Job--discouraged
 

I know I've mentioned before how I love my job and hate my job. Advice given has been to see what else is out there. Well, for all my seeming bravado I'm a big chicken who hates change, and stay with the status quo for probably the wrong reasons.

A job has come up that I am very qualified for, at another college. It's more money, and more of what I like to do and less of the aspects I don't like. Also, my experience has been that at most other schools you don't have the understaffing that we do ( a little understaffing is good, I like being busy and doing less with more, but when it's to the point that you can't do any of your job well and can never follow through like you want...that's too much stress for a perfectionist.)

The downsides are the drive (I'm about 5 minutes away from work now, would be about 45 minutes if I got the other one), the friends I have here, and I know the ropes.

My salary would increase by over half of what I currently make. I could get a decent car. I could buy some decent clothes.

I've got my resume ready, and only need to slap together a cover letter. I am almost assured an interview at the very least, due to my qualifications.

So what's the problem? I'm scared to death! However, the past few weeks I seem to be stressed to the point I close my office door and cry about once a week. I know people who used to work here and have gone on to other institutions and they report that they do not have the responsiblity of 3 people; they are less stressed.

Today, it feel easier because I came in with a good attitude, and the same old crap is hitting me in the face. I have time to write about this because I am assigned to watch a table at a "fair" we are having; most of these events I am stuck with, when I am far behind on my regular work.

I guess I am asking for encouragement. Those of you who have made a change...were scared...how do you do it?

Do you believe that what is meant to be will? This job, when I started 5 1/2 years (and two promotions ago), saved my life. I finally felt like I was doing something important. I'm tired of feeling undervalued, and I'm tired of my paycheck reflecting that. It used to be mostly about the money, so I stayed because I was happy with most other aspects. Now, I wake up in the morning with an upset stomach thinking about this place.

Ah well, thanks for letting me vent, and for listening (for the umpteenth time!) :biggrin:

I completely identify with your position.
You're close to home, you know your way around, and you don't want to learn a whole new place, with all new people.
Sure, if you were meant to sit on the couch eating cheetos and watching Jerry Springer all day, would that happen? Would it be pre-ordained by the immortal gods? You know the answer as well as I do: you're not going anywhere by staying in your comfort zone. You've got to take the leap.

I know that's true, it seems I need a big kick in the pants or a major catastrophe to make a change.

I know the feeling well, shawnee, the love/hate. i think if you look at what you posted you will find your answer.

What I have found is that change, while sometimes easy, sometimes hard, is almost always a good thing. I know how hard it is to leave work-friends--but if they are MORE than work-friends, they will still be there for you. I feel for you. I usually just sabotage myself until there isn't any alternative to the change. Don't let that happen to you--take charge and do what is in your BEST interest.

Go to the interview. What's the worst that could happen? Getting the job? Significantly better salary, closer to your personal objectives, if the job is that great, you could always move.

The average salary for what I do is six figures. I make considerably less than that. I started here from the ground up, and took this job as my own, by learning things and taking over things that other people were unwilling or unable to do, or didn't even know needed to be done. But my pay has only creeped up from what it was before.

I tell myself that I'm still learning things here, and that they are paying for my school, and that is true, I do have skills that I need to build, and I need a degree on paper; but I suspect that I could still walk out of here right now and double my salary.

In the meantime, it's close to home, and I don't have incredible pressures on me most of the time. But, just this morning, I saw a guy in the hall that I know is getting laid off soon (budget crunch), and I thought "If I somehow lost my job here, it would probably be a positive..."

I think flint is crazy.

A crazy person.

Sounds like a good job. And while a 5 minute commute is very nice, a 45 minute commute is pretty normal in this country.

These are the things I need to hear. Bri, I've done the same thing with the sabotaging...I can't do that in this situation, but I find that there are days I might!

Thanks for the advice. I can't believe how unhappy I've become here, when it used to be my raison d'etre.

You all are great, even crazy Flint! :)

Brianna, I might be crazy, but this is at the root of it: I don't feel confident enough in myself to take the leap. I don't feel confident enough in my own skills. There's so much that I need to learn; but the flipside is that I'm probably not valuing the knowledge that I do have. I don't know. I'd feel better with a degree in hand, before I go free agent.

sheeet, flint. I just meant you were garden-variety crazy. No harm meant. you know how you always tell me I'm crazy and then I tell you that the rhino looks depressed? Like that?

flint--I'm sorry. I make light when I should not. is personality flaw. forgive.

garden variety? pray no! That is left for us mere mortals.
I think Flint's more of the genius kind.


ps...who dosn't have a personality flaw?

Good advice. Just go to the interview and see what happens.

There is a reason why this opportunity has presented itself to you at this time.

Yes. I 3rd what wolf said. Remember, you get to interview them also. If you don't like them, then don't change jobs.

Great, now Flint is writing stuff that I could have written... the world doesn't need two of us!! :3_eyes:

I'm the opposite: I'm quite confident in my skills in my area of expertise, but I have no self-confidence...how does that work?

Oh, and Steve, we could use way more than two of youse guys!

My mom was in need of a job 20 some years ago and her friend said "Hey, there's an opening at the bank, you should apply there" ...knowing nothing of banking and having only worked (managed) fast-food places (as 20somethings do) she went to the interview and got the job. She worked her way up through various jobs and was such a good employee that every time one of those "budget crunches" came up...they would move her to a different office with a different job. As such she became trained in nearly every area of banking and during her final office move, she was told she would be training for management. Thing is, they didn't choose her, instead they had her perform all manager duties (without manager pay) for several months after the previous manager quit...telling her that she would be officially titled after ___ or as soon as ___ happened. Instead they brought in an untrained employee from elsewhere.

After 20some years in banking my mom was suffering depression and would cry almost every day on her way to work (it started slowly, like your once a week). Finally, she decided that it wasn't worth it. The catfights and petty arguments all the way up through management, and feeling as though she was lesser than dirt...Not worth her time and energy. A friend said..."Hey there's an opening at the prison, you should apply there!"

She was hired, and she's ever-so-much happier now. Take the leap.

I think you should go for it. Sometimes, we have to step out of that box we created to keep ourselves safe. Your qualifed - this could be that "this is the direction I need to take". If you stay in a "semi-depressed" state, from work - it's definitely time to go somewhere else. Good Luck:)

Shawnee,
The one thing that is critical to this important decision, and which everyone seems to be overlooking, is this: how will a new job affect your ability to
spend time on the Cellar?

Because, honestly, all I really care about is me.

Don't think for a second that I haven't carefully considered this aspect.

See, if I'm making better money I can get the net at home and do some drunken posting. You might actually fare better!

Then again, not sure the world is ready for drunken Shawnee posts! :)

But seriously...thanks to all of you for your words of encouragement. It means a lot to me.

oh yes it does!


@ Shawnee....is it sent off yet????

I'm with all the people who say apply, do the interview. These two things change nothing, commit you to nothing. Try it ...
45 minute commute is better than 5 minutes, because if you're five minutes late with the latter you're already late for work, but with the former you've got a chance of catching up somewheres:D !

heeeheee, one of the perks (sp?) of this job is I don't really have to worry about the clock! I wonder if it's so laid back at the other.

sky...nope, still dragging my feet! In spite of all this wonderful encouragement. Due in 10 days, but I hope to send it tomorrow. :blush:

What?! What good is my advice if you refuse to heed it? I feel so used. Send it today, woman. TODAY.

Yeah, I'm trying to post drunk here too. We could have a bottle of crap wine together from afar. (After work) :)

Better get your priorities straight miss.

go for it. Like education, time spent interviewing is never wasted, especially if you are not confident in your interview skills.

Shawnee, people actually take jobs for *less* money when what they are doing makes their lives miserable. More money, less stress, in a field you are well qualified for? Um...no brainer. You *must* go interview.

You've already passed up the weekend of your life by not accepting my repeated innuendos. Don't pass this up. :D

Shawnee, if I typed out that huge post and you don't go to that interview, I'm going to have to do something drastic...

Do it.

Do it now.

Just curious - unless I missed it somewhere....

DID YOU SEND IT - Enquiring Minds Want To Know or atleast mine does - anyhoo - you said it was due by the 28th, that's only 4 days away.

Yep, sent it...thanks for asking! :)

After this day, I'm very glad I did.

Good For You - Hope you get the job. You deserve it.

I was just wondering about this myself. Glad you took the step.

Ooooh I missed this first time round
WELL DONE YOU!

First step - and I know it took courage to do it
good on ya

Shawnee, don't worry about the commute. Once you get the bucks, you can buy a McMansion right next to the new office.

lol...I don't really want to move but I'll buy a nice McCar! ;)

When do you expect some kind of response from them?

There are a couple more days before the deadline...so I would guess the week after that?

(Excuse me while I go throw up. I hate change, even if it's just the remote thought of possible change!) :)

There is no change, without the remote.

:lol: spoken like a true male.