Dear seniors,
I need your guidance on my unfavourable situation. This is going to be a lengthy one, so appreciate your time.
I am an executive assistant with 10+ years of experience in various MNCs.
Currently (from past 1 year) I am working in a company (family run business – partnership) as Executive Secretary. I chose this company as it is very close to my home, so that I could save on commuting time and could get quality time with my kid. When I joined this company, I was confident that I had made the right choice and more so because it was better than sitting idle at home. Soon, I started realizing what I had got myself into
Now, even though it is more than a year, I find it very hard to get used to this company, the style of working, ethics, etc. I need not use my brains. I need to just do as directed by the bosses (I had 3 bosses earlier, now 2 bosses – a father & a son).
I have realized my blunder of joining this company as I have made many adjust
From India, Bangalore
I need your guidance on my unfavourable situation. This is going to be a lengthy one, so appreciate your time.
I am an executive assistant with 10+ years of experience in various MNCs.
Currently (from past 1 year) I am working in a company (family run business – partnership) as Executive Secretary. I chose this company as it is very close to my home, so that I could save on commuting time and could get quality time with my kid. When I joined this company, I was confident that I had made the right choice and more so because it was better than sitting idle at home. Soon, I started realizing what I had got myself into
Now, even though it is more than a year, I find it very hard to get used to this company, the style of working, ethics, etc. I need not use my brains. I need to just do as directed by the bosses (I had 3 bosses earlier, now 2 bosses – a father & a son).
I have realized my blunder of joining this company as I have made many adjust
From India, Bangalore
Dear seniors,
I need your guidance on my unfavourable situation. This is going to be a lengthy one, so appreciate your time.
I am an executive assistant with 10+ years of experience in various MNCs.
Currently (from past 1 year) I am working in a company (family run business – partnership) as Executive Secretary. I chose this company as it is very close to my home, so that I could save on commuting time and could get quality time with my kid. When I joined this company, I was confident that I had made the right choice and more so because it was better than sitting idle at home. Soon, I started realizing what I had got myself into
Now, even though it is more than a year, I find it very hard to get used to this company, the style of working, ethics, etc. I need not use my brains. I need to just do as directed by the bosses (I had 3 bosses earlier, now 2 bosses – a father & a son).
I have realized my blunder of joining this company as I have made many adjustments and compromises. I do not want to sound “complaining”, however I would like to keep the facts as they are:
1) No basic infrastructure (when I joined, had to request for a separate washroom for women and a dining facility for all. Thankfully, this was adhered to.)
2) No PF, No health insurance / ESI
3) Leave is an issue, we work 6 days. Leave entitlement is 30 days per year (which includes national/public/festival holidays).
4) Compromised on salary. I joined for half of the CTC that I was drawing in the previous company. I know this sounds absurd but as mentioned above, all I wanted one year back was time with my kid.
5) No pay slips. The salary amount is credited to our bank accounts. Any request for pay slips etc., just gets postponed without arriving at any decision (best excuse is father-son duo wanting to discuss with each other and the other being out of town, very busy, on holiday, travelling, etc). I might follow up for 3-4 times and then leave it.
Now, I feel it is high time to change the job. Recently, I attended an interview (well-known company in Bangalore) wherein I was asked “the reason for changing the job?” I mentioned that I was looking for a professional organization and about the lack of benefits in the current company. However, the Talent Acquisition Manager & the VP – HR refused to agree that there was no PF/health insurance/ESI facility. In addition, there seems to be an issue with salary as well. I was drawing higher salary and joined for lesser salary. Now, I want to draw at least the same salary as I was drawing in my previous job if not higher.
Request your guidance and thoughts on how to go about the interview in general and about specific questions on reason for job change, benefits and salary. I have never felt so helpless in my career. Please help!!!
Thanks for your time.
Deepa
From India, Bangalore
I need your guidance on my unfavourable situation. This is going to be a lengthy one, so appreciate your time.
I am an executive assistant with 10+ years of experience in various MNCs.
Currently (from past 1 year) I am working in a company (family run business – partnership) as Executive Secretary. I chose this company as it is very close to my home, so that I could save on commuting time and could get quality time with my kid. When I joined this company, I was confident that I had made the right choice and more so because it was better than sitting idle at home. Soon, I started realizing what I had got myself into
Now, even though it is more than a year, I find it very hard to get used to this company, the style of working, ethics, etc. I need not use my brains. I need to just do as directed by the bosses (I had 3 bosses earlier, now 2 bosses – a father & a son).
I have realized my blunder of joining this company as I have made many adjustments and compromises. I do not want to sound “complaining”, however I would like to keep the facts as they are:
1) No basic infrastructure (when I joined, had to request for a separate washroom for women and a dining facility for all. Thankfully, this was adhered to.)
2) No PF, No health insurance / ESI
3) Leave is an issue, we work 6 days. Leave entitlement is 30 days per year (which includes national/public/festival holidays).
4) Compromised on salary. I joined for half of the CTC that I was drawing in the previous company. I know this sounds absurd but as mentioned above, all I wanted one year back was time with my kid.
5) No pay slips. The salary amount is credited to our bank accounts. Any request for pay slips etc., just gets postponed without arriving at any decision (best excuse is father-son duo wanting to discuss with each other and the other being out of town, very busy, on holiday, travelling, etc). I might follow up for 3-4 times and then leave it.
Now, I feel it is high time to change the job. Recently, I attended an interview (well-known company in Bangalore) wherein I was asked “the reason for changing the job?” I mentioned that I was looking for a professional organization and about the lack of benefits in the current company. However, the Talent Acquisition Manager & the VP – HR refused to agree that there was no PF/health insurance/ESI facility. In addition, there seems to be an issue with salary as well. I was drawing higher salary and joined for lesser salary. Now, I want to draw at least the same salary as I was drawing in my previous job if not higher.
Request your guidance and thoughts on how to go about the interview in general and about specific questions on reason for job change, benefits and salary. I have never felt so helpless in my career. Please help!!!
Thanks for your time.
Deepa
From India, Bangalore
You need patience as you want to double your present salary. Not always easy. Keep looking and you will find what you are looking for.
From United Kingdom
1624From United Kingdom
Hi Deepa,
Trust you shared everything that you wanted to and i would like to share a few things mentioned below thinking that it would be helpful to you in the days ahead....!
1.Being a matured professional, having 10 years of experience worked in different corporate, should have understood about your current organization and should have discussed with your corporate friends in your existing company before you got into this organization. But you did not do that. I do not know why?
2.Knowing all drawbacks of your current company, finally you took a call and decided to join as you wanted to spend you time with your kid. you don't want to work and want to leave this organization but if you do so, you will not able to spend your time with kid. will it be ok for you????
3. Being an executive secretary, If you are not able to discuss with and influence your boss, than how are you going to work in big organization and manage different things???
4.When you attend interview, you are not suppose to let your current organization down just for you benefit as interviewer may take it wrongly. Instead of saying that your current company doest provide any facilities, try to give diplomatic reply to them. For Ex: I chosen my current company because i was not able to travel much when i was searching for a job and I had a baby with me, had to take care of him/her but now my mom/mother in law is with me to take care my children. so, I can go little far away for my Job.
5.If you do not have salary slip of your current company, you can try produce the bank statement if your salary is being credited in your account. if not, try to get any evidence for your salary like Salary certificate in your company's letter pad as supportive document for your salary.
6.Normally, professional organisation does not agree if you say there is no deduction but if you are capable enough and they really need of person for a particular position for which you applied for, they may not concentrate much on these issues and will accept your explanation.
Good Luck..
Regards,
M.Kannan
From India, Madurai
Trust you shared everything that you wanted to and i would like to share a few things mentioned below thinking that it would be helpful to you in the days ahead....!
1.Being a matured professional, having 10 years of experience worked in different corporate, should have understood about your current organization and should have discussed with your corporate friends in your existing company before you got into this organization. But you did not do that. I do not know why?
2.Knowing all drawbacks of your current company, finally you took a call and decided to join as you wanted to spend you time with your kid. you don't want to work and want to leave this organization but if you do so, you will not able to spend your time with kid. will it be ok for you????
3. Being an executive secretary, If you are not able to discuss with and influence your boss, than how are you going to work in big organization and manage different things???
4.When you attend interview, you are not suppose to let your current organization down just for you benefit as interviewer may take it wrongly. Instead of saying that your current company doest provide any facilities, try to give diplomatic reply to them. For Ex: I chosen my current company because i was not able to travel much when i was searching for a job and I had a baby with me, had to take care of him/her but now my mom/mother in law is with me to take care my children. so, I can go little far away for my Job.
5.If you do not have salary slip of your current company, you can try produce the bank statement if your salary is being credited in your account. if not, try to get any evidence for your salary like Salary certificate in your company's letter pad as supportive document for your salary.
6.Normally, professional organisation does not agree if you say there is no deduction but if you are capable enough and they really need of person for a particular position for which you applied for, they may not concentrate much on these issues and will accept your explanation.
Good Luck..
Regards,
M.Kannan
From India, Madurai
Thank you Mr. Kannan for your time and for your thoughts on interview tips.
On point 3, I do not agree with you. Here there are 2 bosses. So I need to discuss the issue/concern twice individually and also follow up with both. You do not get to catch hold of them together, so the solution is not found. Many a times, I myself suggest solutions but again it is like boss 1 needs to discuss with boss 2 to arrive at a decision and this goes on and on. As mentioned in original post, I managed to put across the need for a separate washroom for women / a dining facility with table & chairs, attendance machine etc. Also, need for receptionist was highlighted and recruited.
I am glad to mention that I have managed many tasks and reorganized many things at current organization (in absence of HR dept. or facilities team) and continue to do so.
Regards
Deepa
From India, Bangalore
On point 3, I do not agree with you. Here there are 2 bosses. So I need to discuss the issue/concern twice individually and also follow up with both. You do not get to catch hold of them together, so the solution is not found. Many a times, I myself suggest solutions but again it is like boss 1 needs to discuss with boss 2 to arrive at a decision and this goes on and on. As mentioned in original post, I managed to put across the need for a separate washroom for women / a dining facility with table & chairs, attendance machine etc. Also, need for receptionist was highlighted and recruited.
I am glad to mention that I have managed many tasks and reorganized many things at current organization (in absence of HR dept. or facilities team) and continue to do so.
Regards
Deepa
From India, Bangalore
Hello Deepa,
M.Kannan has given you apt inputs for you to arrive a well-informed decision.
Reg the reason(s) for joining this company, like the Saying goes: "If you want something, you need to forego something" [the Original is in Hindi with rythmic wordings]. Looking @ the situation from another angle--you at least had a good chance to take care of your kid.
But in all the summary of the situation, you NEVER once mentioned: what about the kid now, IF you change to another job--which would, in all possibility, be farther. Any reason(s)? OR is there someone to take care of the kid now?
In a way, I don't really think you made a mistake--you 'misjudged' that this job too would be like any other MNC jobs you worked in earlier. But, as a thumbrule, family-owned businesses are more prone to adhocism & non-conformance to any structure of rules. Maybe, had you checked with any of your friends, like M.Kannan mentioned, you COULD have known it earlier....or MAYBE NOT, given your focus at that point-of-time [which was to be with your kid]--IT HAPPENS. Quite often when our focus is working on a different plane, many alerting factors/aspects just get out-of-focus, even though they may be right in front of our eyes.
Coming to your specific issues:
How to handle lack of Salary Slips--Bank statements are now accepted by many companies, in the absence of Slips. You haven't mention the company strength--but going by what you mentioned, I don't think it's high [at the most in double digits--pl correct if wrong]. You can explain the lack of Salary Slips due to the low company strength--that should be acceptable to many, since small-sized companies don't have any formal salary slip practice.
Reg 'no PF/health insurance/ESI facility'--what M Kannan suggested is right. Though many HR Heads may find it odd, they wouldn't give it a lot of focus IF they REALLY want you on-board.
Reg 'I want to draw at least the same salary as I was drawing in my previous job.....'--let's be realistic . IF YOU were the HR Head, would you accept this request straight-faced?
Frankly--though I am not sure how this would appeal to you--the ONLY WAY to handle the Salary issue would be to avoid showing this experience at all. You can say you were taking care of your kid--which for a lady candidate doesn't raise many eyebrows.With this, your Benchmark would be your last-drawn salary.
From another perspective, it COULD ALSO solve your having to explain the other major issues--mentioned above.
Just give this a thought.
All the Best.
Rgds,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
M.Kannan has given you apt inputs for you to arrive a well-informed decision.
Reg the reason(s) for joining this company, like the Saying goes: "If you want something, you need to forego something" [the Original is in Hindi with rythmic wordings]. Looking @ the situation from another angle--you at least had a good chance to take care of your kid.
But in all the summary of the situation, you NEVER once mentioned: what about the kid now, IF you change to another job--which would, in all possibility, be farther. Any reason(s)? OR is there someone to take care of the kid now?
In a way, I don't really think you made a mistake--you 'misjudged' that this job too would be like any other MNC jobs you worked in earlier. But, as a thumbrule, family-owned businesses are more prone to adhocism & non-conformance to any structure of rules. Maybe, had you checked with any of your friends, like M.Kannan mentioned, you COULD have known it earlier....or MAYBE NOT, given your focus at that point-of-time [which was to be with your kid]--IT HAPPENS. Quite often when our focus is working on a different plane, many alerting factors/aspects just get out-of-focus, even though they may be right in front of our eyes.
Coming to your specific issues:
How to handle lack of Salary Slips--Bank statements are now accepted by many companies, in the absence of Slips. You haven't mention the company strength--but going by what you mentioned, I don't think it's high [at the most in double digits--pl correct if wrong]. You can explain the lack of Salary Slips due to the low company strength--that should be acceptable to many, since small-sized companies don't have any formal salary slip practice.
Reg 'no PF/health insurance/ESI facility'--what M Kannan suggested is right. Though many HR Heads may find it odd, they wouldn't give it a lot of focus IF they REALLY want you on-board.
Reg 'I want to draw at least the same salary as I was drawing in my previous job.....'--let's be realistic . IF YOU were the HR Head, would you accept this request straight-faced?
Frankly--though I am not sure how this would appeal to you--the ONLY WAY to handle the Salary issue would be to avoid showing this experience at all. You can say you were taking care of your kid--which for a lady candidate doesn't raise many eyebrows.With this, your Benchmark would be your last-drawn salary.
From another perspective, it COULD ALSO solve your having to explain the other major issues--mentioned above.
Just give this a thought.
All the Best.
Rgds,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
[QUOTE=tajsateesh;2069794]
Thank you TS for your analysis and the feedback.
I really need to think on the options available to me (like travelling to far off job, the kid, starting afresh or not showing this experience at all).
Yes you are right, the strength here in office is around 25 + 10 sales people all over India + around 100 labours working in agri field on daily wages.
Thanks for your specific answers to my other queries on interview.
Regards
Deepa
From India, Bangalore
Thank you TS for your analysis and the feedback.
I really need to think on the options available to me (like travelling to far off job, the kid, starting afresh or not showing this experience at all).
Yes you are right, the strength here in office is around 25 + 10 sales people all over India + around 100 labours working in agri field on daily wages.
Thanks for your specific answers to my other queries on interview.
Regards
Deepa
From India, Bangalore
Hi Deepa,
You already have valid suggestions from Mr. Kannan and Mr. Tajsateesh for your queries.
Being a lady, I would only point out - one year back it was your necessity to be with the kids so you compromised on your MNC job. You yourself should stand by this decision and feel good you did what situation warranted. Now if this particular need is fulfilled (we think it is), be flexible and accept the offer considering the facts both have pinpointed.
As you mentioned you initiated lot of improvements in your current organisation, it will not be an issue if you carry forward and work with the same zeal and spirit. It's a matter of time and you will be back !
Wish you all the best!!!!
Best regards,
Vaishalee Parkhi
From India, Pune
You already have valid suggestions from Mr. Kannan and Mr. Tajsateesh for your queries.
Being a lady, I would only point out - one year back it was your necessity to be with the kids so you compromised on your MNC job. You yourself should stand by this decision and feel good you did what situation warranted. Now if this particular need is fulfilled (we think it is), be flexible and accept the offer considering the facts both have pinpointed.
As you mentioned you initiated lot of improvements in your current organisation, it will not be an issue if you carry forward and work with the same zeal and spirit. It's a matter of time and you will be back !
Wish you all the best!!!!
Best regards,
Vaishalee Parkhi
From India, Pune
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