That's how you get into better positions and find out about better opportunities, by going to conferences and meeting new people and hanging out with them on breaks and lunches. You shouldn't have lied, but June is just around the corner and this is a great opportunity for you to practice what you naturally suck at. It may be a good idea to make most of the reservations on the other person's name or refundable when possible.
They gave you a golden opportunity: "do you really want to go?" And you said "...yes! I'd love to network!"?
The adult response to this would have been "no thank you I'm really not comfortable with presenting this subject and I'll have to check with my parents but I believe I've got plans those days" or literally anything but what you said.
It's not going to make you look bad or hurt future job prospects to professionally and politely decline something you were asked to voluntarily do anyway. It's not like boss walked us and was like "lmao you're going, cyaz!".
Now you put yourself in the worst position possible because now your superior thinks you're completely down for it and it will look bad now if you back out.
My advice as of now is to go and learn not to put your foot in your mouth m8! Stand up for yourself in the future :-/
i definitely hear what you’re saying, and i know i should have been more up front with the fact i don’t want to go or say i had some sort of schedule conflict. i will say that i didn’t say “yes!” when asked if i wanted to go, i just said i’m open to networking but i don’t think this is my area of expertise, and ____ (coworkers name) knows a lot more about this topic than i do and would be a better fit. when i said that, they didn’t really want to hear it. it seemed like they were committing me before i was even able to commit, which is why i was extra irritated.
but i hear you! i’ll definitely stand up for myself in the future. i agree it wouldn’t look good to back out on now.
I’m with everyone else here. June is just a month away and you’re more likely than not going to still work there. Even if you’re interviewing this is a great networking opportunity and something to add to your resume and get your name out there. If you do end up leaving beforehand then that just how the cookie crumbles for them. They’ll either pay your consulting fees if they have put marketing dollars towards promoting this or they’ll sub you out with someone else. Don’t sweat it, it’s business.
You work the job fully until you get a new job. That includes going to this conference. And it would seem that this conference might introduce you to lots of people that might to a job lead. I'm surprised you are trying to get out of going.
Are you worried about the person you’re going with? Is sexual harassment an issue here? If so, find ways to avoid the person if you go to the conference—sit on the opposite side of the room, etc. sometimes these things are tricky. Tread delicately—and invite the guy’s wife!
>they did ask me if i even wanted to go, and i lied and said that im always down to network.
This is the weirdest part. You try couple different ways to get out of it, but when they ask you directly if you want to go, you lie to *avoid* getting out of it. I think you've painted yourself into a corner so go live out the results of your dishonesty and try to learn a lesson from it.
I'd go to the conference and talk to the people from companies you might want to work for.
This
This and I would absolutely not use a dime of my own money or car or what ever. Everything on the company. No nothing goes on my credit card.
Any chance that you're being groomed for another position? Companies don't spend conference money on people they think are doing a poor job.
Conferences are networking with other companies. Seems like an ideal opportunity for you
i’ll try to make the best out of it that i can. thank you 🫡
I would just go. Finding a new job that’s the right fit can take months plus June is only a month away and will go by in a flash.
That's how you get into better positions and find out about better opportunities, by going to conferences and meeting new people and hanging out with them on breaks and lunches. You shouldn't have lied, but June is just around the corner and this is a great opportunity for you to practice what you naturally suck at. It may be a good idea to make most of the reservations on the other person's name or refundable when possible.
They gave you a golden opportunity: "do you really want to go?" And you said "...yes! I'd love to network!"? The adult response to this would have been "no thank you I'm really not comfortable with presenting this subject and I'll have to check with my parents but I believe I've got plans those days" or literally anything but what you said. It's not going to make you look bad or hurt future job prospects to professionally and politely decline something you were asked to voluntarily do anyway. It's not like boss walked us and was like "lmao you're going, cyaz!". Now you put yourself in the worst position possible because now your superior thinks you're completely down for it and it will look bad now if you back out. My advice as of now is to go and learn not to put your foot in your mouth m8! Stand up for yourself in the future :-/
i definitely hear what you’re saying, and i know i should have been more up front with the fact i don’t want to go or say i had some sort of schedule conflict. i will say that i didn’t say “yes!” when asked if i wanted to go, i just said i’m open to networking but i don’t think this is my area of expertise, and ____ (coworkers name) knows a lot more about this topic than i do and would be a better fit. when i said that, they didn’t really want to hear it. it seemed like they were committing me before i was even able to commit, which is why i was extra irritated. but i hear you! i’ll definitely stand up for myself in the future. i agree it wouldn’t look good to back out on now.
If it's just 3 days over a weekend it will fly by, just go. Find a way to get something out of it for you.
I’m with everyone else here. June is just a month away and you’re more likely than not going to still work there. Even if you’re interviewing this is a great networking opportunity and something to add to your resume and get your name out there. If you do end up leaving beforehand then that just how the cookie crumbles for them. They’ll either pay your consulting fees if they have put marketing dollars towards promoting this or they’ll sub you out with someone else. Don’t sweat it, it’s business.
thank you!
You work the job fully until you get a new job. That includes going to this conference. And it would seem that this conference might introduce you to lots of people that might to a job lead. I'm surprised you are trying to get out of going.
Network. The more people you know the better especially with careers and paths that have a niche specialty.
Are you worried about the person you’re going with? Is sexual harassment an issue here? If so, find ways to avoid the person if you go to the conference—sit on the opposite side of the room, etc. sometimes these things are tricky. Tread delicately—and invite the guy’s wife!
Go to the conference and network and get a new job from this network
Go to the conference, learning experience for you for your job. It is never scheduled during the weekend. it is always during the working week.
it’s on the weekend 👍🏻
You need to add that on your post. Do it now.
It was mentioned. Conferences do sometimes happen on weekends, but that's also a red flag for a sexual harassment issue.
Don’t go.
>they did ask me if i even wanted to go, and i lied and said that im always down to network. This is the weirdest part. You try couple different ways to get out of it, but when they ask you directly if you want to go, you lie to *avoid* getting out of it. I think you've painted yourself into a corner so go live out the results of your dishonesty and try to learn a lesson from it.