the workforce to come to such a conclusion.

      A company willing to pay $100k would have done the needful to check someone out properly and ask the necessary questions from multiple people to select him as the best one.

      Have you ever been in an interview?

      • kywst on 20/03/2017 - 23:20
        +5

        A company willing to pay $100k would have done the needful to check someone out properly and ask the necessary questions from multiple people to select him as the best one.

        You just took me back to India with that one.

      • bobbified on 21/03/2017 - 00:37
        +1

        I've been to a few 100k jobs with big companies and despite hearing about "rounds of interviews", but each time, I've only ever had to have one with the direct manager. I might just be lucky!

    • syousef on 21/03/2017 - 10:09

      "Mid-senior level" isn't actually informative. Mid senior management? Mid senior technical specialist? Does he have direct reports? Huge differences in expectations there.

      Why would you assume the OP lied on his resume? There is a difference between not having your hand held and not being told what's expected of you in the first place. For example an analyst shouldn't need to have their hand held to go through an analysis step by step, but if they aren't told what they're meant to be analysing and they can't come to their boss with a list of areas of analysis to tackle and have the boss let them know which is a priority to pursue, I'd hardly say it's the employee's fault.

  • sammyla on 20/03/2017 - 11:42

    What kind of task you performed was not up to his expectations? you need to be specific. What is expected of you? what are your KPI's?

  • mskeggs on 20/03/2017 - 11:49
    +29

    While it is normal for jobs that are not introductory to assume you can perform autonomously, it is also reasonable to expect a manager to provide clear direction and feedback.
    Your post isn't worded very well, and that will make people think you might have a communication problem in understanding what the boss is requesting or communicating your work and questions. This is why some of the posts above are a bit unsympathetic, as people tend to be swift to conclude what the issue might be.

    My suggestions:
    - The HR department works to protect the interests of the business, not you. If it is at the beginning of your employment, there is nothing to be gained by the business in keeping you on if there is a manager saying you are unsuitable. While you can appeal for their involvement, I would not expect much help.
    - When you get a new task, ask all the questions you have at the beginning, and do so in email.
    - Accept that this is a bad situation for you and expect to find a new job very soon.
    - Be grateful that you aren't stuck in a job with a manager like this, take the opportunity to move on.

    • brazen00 on 20/03/2017 - 11:53
      +9

      As always, sensible suggestions from mskeggs. In particular, the second point about asking clarifying questions via email.

    • dazweeja on 20/03/2017 - 14:21
      +16

      "The HR department works to protect the interests of the business, not you"

      This is so very true. Unfortunately many people assume the reverse and learn the truth the hard way.

  • Findo on 20/03/2017 - 12:11

    Is it something technical you need to improve, eg your financial modelling skills aren't up to scratch? Was it your VP or MD that laid the boot into you?

  • bobbified on 20/03/2017 - 12:31
    +2

    I just had a thought - could it be your confidence level?

    I had a mid-level analyst previously who knew what was required from the role (because she'd been in that same role for almost a decade), however, she was too scared to make any decisions for fear of making a mistakes.

    That meant that every five minutes, I'd get an Instant Message on the system asking me to confirm that what she's doing was correct. Following my confirmation, she'd then send an email to get in writing what was discussed.

    It was annoying as hell.

    I pulled her up on it a few times and had I been her direct manager, I would've really questioned her suitability for the role.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 12:33

      I could swear I have much more confidence before this job, now it seems to hurt badly.
      I hope I won't be that girl in the next job.

      • bobbified on 20/03/2017 - 12:59

        Are you able to tell us your typical day at work?
        Is it the same tasks every day? Or does it vary?

        We might be able to tell you things from an outsider's perspective that you may not be able to see yourself.

        I was an analyst for more than 10 years and I now still work with a lot of analysts today.

      • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 13:13
        +9

        Are you trolling OP? First you say you don't want to be 'that girl', but in other threads you have claimed to be a '40yo office man, all your life'. You also claim to have an investment property, but 'have no skills' and are looking for a side job to earn '$200 a week'. You claim you have lived in this country for decades and hold mid level/senior positions, but your grasp of English is very poor. So please explain, what gives?

        • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 13:16
          +1

          troll for sure.

          good investigative skills

        • Ryanek on 20/03/2017 - 13:33

          I suspect they are a couple using the same account.

        • bobbified on 20/03/2017 - 14:17
          +23

          I think OP is saying that he doesn't want to be that annoying "girl" that I described in my post.

        • Tyrx on 20/03/2017 - 15:12
          +7

          First you say you don't want to be 'that girl', but in other threads you have claimed to be a '40yo office man, all your life'.
          but your grasp of English is very poor

          The irony in that statement….

        • Scrooge McDuck on 20/03/2017 - 17:34
          +3

          Are you trolling OP? First you say you don't want to be 'that girl', but in other threads you have claimed to be a '40yo office man, all your life'.

          Perhaps:

          1. OP's comparison is agendered. Referring to "that girl" only to specify the compared individual.
          2. OP is concerned about being compared to a child.
          3. OP is concerned about misogynistically being compared to a female.
          4. OP is concerned about genderismically being compared to a gender queer person.
          5. OP is gender queer.
          6. OP is concerned about having their gender mistaken.
          7. OP is concerned about an unwanted sexual reassignment procedure.
          8. OP is concerned about undergoing the sequential hermaphroditic change of protandry following the absence of females — life, uh, finds a way.
          9. Some combination of the above.
        • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 17:39
          +1

          @Tyrx: Explain?

        • Godric on 20/03/2017 - 17:47

          OP please respond

        • wyrmy on 20/03/2017 - 19:34
          +3

          He was referring to the girl referenced by bobbified "(because she'd been in that same role for almost a decade),".
          Down with the pitchforks people.

        • zine21 on 21/03/2017 - 11:29
          +1

          you can usually tell when someones trolling - they will go out of their way to provoke others in order to get a reaction. In this case the guy could be referring to the initial comment who mentions the "girl"

          Second, if English is his second language then its not that odd for him to struggle with it (especially if he migrated later in life) - but still have a decent job.

    • try2bhelpful on 20/03/2017 - 15:21
      +2

      That doesn't sound like a low level of confidence, that sounds like she is making sure her arse if covered by getting in writing what was said and agreed to. She may not be happy about your attitude towards her, but if the midden hits the windmill she just pulls out the email and shows everyone that you agreed that was what you wanted. Be annoyed as you want, but she has years of arse covering emails just in case. I send follow up emails around conversations because there are so many people who say "no I didn't" when you call them on something and then try to shift the blame. I'm more than happy to step up, make decisions and get on with things, but you can bet I will make sure it is very clear what the requirements and agreed deliverables are. I can also tell you that if you went to her direct manager he/she would back her up for being thorough.

      • bobbified on 20/03/2017 - 15:49

        What you're saying is true - except it's not the case of covering her own backside. She just did not have the confidence to make decisions which is required in her role.

        As a Test Analyst, she should know what needs to be covered in the testing based on the documentation.
        There is the whole separation of duties thing that needs to be considered. The testing must be independent and she shouldn't actually be asking me, as the Lead Analyst (Lead, in Development), what should or shouldn't be tested. She should be talking to her own Lead to discuss the approach.

        Often, there's decisions aren't awlawaysthat need to be made where there's no right or wrong.

        I can also tell you that if you went to her direct manager he/she would back her up for being thorough.

        She applied for a Lead Analyst role a few months ago and her inability to make these types of decisions is what cost her that promotion.

      • iratepirate on 20/03/2017 - 16:16
        +1

        You are in VIC - it is lawful for you to record any conversation you are a party to. Install an app on your phone. Don't trust me? Get legal advice first then.

  • Skramit on 20/03/2017 - 13:08
    +11

    All your base are belong to Boss.

  • sparkles on 20/03/2017 - 13:27

    In short: he wants you to become a MIND READER. Find a new job, life is too short.

  • Ughhh on 20/03/2017 - 13:32
    +5

    9 months in a mid level role is more than enough time to know your bosses standards, what is expected and able to work without someone babysitting you. You're not working smart.

    • troy1976 on 21/03/2017 - 13:56
      +1

      I tend to agree with this. Notwithstanding that there might be some bigger issues at play here as covered in the comments already, if you are struggling to come to grips with your role by month 9 then it's probably best to cut your losses and put some serious effort into moving on.

      People can get caught up on 'what's right' or 'who's wrong' or just the understandable pain involved in applying for jobs elsewhere and starting at new places. I feel that. I have had those feelings myself at times (I imagine anyone who has worked in any job for any period of time would too) but experience has taught me that moving on is often the best answer.

      Boss or someone else high up doesn't like you? Move on
      Job doesn't seem to gel with your skill set despite what it was advertised as? Move on
      Don't want to accept a pay cut to go somewhere else? Buy fewer Ozbargains for a while and move on.

      Nothing's worth spending 40 to 60 hours a week in an environment where you feel hopelessly inadequate, under attack or waiting for another axe to drop.

  • kl2999 on 20/03/2017 - 13:38

    I think you boss want to get rip of you regardless you perform well or not. Time to get a new job pal.

  • ChickenTalon on 20/03/2017 - 14:37
    +5

    Firstly you:
    The best employees bring options and a recommendation to their leader when they have a question or are unsure about what to do. Demonstrating that they have thought about the problem, tried to work it out and are looking for the best course of action to take. They show initiative and bring solutions.
    The worst analysts come to a problem then stop and ask their leader what to do, they don't bother to think about the problem. There is little point to even having them around because they are more work than they are worth.

    If you are indeed working on problems yourself and bringing solutions to your boss then it's time to move on because…

    Secondly your manager:
    Sounds like an idiot. Some of the most unhelpful feedback I've heard, your manager should be very clear as to their expectations.

    that's up to you to figure out

    sounds like an absolute tool and that's a classic shi*head line from a boss. Definitely document this and raise if you find yourself being formally performance managed.

  • railspider on 20/03/2017 - 14:40
    +6

    Hey OP, can you tell us what your role/employer is so we can apply for the soon to be vacant position?

  • iratepirate on 20/03/2017 - 15:02

    Time to google "constructive dismissal" you have rights to defend against it.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 15:38

      Interesting…

      All the conversation was verbal and no email, no verbal abuse. All was said was that I think you should look for another job.

      Having said that, is it legal if I secretly use a recorder?

      • iratepirate on 20/03/2017 - 15:46
        +4

        NO! You are in NSW unfortunately. If you were in QLD I'd tell you to record away. Start a diary and note down everything that happens - it will stand up in court.

        You have not been treated fairly. Any reprimand that can lead to dismissal will come with a specific list of things that you are doing wrong and what you can do to correct this. If you can afford it seek legal advice NOW…

        Like drug dealers, with lawyers, the first consult is usually free.

    • troy1976 on 21/03/2017 - 14:06
      +2

      I don't in any way want to look like I'm warning against taking action against the company but I am.

      Unless you are in a position to retire, are moving to a completely new industry or heading overseas, think very carefully about using legislative mechanisms to defend yourself.

      In an ideal world, they are great. In reality, be aware that lots of unofficial blacklisting goes on once you rock the boat - even when what you do is absolutely justified by employers behaviour. Cases against big companies or government departments can be difficult to win and a small amount of compensation is very unlikely to make up for whatever you lose in future job opportunities cruelled by behind the scenes communication.

      Beyond that, you will also have a gap on your resume or an uncomfortable discussion about why you left your last job when you go to your next and potentially issues around referees. They can give a bad reference without actually saying anything that might land them in trouble - it's all about what you don't say or how you say it.

      I know this stuff happens because I've seen it myself.

      • iratepirate on 21/03/2017 - 14:43

        Any lawyer worth their fee will also inform you of the downside to defending yourself. Troy1976 is correct - and I personally wouldn't act until I had another job and an airtight case.

        Life is short and you need to pick your battles…

  • gummibears on 20/03/2017 - 16:24
    +4

    It sounds like you lack confidence in your results and/or how you present it. This leads to you always needing confirmation or approval before considering the next stage. I understand that you do not want to provide something that is sub-par or something that contains mistakes but your manager expects you to take responsibility for the work you deliver. If you don't have confidence in your own results, then question why it is so. Is there a flaw in your thought process or something you haven't yet considered? Can you address these issues? Proof read your own work, several times if necessary, to ensure that there are no obvious mistakes/typos. Also, your manager expects more of you and does not want to spoon-feed you.

    If I was the manager, I would detail exactly what I wanted from you and how you can improve. If things did not improve afterwards then I would tell you to find a new job.

    *All of the above could be completely wrong.

  • paralleltwin on 20/03/2017 - 16:26

    Boss sounds like he has his own problems lol

  • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 16:33
    +8

    What Does My Boss Want?

    Sex.

    • ravonda on 21/03/2017 - 18:59
      +1

      Oh no.. the comment below by altitudinous says "Any employee is there to take a load off the boss". Talk about timing…

  • altitudinous on 20/03/2017 - 16:47
    +5

    Your boss employs you to make decisions in your job without taking up his time. If you are taking up his time with tons of questions, then he may as well not employ you - he could just as easily do the job himself in the time that he is using now to answer your questions.

    Any employee is there to take a load off the boss, and act autonomously. If you are taking up your bosses time that he should be spenfing somewhere else, then he may as well not employ you and do the job himself.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 16:52

      this.

    • iratepirate on 20/03/2017 - 16:52

      So what does the boss actually do when all the weight has been taken off?

      • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 17:02

        Assign work to minions.

        • iratepirate on 20/03/2017 - 17:06

          Correct answer is 3) Profit

      • pilchard on 20/03/2017 - 18:01

        whatever my boss does I guess. 5+ years and I still haven't figured it out!

      • altitudinous on 20/03/2017 - 20:29
        +1

        Indeed. Profit, live the good life if you are at the top of the tree, e.g Richard Branson, Elon Musk etc. If your boss is in the middle of the tree then he is the same as you. He is doing the tasks his boss assigns, autonomously.

  • pulpfiction on 20/03/2017 - 17:35
    +3

    A great leader creates an environment where goals and objectives are clear, and control is handed over to the employees to get the job done. Most people are terrible leaders as we tend to promote through strong technical/hard skills, rather than leadership capability. So we end up with leaders who are great at doing a given job, but couldn't lead a team out of a paper bag.

    Somewhere here, the goals are not being translated or understood. My advice is to co-create clear objectives as a team and stick them on a wall (a super simple format is called Objective Key Results, it was created by Intel and used by companies like Google now days). Then get the discussion rolling.

    Now, if the manager expects you to create a plan by inference and doesn't like this approach, then they're a terrible manager and it's time to move onto somewhere better.

    Oh, and here is a great tube and book to get your manager and the team thinking (just make sure you present it in a non threatening manner):
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqmdLcyES_Q
    - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AFPVP0Y/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?…

  • djmm on 20/03/2017 - 18:33

    From the way you mentioned things I would gather you are one of those who need to ask for everything instead of try to learn and do things yourself. Perhaps you should try something lower level if you are not up to scratch for this role?

    I don't mean to bash you but there are surprisingly large amount of people at workforce who shouldn't be doing what they're doing and they got the job because they know how to bullshit well.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 22:42
      +2

      Yeah that's exactly what it sounds like - boss complains - can't give examples and instead of helping them do better makes the first suggestion that they should look for another job.

      Well read.

  • wyrmy on 20/03/2017 - 19:52
    +3

    Hey @fm, based on how you are responding to questions and how people are repeatedly asking the same/similar questions just to understand important details about the situation e.g. What is your actual job, what level of seniority you are in, what exactly is the boss doing etc I can't help but think that you are very much drone like in your approach. Its not just a language thing, it a recognition of what someone is expecting in their conversation in the very beginning and taking the initiative to understand and deliver.

    The boss definitely didn't approach the situation in the correct HR and regulatory way, but don't assume that means your performance was not up to standard. His incompetence and lack of patience is not a reflection of your competence. If fair work rules in your favour it might be because they are saying your dismissal was not followed in the correct way, not that you shouldn't have been dismissed at all.

    I'm sure you are capable in many ways and you shouldn't lose your confidence over this, but unless you provide some proper details on what is going on no-one outside your team/boss is going to explain why your boss feels that way about you.

  • itstuan on 20/03/2017 - 20:01
    +2

    Are you a female? any chance what he wanted wasn't work related? you know…
    If not, sorry I brough it up, just a thought.

  • ssyl9 on 20/03/2017 - 20:04
    +9

    Firstly, you might have misinterpreted what your boss means, and seeing English might not be your first language, you most probably did not get your point across. The boss might think you wont understand so left the convo as is since he/she might think the language barrier might be too much to penetrate.

    Judging by the post, I am guessing that you might be asking the boss open ended questions for him to make a decision when you encounter a problem

    This is the wrong approach.

    Presenting the problem is not enough, that is only enough for a grad position. For a mid analyst pos, I will expect more if I am the manager .

    when you present him with a problem to decide, you need to come up with the solution as well as why you think that approach is correct. All you should be doing is only informing your boss what is being done to problem.

    For example a dataset has a few lines with missing fields and the analysts do not know what to do with them

    Person A's approach:

    Hi <boss>, we have found some missing data for the report, do you think we should exclude those data or go through a separate dataset to obtain the missing data? Please let us know asap so we can start on that.

    Person B's approach:

    Hi <boss>, we have found some missing data for the report, however I have found the missing data is less than 3% of the total data that we are using. Since we have a strict deadline, instead of restarting the whole report again with a separate dataset, I think it is best we just see it as acceptable error and exclude those lines from the report. If you are ok with this we will get right on it.

    Who do you think the boss will like more?

    For A, the boss need to do his own analysis, come up with his own solution, and if anything goes wrong, its on him. This also means if anything goes wrong he will be doing all the work to explain why he made the decision.

    For B, the boss doesn't need to do anything but just nod. And also B owned the process and decision making which if something goes wrong B is the one who will take ownership and explain the situation.

    • eggnbacon on 21/03/2017 - 13:11

      Good evening Echo.

    • xwon123 on 24/03/2017 - 16:59

      Well said!

  • explosion on 20/03/2017 - 20:34
    +1

    Just to make your day little better.
    I have worked five years in one of the company at mid level and always not treated very well by my manager, though all my performance review been exceed expectation from the same manager ! Some time you deal with this kind of manager, some time you need to find a new job. Its simply up to you. If you think you are not performing same level as your colleague, job changing won't help.
    In my existing job, been a years now..My boss spokes to me once in fortnightly or more, just deal with it.
    Do what you can do in the day at your job and hope for the best

  • ihbh on 20/03/2017 - 20:35
    +5

    I once hired a mid-level analyst from a competitor. In the interview he answered all the questions with sophisticated answers easily (the whats). My mistake was not drilling down into more of the hows and whys.

    When he started working, he could only just reproduce the repetitive work (which would eventually be outsourced to India). He didn't show any initiative or judgement. For example, I couldn't form a hypothesis and have him check it out for me. After 6 months I started having long meetings with him, suggesting how I might break up the problem into smaller steps, but he still struggled.

    After a couple of meetings, I got to the bottom of what had happened. The competitors had used experienced consultants and to save on cost, the company hired him to do the grunt work at the consultant's direction. No wonder he could answer my questions with such sophistication (he was just parroting what he heard), but on the ones where he had never cranked the handle, he was clueless.

    Anyway, I had to start putting him on an action plan because he was earning $100k+ and I had a few very good junior analysts earning less than him that I wanted to keep by paying more. He ended up resigning.

    I've found Bloom's taxonomy useful to assess my capability over my first decade or so of work experience:
    knowledge > comprehension > application > analysis > synthesis > evaluation

    Where are you on this spectrum?

    • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 22:47
      +1

      It's great to see that you tried to help from the get go.

      This manager appears to give no insight into what OP actually did wrong, back it up with actual examples and explain how they would have done it / expected it to be done.

      But more importantly - instead of trying to help them (after 9 months of no apparent issues) - they suggest that OP looks for another job.

      • eyeballz2770 on 21/03/2017 - 10:04
        +2

        We have only the OP's word that there were no apparent issues.

  • UFO on 21/03/2017 - 00:08
    +2

    At the end of the day, the boss has 'suggested' you look elsewhere.

    Trying to get him to see the light and change his mind isn't going to help.
    Once you no longer have the support of your direct manager, its tough to stick around.
    Either they go or you do.

    It could be personality, it could be race, it could be the colour of your shirt.
    Whatever it is, it sounds as though its gotten to the point where there could even be some undermining going on, with other people not talking to you anymore (you also mentioned this in an earlier post).

    Cut your losses and get out.

    And word to the wise… yes there's racial discrimination laws. But good luck proving/fighting it.
    It's obvious English is not your first language, and if you have a boss that can't get over that point you're going to have a very tough time satisfying his requirements.

    Life is too short, look elsewhere.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2017 - 00:24
    +3

    One word: initiative.

    It's an insanely valuable characteristic employers look for these days.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2017 - 00:48
    +1

    she wants you gone unfortunately.

    You may not be doing anything wrong. ANZ are known for this shit. I bet you work for ANZ?

    Horrible management on multiple levels.

  • TheBird on 21/03/2017 - 01:24

    This may be your fault, this may be your managers fault.

    I'd bet the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2017 - 01:31

    It sounds like personality clash to me, you need some sense of direction or purpose and he lacks leadership. Try to leave on good terms but try to be assertive I'd say he probably shows those traits for work but doesn't enjoy it and you're demanding it from him, at least that's the story in my head.

  • boopaloop on 21/03/2017 - 01:41
    +9

    I've read through all the comments here and all the ones not being responded to by OP are asking the same questions that OP doesn't seem to want to answer. I think you know you aren't suitable for the job but still don't want to admit it to yourself and you're just looking for something specific to blame. IMO if you're not up to scratch after 9 months in an office job you simply aren't cut out for the job mate. Without you adding any more specifics to clarify the situation, I would guess that you are being treated differently now because you are a seen as a drain on the team… And people resent that you are getting paid to make their lives more difficult.
    Meanwhile, without the mean judginess I have accumulated from feeling that very resentment about some co-workers for years and unfairly extending it toward you- if your boss asks you to do something, don't ask them how or for specifics and a step by step procedure. That's your job to figure out. If you don't know where to start or aren't sure of how best to complete the task you should be presenting your boss with a few different options and ask their opinion on which way would be best before getting into it. Asking for an opinion isn't the same as asking for confirmation that what you are doing is right all the time. It's also ok to make some mistakes - 95% right but complete and on time is (in most office situations) better than 100 percent right but only 20% done and way over expected completion time. Fixing mistakes after they've been made is a hell of a lot easier than trying to fix something that hasn't been done at all!

    • CalmLemons on 21/03/2017 - 02:59
      +3

      Boopaloop is right.

      And here is my 5 cents. If you need to go on a discount bargain forum to ask what is wrong, you shouldn't be in that job. If it's been 9 months and you still don't get it, you shouldn't be in that job.

      TBH I've fired 3 (haven't extended the probation period) people like yourself in the past 12 months. The same reason being, once you've repeated a task I expect you to be able to do it without me even asking. When the problem is in front of you, solve it, don't ask for permission to solve it. Not everything needs to be written in black and white. At these higher pay levels, we expect you to "BE WITH IT". Don't stop, sit there, and expect what to be told next, when it is the same or similar task every single day. If you're being paid more than $80k (I'M BEING REALLY GENEROUS HERE), if a problem or customer comes up to you, at least be able to deal with it to a competent degree until it requires my intervention or an expert to attend to.

      I personally didn't hire the 3 people, and would not have in the first place.

      Don't do all the useless junk that some people are mentioning above like "what is my problem" - (answer is your problem is you if you don't know what it is) or should I do a secret recording (illegal AF and not usable). A company or business is a collection of like-minded people with similar beliefs in what they're doing to achieve a certain goal, e.g. make money, give great customer service, and they work AS A TEAM to get there. If you're not performing, it puts a lot of pressure on your manager and your team. It puts pressure on your manager cause he has to hear the complaints from your colleagues (YES THEY WOULD HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT YOU) and it puts pressure on your colleagues because you're either making them patch up your work or your poor performance makes them look like morons in front of clients.

      Find another job. *******Your manager said that to you as a favour, so when the next place calls for a reference he can honestly say you left******GOOD ADVICE*****, instead of giving the long winded legal jargon of saying they had to let you go and then answer "Would you rehire this person?" with the answer NO.

      Managers just want things to work as they should, they would not go out of their way to have to deal with another random card.

      • boopaloop on 21/03/2017 - 17:31

        Very good point that the team will most definitely have complained about you. As someone who resents some of my co-workers very existence, I am still very pleasant to them and we still have nice chats and giggles in the tea room. It would take a LOT to make an entire team change their behaviour toward someone in this manner. Race is obviously not an issue as everyone was pleasant to start with. Even if the boss is a jerk or not doing things correctly that still doesn't explain everyone else's behaviour. So either OP completely sucks at the job, is actually the one that is a major jerk (or to be kinder "is not a good fit with the team"), or has a significant body odour problem. Which is also a very real possibility.

  • Lockieasy on 21/03/2017 - 08:46
    +15

    If only your boss was a Spice Girl. He would tell you what he wants, what he really really wants

    • mskeggs on 21/03/2017 - 09:37
      +5

      If that was the case, we would know that if OP wanted to be the boss' lover, he would have to get with the boss' friends.
      Which sounds like another can of worms for HR.

      • syousef on 21/03/2017 - 10:18
        +3

        You lose the job once you ziggy zig ahhhh?

    • lostn on 21/03/2017 - 19:09

      a zigazig ah?

  • Pootie Tang on 21/03/2017 - 09:27

    I'm an analyst for a evil corp - All my work has to be approved by my boss due to the financial ramifications. So really I do the work and then he does it again. You just sound like you have a lame boss. I have been in the role 3 years and I still ask for help where required as I don't have the technical background to make calls. They knew this when I was hired. As per all the advice - write down what is said in meetings in front of your boss, that puts them on notice for not following proper procedure regarding trying to get you out. Sounds like you are on the radar and once on it, its very hard to get off. Some bosses don't like to be bothered, so just try working autonomously and see how you go. Not really great advice but just run the course and jump the hurdles when required and as discussed, ask where you can improve on a bi weekly basis or whenever you have your 1 on 1 meetings. Good luck.

    • Pootie Tang on 21/03/2017 - 09:28

      Also - don't be late……..ever.

  • FurnitureOnline on 21/03/2017 - 09:59

    If your salary is below $120k p.a, you may have a claim for unfair dismissal. Your manager has an obligation to provide specific targets/objectives/tasks in the course of your employment. It would be a breach to conceal such tasks/expectation from you and then dismiss you, relying on your failure to meet such targets as grounds for dismissal. Write notes of your meeting with your manager and send emails after each meeting to him/her detailing the general overview of the meeting and how you understood it. These file notes (and any correspondence between you and your manager) will form the basis of your argument against your manager and seek legal advise.

  • Glenn3103 on 21/03/2017 - 12:08

    I think it depends on how you are approaching your manager with your tasks on a day to day level.

    If you are approaching and asking directly what the answer is, I would get frustrated as you are expecting them to make the decision for you and not thinking for yourself.

    If you are approaching and proposing a solution to the task and want their feedback this is perceived differently as you wanting feedback if you are heading in the right direction.

    A saying that is thrown around at my work which I try and live by: "Don't contribute to the problem, propose a solution"

  • canleyheights on 21/03/2017 - 15:31
    +3

    Reminds me of a Seinfeld episode.
    Jerry is frustrated by his cabinet maker and just tells him to do the job without asking more questions.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vvWlZUYVOM&ab_channel=MFran…

  • OptimumCrush on 21/03/2017 - 15:35

    It sounds like you are too dependent on your boss/other staff. Perhaps you could make more decisions yourself and start using some initiative. Nobody likes to make errors, but it's the best way to learn.

  • Gristy on 21/03/2017 - 15:52

    End of the day if they don't think your suited to the job they have already made up their mind.

    Also from your comments it reads like English is your second language, so they could just be being racist and want somebody else.

  • eneloop on 21/03/2017 - 16:14

    How much do you earn

  • orly on 21/03/2017 - 16:26
    +1

    Your manager is saying that you need to take your own initiative to learn how to do your job correctly. When he gives you a task to do, it's up to you to figure out how to do it. Making mistakes is fine initially, BUT one must learn from each mistake and get better at it.

  • geddyup on 21/03/2017 - 17:17
    +1

    Really it sounds like you stink at banking & need to find a job at maccas!!!

  • lostn on 21/03/2017 - 19:09

    I think he wants you to use some common sense.

    Don't do something wrong, but don't ask every time to make sure you're not doing something wrong.

    You should know what is the right thing to do based on some experience and common sense. If you need to ask every time, you're not smart enough and that's why he's angry.

  • Thenarrator on 21/03/2017 - 20:42

    Hey man.. check out this post (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/289394) . I think we're in similar situations . Good to know im not alone

  • altomic on 21/03/2017 - 21:45

    8 years ago I was given a file load to manage at my current job.

    The file load was given to me at the as directed by my supervisor and manager. they determined what was given and how much.

    I kept up with the work. I was always up to date. it was good.

    After a year my manager reviewed my work completed and said i wasn't working hard enough. I stated that she had allocated me the work and I had completed everything that could be completed. She said I should have asked for more work. I reiterated that she allocated me the work load and she was my "manager".. she asked if I could help other employees with their file loads then that would be great. I said "no problem" and I did.

    I enjoy my job and they do provide a lot of flexibility, and I needed to be very flexible with my hours due to immediate family serious illness. they were very good and understanding when I'd get a phone all from home and the walkout of the office.

    And I did feel indebted so I went over board in undertaking other peoples work. not that I was making difficult decisions or undermining their positions/roles but undertaking the routine "tick and flick" tasks or tedious tasks such Ministerial reports.

    3 months latter my manager asked to see me. She said I was doing too much work. I asked if there was a problem with my work? errors or mistakes or sloppiness i.e. substandard. she said there wasn't a problem with the quality of my work but I was doing too much work?!?!?!?

    I just shook my head and settled in to a do my own file load and 10% more.

    and that has been fine for the last 6 years.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2017 - 23:32

      3 months latter my manager asked to see me. She said I was doing too much work. I asked if there was a problem with my work? errors or mistakes or sloppiness i.e. substandard. she said there wasn't a problem with the quality of my work but I was doing too much work?!?!?!?

      Public sector?

      • altomic on 21/03/2017 - 23:39
        +1

        yes, Public Sector.

        In a different job 2 years prior to my current position I also kept up to date with my fileload. my boss gave me more files to manage, which I completed, so I was then given more files to manage.

        After a few months I noticed that my file load had grown to almost double of my coworkers. I asked why this was so. I was told by my manager it was because I was completing the work.

        that was private sector.

  • congo on 21/03/2017 - 21:49

    I have worked for many large scale companies in the past.
    Normally there are AAA employees and there are always a few D employees that either don't like their job, or don't have the skills for their job.
    Most of the time, the company would provide them with a training program or move them to another department.
    If your boss hasn't given you a fair chance, then it isn't worth worrying about it. Take the package and find something better :-)

  • gummibears on 21/03/2017 - 22:11
    +2

    Sad. Another user bites the dust.

    • cantstanzya on 21/03/2017 - 22:18
      +1

      Ozbargain sure gets some strange ones.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 21/03/2017 - 23:33
        +1

        I hope he's OK.

        He might need to see an Analyst-Therapist.

    • frostman on 22/03/2017 - 08:26
      +1

      Why was she disabled?

    • yesiamcheap on 21/03/2017 - 23:01

      your tale sounded familiar

  • cuteduck on 21/03/2017 - 23:09

    I think this thread should be closed before it turns to "OzSacarsm"

  • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2017 - 23:22

    Better look elsewhere as you will be sacked soon

  • devnull73 on 22/03/2017 - 00:01

    Your boss doesnt like you.

    Just move on.

  • bchliu on 22/03/2017 - 07:29

    Bit late to the game in all this - but I'm going to quote Sun Tzu (because I'm token Chinese) from his famous "Art of War" as follows:

    “If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame. But, if orders are clear and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their oficers."

    This is a guy who every strategic leader / manager / commander / chief has looked up to in so many years since the book was written. A good manager will manage both up and down the chain effectively. It is known that effective communications makes or breaks someone's career. So bear that in mind.

    • Wally on 22/03/2017 - 10:50

      The question is what to do when one's superior takes on the form of water!? ;-)

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