WORK: Should I stay or should I go?

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This is the thread where you help MarkH decide whether to stay in his current job or move elsewhere.

Please.

― MarkH (MarkH), Saturday, 1 March 2003 12:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Give us the facts, Mark - or point us to where they have already been stated.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 1 March 2003 12:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, you sound really unhappy with your current place, and you've been there yonks, so going seems like the only sensible option to me.

― RickyT (RickyT), Saturday, 1 March 2003 12:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been meaning to post this for ages, incidentally. Here's the deal:

Pros

I like the people.
It's not far from home.
I don't find the work boring.

Cons

Whilst it doesn't bore me, the work doesn't challenge me either. When I decide I can't be bothered to be really keen & committed, they still tell me I'm doing a great job & meeting all my targets

The company is becoming more & more corporate with lots of little rules and regulations being enforced, covering everything from which websites we can look at to the fact we mustn't sit in Reception, it's reserved for visitors (even when there aren't any)

I don't think I'm earning enough, given my age, qualifications and experience. Particularly apposite here in Oxford, as I'd quite like to buy a property someday rather than keep on renting, and few places o/s London are so expensive

I've applied for five internal positions since I've been with the company and not got any of them. Other ppl in my dept say things like "It's pointless us applying for anything, if you can't get these jobs, what chance do we have?" This is v. flattering, but unhelpful.

― MarkH (MarkH), Saturday, 1 March 2003 12:42 (twenty-two years ago)

...of these five, two I can say, in retrospect, were ones to which I wasn't suited, but the other three I reckon I could've done and done well.

― MarkH (MarkH), Saturday, 1 March 2003 12:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Whilst it doesn't bore me, the work doesn't challenge me either. When I decide I can't be bothered to be really keen & committed, they still tell me I'm doing a great job & meeting all my targets

this isnt so bad. if you're going to move make sure you move somewhere better, because 'doesnt bore me" is actually something most peopel wish they had in a job

this is most places tho!

if you can get more money do it! or, use it as leverage

this is the worst. ask for a meeting with a sympathetic boss, and tell him you feel your advancement looks like its come to an end, and while its nice to be told you are good, its not reflected in opportunities, which you are beginning to wonder if you can find elsewhere. appear concerned, then ask him for his advice

― gareth (gareth), Saturday, 1 March 2003 12:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks Gareth, that's helpful - I fear you're right abt the corporate bit. I have been meaning to go and see my boss, it's just finding the best way of expressing my anxieties to him.

― MarkH (MarkH), Saturday, 1 March 2003 13:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Gareth is very sensible, I think. Not boring and pleasant colleagues and close to home are all very good things, so think twice before changing. If the private chat gets you nowhere, it might be time to at least look around, and applying for other jobs is not a commitment to leaving - don't throw those advantages away too easily.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 1 March 2003 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd stay, coz of the pros you mentioned.

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 1 March 2003 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Have a word with the management about the promotions thing, then choose.

A lot of people on my publishing module seem to want to get apprenticeships at B*'s. Should I warn them.

― Graham (graham), Saturday, 1 March 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you have appraisals and stuff like that??

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 1 March 2003 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

as soon as a company starts to wanna appear 'professional' and starts getting corporate and rule-oriented and stops upward movement it's time to fly. i think yr pros are weak compared to yr cons and replaceable and you'd be able to find them elsewhere. ('cept the people who you could meet for drinks anyway - mind you, lots of work relationships fizzle out once the connection of the hatred of management and love of the community has been taken away and when you meet for drinks and bitch and yell and hooray about the old days you feel dirty and never meet up again).don't be fooled into thinking cause the place is getting more professional you'll end up earning more money somewhere down the track. the fatcats at the top cream that off. i know a bad story that fits with yr's perfectly - 'cept it's happening in hyddo syddo - they're mking fuckloads outta harry potter and none's getting anything down the food chain. 'cept they do drnk verve at work drinks and get to go to footy games and sit in corporate boxes.

― Clare (not entirely unhappy), Saturday, 1 March 2003 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

i recommend you listen to 'frantic drift' by the chills - as i presently am - it'll make you feel heaps better. :-)

― Clare (not entirely unhappy), Saturday, 1 March 2003 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Going corporate = you will never, ever get another promotion or a raise, fact. The only reason I'm keeping with my gone-corporate job is because I don't have time to look for something else before the wedding I'm helping with, and this company looks like it might fold within the next year or so - if I stick it out, they'll have to buy me out. If you don't have either of those reasons, and no one is sympathetic to your wish to advance, then fuck them and go looking.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 3 March 2003 04:46 (twenty-two years ago)

The question does have to be asked though, is this the best time to jump ship? I'd only leave if you have something concrete to move on to. Circumstances aren't the best for looking for work at the moment.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 3 March 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Mark, the crucial question is that of whether you have internet access at home.

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 3 March 2003 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmm. I have internet access at home, and I'm not very happy.

― Mark C (Mark C), Monday, 3 March 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Get something lined-up first, with the state of the economy today. I've a feeling that by this time next year those of us who are employed are going to be thanking their guardian angels.

But do look around and apply and interview and such. If you're unhappy, then there's no reason to not at least see what else is available as options for you.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Monday, 3 March 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I was just gonna say the same thing that you have nothing to loose by looking for a new job. At the very very least, you'll have a better sense of what's out there and be able to make a better decision if you should stay.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Monday, 3 March 2003 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

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