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I've been in the same role for almost 11 years. I'm 37 and work in a department of 7 -- four of whom are set to retire in the next few years. After pushing for a promotion in my dept and getting nowhere, I applied for several available positions in other departments within the organization. One of them offered less than what I currently make and would have ended up being a lateral move, so I passed.
Last summer, I applied and interviewed for a more senior role that would have been a step up, but I didn't get it. And a month ago I applied/interviewed for two positions within the same department -- I figured it'd better my odds -- and got the first rejection today.
As my daughter is a little over 9 months old, there's no question I'm looking for stability first and foremost -- and my company has provided just that. It's been a huge disappointment when it comes to growth, however.
I'm not learning any new skills, and the ones I currently have are being under-utilized. The 4 coworkers nearing retirement are extremely old school; they're pretty much settled and counting down the days until retirement.
The lady I report to now is the department head; she inherited me after my direct supervisor of 9 years retired. As an AVP, she has too much on her plate to dedicate time to mentoring me and has trotted out excuse after excuse everytime I've asked whether I could get a title change/pay boost to account for those tacked-on responsibilities.
She agreed I deserve one, but hasn't done anything to move the needle. She's really seemed tone-deaf to the whole thing, probably assuming I'll stick around forever. (The foursome mentioned above have each been with the company 25-45 years.
Is this the kind of environment that a 37-year-old should work in?
I'm in the interviewing process as we speak for a job with a different employer. It's possible I could go from $67,000 to 90,000ish should I get it. My current employer lets us work from home twice a week, but the new employer allows WFH only on Fridays.
I've been yearning for a change in scenery for awhile now. Working on the same projects -- with the same people -- for so long is killing my soul. And, yes, I'm already doing side projects, but my day job isn't giving me the intellectual satisfaction I crave.
I'd be taking something of a gamble here, but isn't it better to regret doing something than to regret not doing something and be left wondering what could have happened?
One of the 4 older folks I mentioned earlier told me that he could have gotten further in his career had he left many moons ago, but he got too cozy. If I were in my 50s or 60s, I'd love to be in my current job. But I just don't feel I'm ready to settle yet, and my biggest fear is to be left here with no clear path forward once all of these folks hang their hats. All I know is that I've hit a major dead end in this company.
Thoughs? Thanks for reading.
Last edited by Wordsmith12; 08-27-2022 at 07:34 PM..
Time to go. They've shown, both directly through your attempts to move up, and indirectly through others who didn't move up that they simply don't promote people. Continuing to spin your wheels will leave you in this same place with these same issues when you hit 50.
It's just describing trite generic movements within a nameless corporate job and industry.
If you ask generic questions, you get generic answers.
For instance, here would be a post with substance...
"I've been an ICU nurse for 6 years and I make very good money, but it's burning me out and it's too difficult. How would going to be a nurse at an adult day care facility and taking a pay cut change my life?"
Or...
"I've spent 4 years working for Fidelity as an analyst and I'm thinking of going into Mechanical Engineering."
Or...
"I've been doing XX for XX years and I'm 37 years old and it sucks. What can I switch into?" Even that has more substance.
I mean... based on the vague nature of you post, a vague answer would be... "Sure, put out resumes and you can get a job you love doing something different making 50% more money, have a more impressive job title." I mean, sure why couldn't you right?
Years ago, I left a nice position after a larger company acquired us. The acquiring company mentioned that there would be imminent “changes”, but offered no specifics. I thought I would get “laid off.”
A few weeks later, I received a call from a recruiter, about joining a start-up. I interviewed and received an offer, with higher compensation than my current role.
I resigned and joined the start-up. After being at the start-up for a month, I realized that I made a big mistake. The start-up was a disorganized disaster.
I tried to come back to my old position, but it already had been filled. You live and learn!
Years ago, I left a nice position after a larger company acquired us. The acquiring company mentioned that there would be imminent “changes”, but offered no specifics. I thought I would get “laid off.”
A few weeks later, I received a call from a recruiter, about joining a start-up. I interviewed and received an offer, with higher compensation than my current role.
I resigned and joined the start-up. After being at the start-up for a month, I realized that I made a big mistake. The start-up was a disorganized disaster.
I tried to come back to my old position, but it already had been filled. You live and learn!
I worked for two start-ups prior to my current role with a large organization so I know what a pain they can be.
The company I'm interviewing with is large and well-established.
It isn't motivating at all when the people amongst you are just counting down the days until retirement.
As I alluded to earlier, if I were in their age group, I'd be wholly content. But I'm only 37, in the prime of my career.
I have a lot of PTO saved up, but luckily I'll be able to cash it all out when I leave. My wife and I don't intend to resume vacations until my daughter's old enough to remember them, so I think cashing out works best for us. It precludes my losing the time for not using it. Plus, at the new firm, I'd have health insurance and 2 weeks of vacay from day 1.
I've been in the same role for almost 11 years. I'm 37 and work in a department of 7 -- four of whom are set to retire in the next few years. After pushing for a promotion in my dept and getting nowhere, I applied for several available positions in other departments within the organization. One of them offered less than what I currently make and would have ended up being a lateral move, so I passed.
Last summer, I applied and interviewed for a more senior role that would have been a step up, but I didn't get it. And a month ago I applied/interviewed for two positions within the same department -- I figured it'd better my odds -- and got the first rejection today.
As my daughter is a little over 9 months old, there's no question I'm looking for stability first and foremost -- and my company has provided just that. It's been a huge disappointment when it comes to growth, however.
I'm not learning any new skills, and the ones I currently have are being under-utilized. The 4 coworkers nearing retirement are extremely old school; they're pretty much settled and counting down the days until retirement.
The lady I report to now is the department head; she inherited me after my direct supervisor of 9 years retired. As an AVP, she has too much on her plate to dedicate time to mentoring me and has trotted out excuse after excuse everytime I've asked whether I could get a title change/pay boost to account for those tacked-on responsibilities.
She agreed I deserve one, but hasn't done anything to move the needle. She's really seemed tone-deaf to the whole thing, probably assuming I'll stick around forever. (The foursome mentioned above have each been with the company 25-45 years.
Is this the kind of environment that a 37-year-old should work in?
I'm in the interviewing process as we speak for a job with a different employer. It's possible I could go from $67,000 to 90,000ish should I get it. My current employer lets us work from home twice a week, but the new employer allows WFH only on Fridays.
I've been yearning for a change in scenery for awhile now. Working on the same projects -- with the same people -- for so long is killing my soul. And, yes, I'm already doing side projects, but my day job isn't giving me the intellectual satisfaction I crave.
I'd be taking something of a gamble here, but isn't it better to regret doing something than to regret not doing something and be left wondering what could have happened?
One of the 4 older folks I mentioned earlier told me that he could have gotten further in his career had he left many moons ago, but he got too cozy. If I were in my 50s or 60s, I'd love to be in my current job. But I just don't feel I'm ready to settle yet, and my biggest fear is to be left here with no clear path forward once all of these folks hang their hats. All I know is that I've hit a major dead end in this company.
Thoughs? Thanks for reading.
Personally, I wouldn’t consider 67k after 11 years very cozy.
Time to move on. Let them dangle one carrot in front of you that may fall through, I understand business needs, etc can change, but when the second carrot falls through, it’s time to move on.
Could you wait out until those people retire? With the size of your department decreased, surely some movement could happen for you (not 100% certainty, of course).
If something kills your soul, nothing else matters. Your soul should be the most precious thing to be looked after.
As my daughter is a little over 9 months old, there's no question I'm looking for stability first and foremost -- and my company has provided just that.
A yearning for stability, militates against making changes, if what you already have, is sufficiently stable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wordsmith12
...I'd be taking something of a gamble here, but isn't it better to regret doing something than to regret not doing something and be left wondering what could have happened?
No! A particularly awful thing, is to have pursued an unforced change, only to find the new position to be inferior to the old.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wordsmith12
... If I were in my 50s or 60s, I'd love to be in my current job. But I just don't feel I'm ready to settle yet, and my biggest fear is to be left here with no clear path forward once all of these folks hang their hats. ...
You're only 13 years away from being 50 yourself. But the biggest question is, "once all of these folks hang their hats", will their positions become available, for a comparative youngster like you? There are several alternatives. One is, that a person who's presently 55, will remain on the job, even at 70 or 75. Then there's no vacancy for such a one as you, to then fill. Is there currently such a trend? Or, once the elders leave, their places might be filled by hiring from outside of the company. Is that currently happening? If neither of these are true, your feature is perhaps quite OK in this company.
There are worse things in life, than a staid and uninspiring reliability.
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