I was supposed to get an offer letter today

[undeterred]

but the manager called me in and stalled it for another month. Says he wants to evaluate my skills a little longer and gave me a long list of things he wants me to "master" in the next month. I feel totally jerked around. I haven't had health insurance since October, and if he were unsure about hiring me, why didn't he say that at the 3 month point? He told me he wanted to hire me, and now he backed out of it. Its as though he wants me to totally knock myself out to please him for the next month, and there's still no guarantee.

I'm disgusted. I trusted him and now I feel jerked around. I contained my emotions for the rest of the day at work, but now I am very upset. It will be hard to knock myself out for someone I don't trust.

[Book Lover]

1. You feel jerked around because you *are* jerked around

he is screwing you sans lube; yeah, it's painful. If you can at all, give him an ultimatum - provide an offer letter in three business days, or you leave and take up his business practices with the state labor board.

[democracyindanger]

2. Are you applying to be a Shaolin monk?

Just kidding. It sucks. Protect your interests--it sounds like he may be jerking you around to keep you as a contractor. You might want to consider looking around for something else, then when the month is up you can cut bait if you need to.

[rucky]

3. you are being jerked around.

If one of those skills he's looking for is assertiveness, I suggest you display it for him.

[undeterred]

4. thank you

I have a tendency to be too nice, to try to make other people comfortable. I think he was afraid to tell me this but I was gracious about it and then I simmered all afternoon. I'd like to rip his face off. I have zero desire to knock myself out for him. I don't want to be rash, but I don't want to be treated like this.

[undeterred]

5. I just talked to my supervisor (not manager)

He told me not to expect my manager to change.
So I am going to give him an ultimatum tomorrow. Offer letter now or forget it.

[sendero]

10. You won't regret it..

... fact is, assholes like this are basically just testing you to see how much shit you will eat. If you eat this shit, he will be feeding you shit forever.

No job is worth that. Assert yourself with diplomacy, and let the chips fall.

[undeterred]

13. thank you

[Generic Brad]

6. That's a horrible way to treat someone

I have two temporaries working for me right now and I would never dream of jerking them around like that. I am up front completely with them and can't wait for the 3 month period my company set so I can bring them permanently into the fold. If my senior managers change their minds down the road, I will let them know immediately so they can get on with their lives. I would think long and hard about working for a manager who is less than forthright because it will not improve after you get hired.

[undeterred]

7. Thank you

I am just going to lay it on the line with my contracting company and with this manager tomorrow. Did I mention this manager is a Republican and has no "empathy" track?

[Generic Brad]

9. Oooo. Understood.

Fortunately I am surrounded by Democrats and Independents where I work. They don't pay us enough to be Republican.

[undeterred]

12. He's a manager without communications skills.

But his father-in-law works there, so I guess he can do no wrong.

[eyepaddle]

8. As a fellow recent victim of what some have termed "corpo-whores"

I feel you rage.

There are few things that piss me off more than a smile and a pat on the back as they slip in the shiv.

[undeterred]

11. I don't want to be unemployed again

but I just can't stand being treated like shit. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: I can't sleep.