I got my 5 year clock...

re: I got my 5 year clock...

Heather — Tue, 06 Jul 2004 17:05:00 GMT

Hmm, yeah, I guess they need to provide some different options in China-or at least refer to them using the regional language (wouldnt' want to have to order "death" from the company catalogue).

Now 11 pounds of M&Ms could result in death. Perhaps a new trend is required...one pound per year of something healthy. Or maybe a bottle of wine for every year! I'd be up for that.

re: I got my 5 year clock...

Steve — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 19:57:00 GMT

Something of interest is that the pen was offered after someone commented that the pronunciation of "clock" sounds similar to the connotations of "death" in Mandarin.

Interesting link to other cultural faux-pas...

http://www.businessweek.com/1996/50/b3505144.htm

Grats on your 5th year anyways! I take my 11th year in December - there is no way that 11lb of M&M's are coming to work with me.

re: I got my 5 year clock...

Heather — Tue, 29 Jun 2004 16:48:00 GMT

Wow, Gator, you need a hug or something. I actually don't find the clock distracting at all. I appreciate the gesture. Because at most companies you can expect nothing. I'm no Pollyanna, but I really appreciate what this company does for it's employees and I'm not a big fan of complaining about that kind of stuff (there's something to complain about EVERYWHERE anyway); especially here where we have SO MUCH and there are so many people that would be happy to have our jobs (makes complaining seem a little ungracious, huh?). Plus it really tends to bring down the morale around you and that's not fair to co-workers. Anyway, this is an at-will state and people are free to make employment choices that best fit their needs. Which means nobody has tostay at a job or company that is not working out for them.

Anyway, hope that you have landed somewhere that is a better fit for you.

re: I got my 5 year clock...

Gator — Tue, 29 Jun 2004 00:29:00 GMT

Yeah I got the clock but it wasn’t worth it. It’s a cheesy token to attempt to divert people form the narrow minded, bureaucratic waste land that the fine company has evolved to. The 5 year employee’s manager gets this pretty little silver box with a celebrate banner, a balloon, and some little celebrate confetti. The clock is better than the pen though.

re: I got my 5 year clock...

Scott C Reynolds — Sat, 26 Jun 2004 03:16:00 GMT

Rofl! Reminds me of that part in Cabaret where the German guy says to the American "oh, American? Do you know so and so? I think he's from Buffalo"

re: I got my 5 year clock...

Randy H. — Fri, 25 Jun 2004 20:31:00 GMT

Congrats Heather. :)

re: I got my 5 year clock...

Zeynep — Thu, 24 Jun 2004 18:18:00 GMT

Congrats Heather! That's pretty fantastic. Also congrats on maintaining such a well-written and interesting blog. It's fascinating to learn about what recruiters look for :)

re: I got my 5 year clock...

Heather — Thu, 24 Jun 2004 15:32:00 GMT

XAM, I'll see if someone has a photo or a digital camera around.

Jess-I sure don't. There are about 50K people at MS, so the chances of me knowing someone specifically, especially someone that isn't in marketing, are pretty slim ; )

re: I got my 5 year clock...

Jess — Thu, 24 Jun 2004 15:31:00 GMT

Do you know Brian Gessel?

re: I got my 5 year clock...

xam — Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:49:00 GMT

photo? yours or others .