When I interviewed for this role, I shared that I would accept a position at Nike if I was allowed the opportunity to also serve as a consultant who will have a voice in design decisions, and not just as a developer who will simply be seen as an order taker. I made this request because, as a senior instructional designer and e-learning developer with over 15 years experience, I need to be able to exercise some level of independence based on my extensive background in the field. The hiring manager agreed with what I was seeking and raised no concerns with my request. I was quickly offered the position shortly afterward.
However, once I was brought on board, not only did I not get a proper introduction to the rest of my team, but I was immediately thrown into a mountain of work without the appropriate amount of time needed to gather and review the necessary content from SMEs and properly develop the course material. This problem has persisted for several projects throughout my time here and has contributed to work-life balance issues. Whenever I inquire about the rationale for the aggressive timelines that management had set, I am simply ignored or told there is nothing that can be done. To make matters worse, management insists on micromanaging every design decision, which often leads to chaotic and rushed development. This is something I have never experienced anywhere else in my career.
Due to management’s poor project management skills, they end up sabotaging our team's ability to be creative, independent, and meet client deadlines. Even though management has admitted that they lack the technical skills needed to assist us with the development of online training, they refuse to rely on more knowledgeable team members to help inform more realistic project timelines based on their development experience. As a result, we have often let down several clients and have lost several ETWs due to being burned out or scared away. Meanwhile, the reason given to others for the high turnover in our team is typically not based on truth (e.g. health reasons, personal family matters).
If you are considering a position like this one in the organization (whether as an FTE or ETW), please take the time to ask critical questions to help you make an informed decision. Ask about the team’s turnover rate, project deadlines, and whether you will have a meaningful voice in design decisions. If the responses you receive are vague or sound like lip service, that should be a red flag and your cue to look elsewhere.
