New Kid on the Block

In addition to just having lost someone I considered a friend, not to mention an ally, at this job, I have inherited JD's product lines.

Oh, I guess I should tell you a little bit more about where I work. I don't want to mention The Company by name, because that would be stupid. Suffice to say it's a Big Company -- publicly traded, $1-billion-a-year, international workforce of about 5,000 and growing.

I work in the Media Services department. We write and design the catalog, the web site, press releases, etc. It's not a sexy job — only tech geeks and IT managers are going to get all worked up about our product line — but it is steady work, the days are busy, and the pay and benefits are very good. I took this job because freelancing had dried up, benefits at my husband's employer are crazy expensive (more expensive than COBRA, yo), and I was going nuts staying at home with my two adorable, sweet children. I just didn't do well as a SAHM — I felt too one-dimensional.

I started here in February, and it is now the end of July. That makes about six months on the job.

Also, my job? It's not necessarily a difficult job. There is a lot to learn — about the products, which are very technical in nature; about the workflow; about the people with whom I work. But I am a very good writer, I'm smart, and I learn fast. My worst area is probably people — let's call it "interpersonal interaction". I'm not a very sensitive person. I'm not good at the work place politics, and workplaces always have politics. More on that later.

The policy when there is a new writer or designer hired is to pair him or her with a senior writer or designer for a year. The Senior Writer, as you would expect, shows the New Kid the ropes, the flow, the programs, etc. The Senior Writer, in my case a she, supervises progress, critiques the work, gives guidance. It's not an oppressive set-up (or hasn't been to this point) -- SW has given me a lot of freedom to learn, and she only steps in when I need guidance. It has not been often, to my credit (I think).

To return to the point: When JD first told me he was leaving (which he did before he had even given his notice), I asked about his lines. He said, "If I have anything to say about, you'll get them." He paused a minute. "Not that I would get that kind of say."

In the end, though, My Boss did move me onto JD's product lines — after asking me if that was okay. The only thing is, she moved Senior Writer with me onto three of the lines, and moved Busy Writer with me onto the biggest of the lines.

I'm a little bugged by this. I understand policy, but really, I can do this work. So why keep me working with other (albeit more experienced) writers?

1. It's policy. I've only been here six months. Even though My Boss has enough confidence to ask me to become the writer for these products, she's got to follow policy.
2. My Boss likes me a lot, and knows I'm talented, but doesn't think I'm ready to go it alone with these lines or with the product marketers (who really run the show).

My response has been to seize initiative. I've taken the reins. The way I see it, another writer is coming in here in the next six weeks to three months, and Senior Writer's going to have a new New Kid to guide. Busy Writer — well, his name says it all. He does a lot more than catalog and web work — he's on a lot of other projects, some of them more technical writing in nature. I'm not trotting down the hallway several times a day to ask if something is okay.

Senior Writer seems more than happy to let me go on my merry way. I think she also has the confidence in me that if I have a question or get stuck, I will go to her.

Busy Writer... I'm not sure how he'll feel. But for now, he's too busy to notice.