For a friend. A job has been advertised that matches hers. Should she worry

[Kittycat]

Have seen a few threads but didn't want to hijack one.
My friend asked for advice and I told her about this site, so asking for her.

She works in a small office. Her role entails helping the Marketing manager to manage various things like ebay, amazon, Facebook, website listings of the items they sell. She also helps with the listing inventory, reports, various other roles like this,
Today she said she saw "her job" advertised on reed. Though her job has not got a set name, the job roles matched what she is doing.
She is a lovely lady and works so hard for them. Starting early, working in her lunch, even over xmas to ensure customers are served effectively and listings are monitored. She helps them to sell on products not needed anymore and has helped them to make a lot of money.

Now she has admitted the company is growing and her manager did mention getting new staff last year to help with the inventory and listings on ebay. But she works next to the director and the marketing manager and neither has mentioned adding a New person. So she is worried they are replacing her.

She has worked with them 16 months, never been in trouble etc etc. Never been late for work, never been sick and has even worked overtime and never asked for the extra money.

Working on the net, research and even managing the Facebook page is part of her job. She spends 80% of her time on the internet and manages 4 personal ebay profiles for the company
She is worried they may think she is using facebook unrelated to work. Being on the net, surfing and research is part of her job. She is worried they might have seen her on FB and assumed it was for bad reasons. They have not spoken to her about it.
I am trying to convince her not to worry, but she needs more then her optimistic friend to calm her down!
I have told her its possible, as they are approaching their busy season, that the company is growing and the extra person is needed to share the workload as well as free up the Marketing manager to drum up more business etc

[teaboy2]

Re: For a friend. A job has been advertised that matches hers. Should she worry

If her worries had any foundation they probably would have asked her in to a meeting and warned her about it, not to mention threatened disciplinary proceedings, in regards to internet usage etc. But they haven't.

She has also said her self that they had said they were expanding - That means more products, inventory, listings on ebay etc, which in turn generates more customers, more comments on facebook, more customer queries/complaints etc. So they are seeking additional staff to do her role alongside her, not to replace her by the sounds of things.

Though obviously am only assuming that to be the likely scenario, so for the benefit of doubt and resolving her concerns, she would probably be best politely and informally speaking to her manager about this in a friendly but concerned manner, and informing them she is concerned they may be trying to replace her. Though make it clear it was a friend of hers that saw the advert and not herself, as they may think well is she looking for another job, if they knew she'd been looking on Reeds website!

I own an online business myself, so i know how much work is involved etc. To be honest though, i don't yet list on ebay or amazon, though i am looking to list on ebay using a software module (script) on my company website to draw products from my website to list on ebay, though bit buggy at moment, and in negotiations with eBay regarding their listing limits imposed on new seller accounts. Not to mention their requirement for image sizes! So if your friend has any tips regarding ebay and listing on ebay, then i'd sure like to hear them.

[Kittycat]

Re: For a friend. A job has been advertised that matches hers. Should she worry

Thanks for that.
I have told her not to worry. Her company sounds like a good one and they are expanding more and more.
She is a worrier by nature.

She actually noticed the ad when she was job searching for her Internet inept father hehe!!
I have recently started a job in a school and the HR department is well versed in employee rights etc. I am sure if I asked someone there, they will say the same thing about it all. Esp about her worries about her internet usage, They would have spoken to her by now. Warned her, got her side of story etc They wouldn't go outright and start advertising her job.
She is a typical worrier

[Kittycat]

Re: For a friend. A job has been advertised that matches hers. Should she worry

Oh and I am sure she will help with tips.

[teaboy2]

Re: For a friend. A job has been advertised that matches hers. Should she worry

Yeah she certainly sounded like a worrier by nature from what you described in your original post.

Great, would she like my email address or can she sign up on LB and Private message me?

[Kittycat]

Re: For a friend. A job has been advertised that matches hers. Should she worry

Thanks.
I think I have calmed her a bit. I have relayed your advice and she has calmed a bit.
Let me have your email address, I will def pass it onto her and get her to contact you.

[teaboy2]

Re: For a friend. A job has been advertised that matches hers. Should she worry

Thanks.
I think I have calmed her a bit. I have relayed your advice and she has calmed a bit.
Let me have your email address, I will def pass it onto her and get her to contact you.

Good glad shes calmed down now, shes nothing to worry about, not when they are expanding and have even been open to her about their plans, especially if her work load is is likely to double as clearly she can only list x amount of listings and respond to x amount customers and do x amount of marketing per day. All of which increase when you expand! Only so much one person can do!

I shall send you a PM with my email address in next few minutes - Thanks