I work as a server goon for a small IT department at a small university. My direct supervisor (Director for IT) has told me an several occasions that he sees me as being the one to take over the department one day. And, ultimately, I suppose that is my goal. I love doing what I do and I love bossing people around, what could be better, I get to boss people around AND get paid for it! Man, the future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades!
So it happened one day in the not so distant past that a superior that had moved onto another university gave a call to my boss to inform them about a position they thought they would be interested in, Associate Director of IT.
Now, my boss being the practical man that he is mulled this over and thought about it for a few days. In the mean time, while he was thinking, this same person contacted me letting me know about the same position. Imagine my surprise when upon telling my boss about it he exclaimed “Wow, they must really be desperate.”
Uh!?
Ok, if I remember correctly just the other day, you were telling me about how you envision me being the one to take over the department. You passing the torch of responsibility off to me as you leave for retirement… and now you say “Wow, they must be desperate”?! The logic escapes me, I don’t understand how you could envision me taking over this department when you feel I am incapable of assuming the same (or similar) duties at another university.
So, now at every opportunity it seems, it’s brought up about this job and how “The must be desperate, not to say [sg] couldn’t do the job but….”.
Guess that means he’s off my References list.