Employment Question....How Do I Handle This? (employee, job application, application)
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A few months ago I asked a question about a Supervisor handing over part of his job to me, but I didn't get a raise/promotion or new title out of it. This happened last March after I got back from a medical leave. I now really need help with this......please give me some advice.......PLEASE.
This Supervisor was doing all the "buying" for our warehouse and I was the Materials Coordinator for the Department. He was the Director of the department and had the position of "Buyer" in the department budget, but he was doing the buying himself. He would write down items (quantities and prices included) on a POR (Purchase Order Requisition )to be ordered, give that to me, and I would create a purchase order on the computer and process it. He would sign his name where it said "Buyer" on this Requisition. This last March ('07), he gave that "ordering/reordering" duty to me just before my yearly review in April. During my review, I asked him if I could be called a "Buyer" and he said "no, you don't do any negotiations or meetings with vendors". Well, I thought to myself, I should have a Junior Buyer title since I was actually "ordering/reordering" our warehouse products. I mean, I am signing my name now beside a word that says "Buyer". I didn't get the title or a raise, just my normal 40 cent raise.
I was going to go to HR and talk to them, but I knew that my wife and I were going to be selling our house and moving out of the State......resigning for our jobs. I didn't want to cause any problem and needed to stay on the job to have money for our move.
Now that we have moved, I'm trying to decide if I should adjust my position title from Materials Coordinator to Materials Coordinator/Junior Buyer. My supervisor screwed me over knowing for a fact that I did want to be a Buyer sometime. He saved money in the Department budget (not hiring a Buyer) and split the duties between him and myself.....gave him more time to do other things including looking at ESPN Sports on the Internet.
I want to call the HR Department and talk to them now. For 6 months I ordered everything in our warehouse and I didn't get recognized even as a Jr. Buyer for doing that.......that is Bull.
Now I understand why so many people open their own businesses!!!!!
I'm trying to decide if I should adjust my position title from Materials Coordinator to Materials Coordinator/Junior Buyer.
I just left a job due to the SAME situation. 2.5 years with company X. I went into the company as a lesser employee due to unemployment. Within a few months I was training. And the last year I spent full-time on corporate projects. So half the time there I actually did my job title duties. Mgmt even asked when corporate would hire me on full-time with more money. But when budget concerns sunk in, I was forced back to a cube where I began, with the menial work. I put up with it for a few weeks, then gave notice.
As for job titles, choose carefully, and alter it only if you feel that the work you performed matches that title fully. I use mine altered with discretion since I was performing totally separate functions, full-time. And you may also want to look into adding an accomplishments section either accompanying your job write-up, or a different section of resume. But always put the exact title on job applications.
My hubby is a senior buyer for a manufacturing company so I understand some of what you're saying here. One of the most important functions as a buyer is negotiations and managing/maintaining good vendor relationships. If you're serious about furthering your career as a buyer have you thought about getting your CPM? My hubby has his. He's also looking for a new job and I know one place called him just because he has his CPM. Seriously when he asked the HR what made his resume stand out they said it was his CPM. You might also think about taking some classes in negotiation. These things will certainly help you get ahead.
Keep in mind most companies will call your previous employer to check your employment information so be careful when "changing your title". You might want to consider keeping the title the same BUT putting all the junior buyer responsibilities first and highlight some of the junior buyer tasks in your cover letter. good luck.
I called and talked to the Director of HR for the company I use to work for. She told me that the company does not have a position title of Junior Buyer and they won't create one just because I called and talked to them about what happened. She told me that "titles" really mean nothing that employers mainly look at responsibilities more than a title. I don't complete agree with her, but that is my opinion. She also told me that he was in charge of the department and whatever responsibilities/duties he decided to delegate was completely up to him. Sounds like an HR person "protecting" a Supervisor/Director.
Anyway, I have decided to use my original title of Material Coordinator, but add to it Assistant Buyer. I looked up the duties of an Assistant Buyer and found numerous duties that related straight across from what I did with this company.
In some 35 years of employment, this is the first Supervisor/Director that I truly did not get along with or really like. My wife and I are extremely glad that I do not work for this man anymore.
It takes a lot of time/money to obtain a CPM. At 58 years old, I think that I'm just to old to go for that CPM rating. Heck, I don't even think I would like/want the responsibilities that comes with working as a CPM for a company. However, I am about to take another "on-line" class dealing with Materials/Logistics.
I honestly can't remember how long it took hubby to get his cpm and his company paid for it so we lucked out there. i do know the tests were very difficult (he studied every night for over a month) but he passed them all on the first try which is unusual. He actually finds the seminars to be very helpful and he does a lot of reading on purchasing (he LOVES the negotiation part of purchasing - I mean really loves it, gets an adrenalin rush from it).
I would definitely put the assistant buyer responsibilities first on your resume and make the other "stuff" secondary.
35 years and this is the first for you! WOW! You must have worked at some great places. I've only been working full time for 17 years and i've come across and have directly worked for MANY.
I forgot to add I like your screen name. We like to boat as well and we're also relocating to NC (one day).
Last edited by surfingatwork; 11-09-2007 at 02:22 PM..
Reason: your location
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