Tell me where to start
We had our monthly graduate videoconference yesterday. Our mix of grads has changed since 2010, and the videoconference just seemed to emphasise it. With the recent promotion of one of the grads to a coordinator role, we now have more females than males. Considering where we started in 2010, this is pretty cool.
Anyway. We discussed the next rotations - my guesses about the other grads were about 50% right, which is basically chance. However, when you consider the cities I guessed the grads would go to, my accuracy increased to about 80%.
My excitement about finally getting to do the Communications role has been dampened, however, by the fact that the Director I'd have been working with is planning on resigning soon. It's not been officially announced, but he's negotiating his final day with the firm. I actually liked him, based on the few times we'd met. He seemed actually interested in my photography and seemed interestingly eccentric.
He'll probably be there for the first month or so while I'm in Sydney, but then it's up in the air. I may even get to go back to Melbourne sooner, if they find a Communications Director based in Melbourne.
Considering how long it takes to fill these more senior roles, however, I'll probably go through most of the rotation without a Director. Adelaide will be the only rotation I've had over the two years where someone who would have been supervising me has not quit shortly before I started. (The curse* follows me!) I suppose I'd really have to think about it to make Wolfram & Hart close down entirely.
I can't help but wonder how much of my enjoyment of this rotation has been because of that stability. The work (management, reporting, business performance and a hodge podge of interesting and exciting projects) is exactly the sort of thing I love, even while it makes me despair of never finding the "right" answer. There is no one answer, and finding the best solution given your confusing, real-life situation seems to be what most motivates me in the office.
My current Director has been with the firm for several years now. He's known around the office and he is respected, and the Managing Partner actively steps in to support his (and the wider team's) work. You so rarely see that in the East Coast offices! The partners can barely keep track of who's who, given the rate of change, let alone the Managing Partner.
Partners are so polite and considerate here. I get responses to my requests! I get polite requests for assistance in return, my work is generally acknowledged. I get apologies. It's an overall healthier culture here, and I'll miss it when I leave.
I don't know how to fix the bigger offices. I guess I can only wait it out until I'm in a position to use what I've learned to try to change things.
One exciting thing is that Rex has decided to come with me to Sydney. I'm nervous, and excited, and worried, and looking forward to it all at once.
* My first workplace, a Cheesecake Heaven franchise where I did my work experience and then worked weekends for a few months afterwards, ended up closing not long after I left. Then I worked at several Starbucks - two of which remain open to this day. And some were closed even before Starbucks made 70% of their staff redundant.
Anyway. We discussed the next rotations - my guesses about the other grads were about 50% right, which is basically chance. However, when you consider the cities I guessed the grads would go to, my accuracy increased to about 80%.
My excitement about finally getting to do the Communications role has been dampened, however, by the fact that the Director I'd have been working with is planning on resigning soon. It's not been officially announced, but he's negotiating his final day with the firm. I actually liked him, based on the few times we'd met. He seemed actually interested in my photography and seemed interestingly eccentric.
He'll probably be there for the first month or so while I'm in Sydney, but then it's up in the air. I may even get to go back to Melbourne sooner, if they find a Communications Director based in Melbourne.
Considering how long it takes to fill these more senior roles, however, I'll probably go through most of the rotation without a Director. Adelaide will be the only rotation I've had over the two years where someone who would have been supervising me has not quit shortly before I started. (The curse* follows me!) I suppose I'd really have to think about it to make Wolfram & Hart close down entirely.
I can't help but wonder how much of my enjoyment of this rotation has been because of that stability. The work (management, reporting, business performance and a hodge podge of interesting and exciting projects) is exactly the sort of thing I love, even while it makes me despair of never finding the "right" answer. There is no one answer, and finding the best solution given your confusing, real-life situation seems to be what most motivates me in the office.
My current Director has been with the firm for several years now. He's known around the office and he is respected, and the Managing Partner actively steps in to support his (and the wider team's) work. You so rarely see that in the East Coast offices! The partners can barely keep track of who's who, given the rate of change, let alone the Managing Partner.
Partners are so polite and considerate here. I get responses to my requests! I get polite requests for assistance in return, my work is generally acknowledged. I get apologies. It's an overall healthier culture here, and I'll miss it when I leave.
I don't know how to fix the bigger offices. I guess I can only wait it out until I'm in a position to use what I've learned to try to change things.
One exciting thing is that Rex has decided to come with me to Sydney. I'm nervous, and excited, and worried, and looking forward to it all at once.
* My first workplace, a Cheesecake Heaven franchise where I did my work experience and then worked weekends for a few months afterwards, ended up closing not long after I left. Then I worked at several Starbucks - two of which remain open to this day. And some were closed even before Starbucks made 70% of their staff redundant.