Current Events > My new boss is kinda cray

(+) Yeah! (+)

So I took the startup offer. Started 6 weeks ago. Im starting to regret it. Its a small company and I report to the VP of recruiting.

She keeps going back on things we talk about in prior meetings. Right before I joined, she talked about these critical roles I needed to fill asap and then well start my path to manager. Ok I get started. I have a solid candidate pipeline. Last week she bitched that I dont have what it takes to be a manager because if I did I wouldnt be so focused on hiring and instead would have set up meetings with the team to help them. I literally have it in my onboarding plan (that she wrote) that the first thing she wanted me to do was hire these engineers.

She will tell me a location is approved and I can source there. Cool. I get a candidate from there. Then she tells me that were not well set up there and cancel the candidates interviews.

She tells me I should pick up non tech roles so I get better visibility to other part of the business which will help when Im a manager. I ask about picking one up a few weeks later and she chews me out for being focused on picking up reqs instead of developing my leadership skills. Again its also on my onboard plan. In writing.

I am getting the feeling she doesnt quite like me. The co founders were the ones who wanted me on the team more than her so shes looking to sink me anyway she can. Im starting to think I need to jump ship. Its not like a bigger company where theres an HR org to protect me. But the market is shit for recruiters. Im starting to stress to the point I cant sleep well at night. She might just fire me on a whim one day and Ill be screwed.

Lesson learned. Dont work at startups.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Im debating. They seem to be close. Im not yet sure its worth the risk. Im talking to two other companies (both thanks to people I know who referred me). Im going to see how those go first. If I run out of options then Ill talk to them. In this market, those two are my last chance in a long time. Its been putting more pressure on me.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

We grew so big my job didnt allow any room to advance. I was sold on a growth opportunity to management at the startup. But now shes going back on all the things she told me shed have me work on as part of that plan.

Cleo_II posted...

well start my path to manager

If its not in writing it isnt true. Sounds like she gave you some sweet talking to get something in return.

She sounds unprofessional, unorganized, and unintelligent. Or maybe she's just a catty bitch who feels threatened by a younger woman in the workplace. That shit is realler than you think.

Naysaspace posted...

If its not in writing it isnt true. Sounds like she gave you some sweet talking to get something in return.

She sounds unprofessional, unorganized, and unintelligent. Or maybe she's just a catty bitch who feels threatened by a younger woman in the workplace. That shit is realler than you think.

It actually is in writing in my onboarding plan thats whats crazy. Even says the stuff about taking non tech roles to learn the business and discusses my path to leadership.

She also snubbed me at our company summit and looked me up and down a few times so there may be some truth to that. I found out she actually used to report to my old boss at my last company and has no management experience herself lol. I wish I did more research on her.

"Path to leadership" isnt a contractual obligation to make you a manager. That would have at least a role title and date to go along with it. Sounds like they're using startup culture and jargon language to weave you a tale of bullshit. And if she is treating you with such a lack of respect, she probably does feel threatened or insecure in some way. I mean, is she not your boss? Would you being a manager mean replacing her?

Watch how she treats others in the workplace. Especially male superiors (the opposite of a female subordinate). If you want to mindfuck her, just play the game she plays with them -- its probably how she expects a subordinate to behave.

Naysaspace posted...

"Path to leadership" isnt a contractual obligation to make you a manager. That would have at least a role title and date to go along with it. Sounds like they're using startup culture and jargon language to weave you a tale of bullshit. And if she is treating you with such a lack of respect, she probably does feel threatened or insecure in some way. I mean, is she not your boss? Would you being a manager mean replacing her?

Watch how she treats others in the workplace. Especially male superiors (the opposite of a female subordinate). If you want to mindfuck her, just play the game she plays with them -- its probably how she expects a subordinate to behave.

Oh yeah I know she is BSing me. For timeline it was discussed to be 6 months from now. But actions matter more than words. I took a risk believing her because Im a high performer and thought my work would speak for itself. Which it has been. The managers are all telling her I am the best recruiter theyve ever worked with. I didnt expect this personal grudge towards me and Im dumb for that.

I wouldnt replace her though were supposed to double in size next year. She doesnt have time to manage the recruiting team and wanted me to take that off her plate.

But I am watching her and shes a shitty manager. She leaves the team out to dry. There is a lot of toxicity towards us and she doesnt stand up for anyone. Even when theyre policies shes implementing and the messengers are getting abused for it. Shes all about keeping the business happy at all costs which I confirmed with our old boss.

All I can hope is I get one of these other opportunities. But recruiters are getting laid off in the thousands without enough opportunities for us. If I dont get one I am SOL and will have to try to align with the cofounders somehow to get protection

Cleo_II posted...

Lesson learned. Dont work at startups.

I think you need to take things up with her managers.

I think she's being a bitch for lack of a better term.

She's literally saying one thing, and then changing her mind on what to do.

That's the sign that she's playing games for whatever internal political reasons.

What's her end game, what's her goal?

Cleo_II posted...

I found out she actually used to report to my old boss at my last company and has no management experience herself lol. I wish I did more research on her.

She's jealous of your beauty, you're a threat to her power / control

Remember, just like in history, Beauty = Power.

Cleopatra was literal proof of that, the same historical character your handle is based on.

She's threatened by you.

Cleo_II posted...

Oh yeah I know she is BSing me. For timeline it was discussed to be 6 months from now. But actions matter more than words. I took a risk believing her because Im a high performer and thought my work would speak for itself. Which it has been. The managers are all telling her I am the best recruiter theyve ever worked with. I didnt expect this personal grudge towards me and Im dumb for that.

I wouldnt replace her though were supposed to double in size next year. She doesnt have time to manage the recruiting team and wanted me to take that off her plate.

But I am watching her and shes a shitty manager. She leaves the team out to dry. There is a lot of toxicity towards us and she doesnt stand up for anyone. Even when theyre policies shes implementing and the messengers are getting abused for it. Shes all about keeping the business happy at all costs which I confirmed with our old boss.

All I can hope is I get one of these other opportunities. But recruiters are getting laid off in the thousands without enough opportunities for us. If I dont get one I am SOL and will have to try to align with the cofounders somehow to get protection

You need to rat her out to upper management.

Tell them that she isn't fit for the position. That you'd do her job better than she can.

Ive worked with people like that before. Psychopaths, the lot of em. And not too smart either, but smart enough + conceited enough to think they are the smartest person in the room.

Barring some backroom handy-dandies, her work will speak for itself when the company outgrows her shitty startup attitude. Sadly, startups are not much more than treefort clubhouses with a group of friends, rather than a well oiled company machine.

Talking to her bosses, aka cofounders, is a nuclear option for me if my other opportunities dont pan out. Shes been there since almost the beginning and is quite close to them at this point. Im building credibility in the meantime so theyll be more inclined to back me up if the data supports me.

But yeah, never trying a startup again.

Cleo_II posted...

Talking to her bosses, aka cofounders, is a nuclear option for me if my other opportunities dont pan out. Shes been there since almost the beginning and is quite close to them at this point. Im building credibility in the meantime so theyll be more inclined to back me up if the data supports me.

But yeah, never trying a startup again.

That's a hard lesson to learn.

It sounds more like she just straight out doesn't know how to manage, rather than it being personal towards you imo. Although, I doubt incompetence is really going to make you feel better working there.

Out of curiosity, how large is this company atm? You may be able to easily throw your weight around if you're hot shit. Then you can just strong arm your way into where you want to be. I doubt that a start up wants to waste time filling your position again. It's literally a time is money scenario.

Sounds like she's a very poor fit for the position she is in. If you call that out you're probably going to get brownie points.

If you're already thinking of leaving, what's the issue with telling then she sucks. Worsted case is they fire you and you dont have to give a two weeks notice. Best case is you get her job.

Cleo_II posted...

Talking to her bosses, aka cofounders, is a nuclear option for me if my other opportunities dont pan out.

never a good idea. as crappy as she is, they trust her more than they trust you. hence why it's a crappy situation

ah well, just "quiet quit" and look for a better job

Jiek_Fafn posted...

It sounds more like she just straight out doesn't know how to manage, rather than it being personal towards you imo. Although, I doubt incompetence is really going to make you feel better working there.

Out of curiosity, how large is this company atm? You may be able to easily throw your weight around if you're hot shit. Then you can just strong arm your way into where you want to be. I doubt that a start up wants to waste time filling your position again. It's literally a time is money scenario.

Were less than 200 right now. But I dont know. Shes fired 3 other recruiters in the last few months (May-August) and is looking to fire another recruiter on the team from what another recruiter is telling me. She also fired her EA last week. She makes really bad hiring decisions it seems. I would think the cofounders would want to hang on to me because Im bringing in really good talent so far but they might just butt out and let her make whatever decision she wants.

Lokison posted...

Sounds like she's a very poor fit for the position she is in. If you call that out you're probably going to get brownie points.

If you're already thinking of leaving, what's the issue with telling then she sucks. Worsted case is they fire you and you dont have to give a two weeks notice. Best case is you get her job.

Need to line something up before I do this

Naysaspace posted...

never a good idea. as crappy as she is, they trust her more than they trust you. hence why it's a crappy situation

ah well, just "quiet quit" and look for a better job

Looking for a better job will be very difficult. The market is terrible for recruiters. Tech companies are having mass layoffs and most of them have been their recruiters. My LinkedIn feed is flooded every day with recruiters who are getting let go. Meta laid off 11,000 people today. There are very few recruiting jobs out there and a giant pool of people ready to go. One of the companies Im interviewing with had 1000+ applicants