Need Opinions

[Dana1010]

I did my first temp gig today. It is something I have some experience with, but is not my main career. I met with the manager in the morning and she went over the business with me. I was in a light enough mood, talkative, somewhat humorous. I referred to some feature of their offering as a "gimmick"--smiling, sort of jocularly. I immediately added, "A lot of people like it, though." She smiled back and seemed undisturbed about it. I pointed to several things and made positive remarks about them.

I got situated in the office when she came in and said to please pick up the phone, that someone from the firm that sent me over there wanted to talk. The woman on the phone said that the gig was cancelled (we were set for five days) and I needed to leave right away. I went into the manager's office, and she said, "I can't have you working here looking at everything like, 'Oh that's a gimmick,' 'Oh, this is stupid' (something I never said). I said, "Well, I wouldn't ever say anything like that to our prospects." She snapped, "You said it to me, and that shows that you don't respect ME." So I left.

I really need honest opinions about this. Was I out of line? Did my comments warrant this?

 

[Friday]

Personality conflict, which is fair.

What would be fine in one place isn't in another. One place takes their product very seriously, and the idea that any part of it is a gimmick/scam/etc. is hugely insulting. Another place might flat out list different cons & call them that.

 

[Ocean5]

Some people are very insulted when you point out their "gimmicks & schemes" even as a joke.

I use to work in business-to-consumer sales, then company hired a business-to-business sales manager to expand business. I cultivated a major sales contract. Then at closing this new senior sales manager pulled out all kind of extra fees on customer. I was PISSED. When we went back to car he wanted to know why I was so upset. I told him he mislead customer, and that's not what the company was built on. We were always upfront about all fees and cost from start. Strict policy of the owners. Yet he added extra.

He tried to get me fired. But I was a top manager and sales person. Finally owners fired him - saying he was not a good fit for company culture.

But if it had been my first day, or month, I would have been the one fired.

Hope your next gig is with better company :)

 

[HypnoticallyChaotic]

Dont take it too personally. Some places are more serious than others are. Try again elsewhere, one with a sense of humor.

 

[Neverthesame]

Wow, hope that person never opens a business in the UK.

Half of all government programs are called schemes. It is just the name, it doesn't denote the legitimacy of the plan or service. It is a scheme, a plan to cause an outcome by using a specific course of action. Buy 1 get 1 free, is a sales scheme, or gimmick. Carry on with it long enough, you'd call it a shtick.

I used to work for a retail place that used a gimmick to appeal to seniors. It worked.

It also had a sales scheme to sell petrol. A percentage of your petrol cost was converted into a coupon. What was the gimmick? You could only use the coupon at that specific retailer. It was still a very good deal. Not a thing bad about it. It was still a gimmick, based on a sales scheme.

That manager needs to read the dictionary. Lots of useful information in one of those. All of it factual.

Sorry you had to deal with that. Some people take retail way too seriously.

 

[Chava]

In that situation I could see myself doing the same thing...and I sniff gimmicks all over. That being said, I think they have the right to feel insulted if they don't believe gimmicks are involved. And they might very well feel like you are not serious or arriving with sufficient respect to their business.

I've had so many dumb bosses. I've had to bite my tongue many times because ultimately...they are the boss. If you had signed a contract for a year, I'd assume they'd let you know if they were bothered by this (they could feel personally insulted for a bit) but move on. If you are a temp, they will just find another temp. Sorry. I suck at ass-kissing and don't think it's really necessary even in a new position. But it helps to act like you support what they do....or at least read them for a bit to know what kinds of honest responses you can offer. If you really want work, it's helpful to just quietly sort of take it in for a while, even if you think it's bullshit.

But I'm with you on sniffing out gimmicks and I think they're mostly stupid. For you (and me), maybe just avoid the gimmick stuff if you can. If admins above you love the gimmicks, just shhh. Make fun of it loudly in your head. When you get a longer career and can make some deeper connections with your peers/colleagues, you will find out who you can vent with about policies and gimmicks, etc. That is important for me. But I have a few safe people that do not involve the boss.

 

[Dana1010]

@Chava, it really didn't even bother me that much--I was mostly just being facetious. Also, don't you think you could also argue that since I was only assigned to work there for five days, she would just say, "To hell with it. She'll do what we need her to do and be gone in five days anyway?"

 

[Chava]

Yes. I'd drop it and move along. I think longer term you have to tread a little carefully around a boss. The person was maybe easily insulted and feels they could easily find a replacement who could fit in with their ideas of themselves (whether arrogant, inflated, or whatever). Move along. I liked temp work for a while, but mostly kept to myself. I just wanted the check.

 

[Neverthesame]

Just so I know, the term gimmick has negative connotations in the US?

Like asking someone if you can use the toilet is rude, because you said toilet and not washroom?

It's a serious question, sorry if I sound silly asking it.

 

[Chava]

Yes @Neverthesame ...reward for work that should just be done anyway (short answer, but you're on the righ track)

 

[Neverthesame]

@Chava Thanks for the answer. I still don't see the big deal. But hey, different cultures are different. Nothing wrong with that.

That's one of those things that knowing it, will save me alot of headache somewhere in the future I'll bet.

 

[Dana1010]

Gimmick. Def. A trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.

Just found that online. It's connotation is basically worse than "stratagem" but not quite as bad as "scam" or "con." Or maybe some people--like that woman today--consider it as bad.