Job--discouraged

Shawnee123 · 09-17-2007, 10:36 AM

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!)

Flint · 09-17-2007, 10:49 AM

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.

Quote:

Do you believe that what is meant to be will?

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.

Shawnee123 · 09-17-2007, 10:52 AM

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

Trilby · 09-17-2007, 10:55 AM

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.

wolf · 09-17-2007, 11:01 AM

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.

Flint · 09-17-2007, 11:03 AM

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..."

Trilby · 09-17-2007, 11:06 AM

I think flint is crazy.

A crazy person.

glatt · 09-17-2007, 11:07 AM

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

Shawnee123 · 09-17-2007, 11:10 AM

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!

Flint · 09-17-2007, 11:12 AM

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.

Trilby · 09-17-2007, 11:15 AM

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.

skysidhe · 09-17-2007, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

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?

skysidhe · 09-17-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

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.

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

smurfalicious · 09-17-2007, 12:20 PM

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

barefoot serpent · 09-17-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skysidhe

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

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

09-17-2007, 10:36 AM	#1
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	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!) __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

09-17-2007, 10:52 AM	#3
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I know that's true, it seems I need a big kick in the pants or a major catastrophe to make a change. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

09-17-2007, 10:55 AM	#4
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	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. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

09-17-2007, 11:01 AM	#5
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	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. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

09-17-2007, 11:03 AM	#6
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	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..." __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

09-17-2007, 11:06 AM	#7
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I think flint is crazy. A crazy person. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

09-17-2007, 11:07 AM	#8
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Sounds like a good job. And while a 5 minute commute is very nice, a 45 minute commute is pretty normal in this country.

09-17-2007, 11:10 AM	#9
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	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! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

09-17-2007, 11:12 AM	#10
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	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. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

09-17-2007, 11:15 AM	#11
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	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. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

09-17-2007, 12:20 PM	#14
smurfalicious Tool. Not the band - you are one. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 501 Northlake Blvd., North Palm Beach FL Posts: 329	There is a reason why this opportunity has presented itself to you at this time. __________________

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