Wait it out at an easy job or move on internally? (applying, jobs)

[James2016]

Hello,
I accepted a job at a great, large company almost a year ago. Hands down, it is the easiest job I've ever had. Its not stressful, I am great at what I do, and management takes notice. I work overnights, so its not too busy. Its a help-desk type of job. Although its a distance cousin to the call center, this is the furthest I've gotten post college from a non-call center job. That's the only down side, I suppose. I would love a job where a headset isn't required!


In August I will be able to apply elsewhere in departments. I would like to see what else is out there, but I don't know if its too soon? I feel this is an entry level position; however, my coworkers have been here, in this department, much longer than me. In some cases, I was in diapers when they started here. There isn't any movement up in this department; however, I would like something more challenging, more engaging more..important?


I sometimes feel, as a whole, as if this whole department could be wiped out (and it was in 2008, I guess) and the company would keep moving on with no one batting an eye. I've been reassured that, here in 2016, that isn't the case. Although we are a help desk, I feel that I am constantly saying "oh that's not us..you need to contact XYZ department". This paragraph alone makes me want to get out ASAP. This is my first job with this company, a company that I plan on retiring with. I am only 30 years old, so I have several more years ahead of me.


Part of me feels as if I need to build some consistency in this department/company. If I just need to stay here for 5 years to build a foundation. The other part of me feels that I should apply right off to other departments, get a bump in salary and hit the ground running while I am still young. Like I said above, if I do that, it'll stray away from my coworkers who have been here for 10-20 years with no plans on leaving. I have a feeling that they are comfortable doing what they currently do, and are not challenged. I need a new challenge. My other concern is my manager. I am afraid she will say something like "Oh wow, you want to move to a different department already? Its only been a year! I wouldn't hired you if I knew you'd only stick around for a year and leave me."


Is there a "right" road, or a best course of action?


Thank you!
James

[leadingedge04]

You did your year- so why not? Its not like you're looking to leave the company, just the department. Any good manager should understand.

[James2016]

Thank you. I will have to wait and see. Still waiting on a good job to come along.

[patches403]

Help desk is basically a dead-end position - the fact that many of your co-workers have been in the same position for 20 years or more pretty-much confirms that. There is absolutely no upside to staying in that department one second longer than you have to - so yes if you have any ambitions to move up you should start applying for other jobs within the company at your first opportunity. The longer you stay in that help desk position, the more likely you'll be stuck there because it will be assumed by management that you have no ambition to move up. Waiting 5 years to apply to other jobs would be crazy - what foundation would you be building? More experience in a help-desk role? That won't help you to move up within the company.

You should be applying at other companies as well - the odds of you making it 30 years at this one company are not high because few people stay an entire career at one company these days, but they're especially bad if you stay in your current department. Help desk departments are pretty easy positions to outsource and most companies do at one point or another.

[Disgustedman]

Start looking, a year is good. Shows you stuck it out.