Not going anywhere.. (Full Version)

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sketch1000 -> Not going anywhere.. (4/1/2009 2:52:29 PM)

hello everyone,

I have had the feeling for sometime now, that my career is going nowhere and I would be interested to know whether others have been in a similar situation and how you might resolve it.

I have a technical degree, and did well in my studies, but after 7 years of working, I haven't really learned a lot or moved on in my career. I am now 30 and I can't believe my 20s have gone by without me moving much above where I was when I left university.

I have just been stuck in a cycle of doing mundane work, and not really knowing how to break out of the pattern. I feel as if I have learnt very little since university.

Anyway i would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar issues

thanks a lot

sketch



mvic -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/1/2009 3:22:01 PM)

Hi Sketch,

Welcome to the Forums.

Thanx for sharing your story. At these times of economic diffficulties a job is something to treasure. I appreciate how you feel and I would recommend that perhaps you learn a new skill whilst working.

Are there any evening classes related to the work you are doing where you can learn the next stage up as it were? Have you discussed opportunities for advancement with your employer? Courses to attend? Possibility of supervisory or managerial positions?

I'm praying for you that you soon find joy and fulfilment in whatever work you do.

God bless.



NoShow -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/1/2009 4:41:22 PM)

I think more often, than not, one has to be very, very proactive, when it comes to their career.

You need to figure out where you want to go and come up with a plan to get there. Talk to whomever you need to, in order to accomplish this. Take upon yourself, doing whatever is needed. As mvic mentioned, this may require you making a time and money commitment to increase your knowledge\skills.



DeProfundis -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/1/2009 5:03:57 PM)

Hello Sketch. As a twenty-nine year old who's on that expressway to nowhere, I can empathize in many ways. Wish I had some real wisdom to offer, but this will likely come off as disjointed rambling. Furthermore, if you're passionate about your chosen profession and nothing but advancement in that field will satisfy, the dilemma is amplified and my approach will be useless.

Toward the end of my university career, I realized that I would never be devoted enough to a single discipline to find satisfaction in graduate school or a respectable career. Much to the heartbreak of family and professors who believed I was heading somewhere in life, I began farming. The parts of the job involving outdoor physical labor hold some appeal, but the work is often unstimulating and I'm not especially fulfilled by it.

Fortunately, I am a natural autodidact, consumed by curoisity about anything and everything. My job is functional; it pays the bills and funds my silly exploits. Off hours are spent reading, taking classes, pursuing hobbies and volunteer opportunities, travelling, and generally doing whatever catches my fancy at the moment. Perhaps it's an immature and selfish lifestyle, cobbled together with mismatched parts and duct tape, but it seems to work. Sort of.

Am I satisfied? Not really, but I'm not convinced anyone is. Do I feel alone and devoid of direction and purpose? All too often. Life didn't come with a guidebook, but I manage to stumble through the days and nights. Shoot, I'm even happy on occasion. But there is no magic bullet.

Reading back over this, I fear it might be an example of self delusion rather than coherent advice, and for that I apologize. I pray you find some measure of peace regardless.



Elena1030 -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/1/2009 5:48:24 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DeProfundis

Hello, Sketch. As a twenty-nine year old who's on that expressway to nowhere, I can empathize in many ways. Wish I had some real wisdom to offer, but this will likely come off as disjointed rambling. Furthermore, if you're passionate about your chosen profession and nothing but advancement in that field will satisfy, the dilemma is amplified and my approach will be useless.

Toward the end of my university career, I realized that I would never be devoted enough to a single discipline to find satisfaction in graduate school or a respectable career. Much to the heartbreak of family and professors who believed I was heading somewhere in life, I began farming. The parts of the job involving outdoor physical labor hold some appeal, but the work is often unstimulating and I'm not especially fulfilled by it.

Fortunately, I am a natural autodidact, consumed by curoisity about anything and everything. My job is functional; it pays the bills and funds my silly exploits. Off hours are spent reading, taking classes, pursuing hobbies and volunteer opportunities, travelling, and generally doing whatever catches my fancy at the moment. Perhaps it's an immature and selfish lifestyle, cobbled together with mismatched parts and duct tape, but it seems to work. Sort of.

Am I satisfied? Not really, but I'm not convinced anyone is. Do I feel alone and devoid of direction and purpose? All too often. Life didn't come with a guidebook, but I manage to stumble through the days and nights. Shoot, I'm even happy on occasion. But there is no magic bullet.

Reading back over this, I fear it might be an example of self delusion rather than coherent advice, and for that I apologize. I pray you find some measure of peace regardless.


DeProfundis,

I think you've got a book lurking in you. [:D] Your writing is clear, succinct, and cogent. (I've read your other posts.) Who knows.... You could write Wisdom from a Farmer: Nuggets Discovered in Unexpected Places. Or... something akin to that.



quote:

Am I satisfied? Not really, but I'm not convinced anyone is. Do I feel alone and devoid of direction and purpose? All too often. Life didn't come with a guidebook, but I manage to stumble through the days and nights. Shoot, I'm even happy on occasion. But there is no magic bullet.


So true.


quote:

Perhaps it's an immature and selfish lifestyle, cobbled together with mismatched parts and duct tape, but it seems to work.


And if you're glorifying God in it and by it, then you are still fulfilling His purpose. You are right: not everyone has to follow the "usual" paradigm.





quote:

hello everyone,

I have had the feeling for sometime now, that my career is going nowhere and I would be interested to know whether others have been in a similar situation and how you might resolve it.

I have a technical degree, and did well in my studies, but after 7 years of working, I haven't really learned a lot or moved on in my career. I am now 30 and I can't believe my 20s have gone by without me moving much above where I was when I left university.

I have just been stuck in a cycle of doing mundane work, and not really knowing how to break out of the pattern. I feel as if I have learnt very little since university.

Anyway i would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar issues

thanks a lot

sketch



Sketch,

As an almost-34-year-old woman whose life hasn't gone quite as she had planned, I also can empathize with you to some degree.

Look back on your life and try to find the lessons you have learned, the interesting things you have discovered, the cool stuff you've read. Make a list, or write a journal about those things. Doing so is akin to the Hebrews' putting up piles of stone to mark the spots where God did His marvelous works on their behalf and for His glory. Remember the treasures that God has brought you. He hasn't forgotten them; we humans do. (Hence His insistence that the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews celebrate festivals and perform other traditional rituals -- as visual, auditory, and experiential reminders of what He had done.)

Though these things may not mound up to equal a life that the world implies (or outright states) that we must have (ie. meet certain benchmarks by certain ages/stages of life), the treasures do not lack value.

It's a process, of course. Some days you're going to feel as if life means very little. Those are the days when the sheer ordinariness of life seems to be powerful enough to crush you under its load. Other days will have moments of great joy, unimaginable clarity, or deep crisis and pain. Be glad! If every day was a roller coaster, would we humans mentally and emotionally survive that kind of life?

Many people go through similar times as you are experiencing now. And you don't have to "fix" it now. But certainly, God doesn't want you to stay in this feeling forever. And I believe that He won't allow you to do so.

Ask Him what He wants you to learn/understand in this season. Ask Him to reveal/illuminate the treasures He has placed in your life, now and in the past.
And know that though the answer from Him may take longer than you'd like, the answer indeed is on its way. (See Isaiah 65:24.)



sketch1000 -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/1/2009 6:59:12 PM)

DeProfundis,

Thank you for your reply I found it interesting. The point that I take from your reply is to think about priorities. I'm guessing that for you work is just a way of earning enough to do what you really enjoy - which is great. Who says we have to get our satisfaction in life out of our jobs? For many people they feel that there real worth is in what they do in their evenings and weekends.

Another point you make is that no-one is satisfied with their jobs, and perhaps that is true. I certainly think that there is no such thing as a perfect job. There is no such thing as a perfect anything



sketch1000 -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/1/2009 7:01:58 PM)

Thanks for your response Elena,
I'll think about that

regards

sketch



RJR_fan -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/1/2009 9:54:27 PM)

quote:

Anyway i would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar issues


Here's an interesting comment from an IT guy, posted HERE:

quote:

I feel sorry for those who have lost their job. Those who read this - I hope you will learn something. Having worked for dozens of employers, including XYZ; I learned one thing - go for the gold. After my first "layoff;" which was advertised as several hundred people - which in fact was several thousand (about 40 years ago) I learned that working for "me" and not them was going to be the game plan. Every new job, a break in looking for a new job - was a short holiday. One month to size up the job, look down the road, take what the boss was offering and start looking for another job.

Never look back, nobody's going to cry for you, but you. Believe in the motto; hope for the best - expect the worst. Working in the 21st century is a real combat experience. Make a game plan; only way to succeed. Look at each opportunity as just that an opportunity. Don't stop buying the lottery tickets......

Those who work at XYZ; did you take avantage of all that was offered or were you one who said why me, do what!, no time.... Well at least you had a very informative learning experience. Now get on with your life. Working at XYZ qualifies you for almost every job being offered. Remember, training & education is half the game. Those still employed, shop arround try indeed.com


Ths sounds a lot like the parable of the crooked manager in Luke 16.



DeProfundis -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/1/2009 11:04:29 PM)

quote:

Look back on your life and try to find the lessons you have learned, the interesting things you have discovered, the cool stuff you've read. Make a list, or write a journal about those things. Doing so is akin to the Hebrews' putting up piles of stone to mark the spots where God did His marvelous works on their behalf and for His glory. Remember the treasures that God has brought you. He hasn't forgotten them; we humans do. (Hence His insistence that the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews celebrate festivals and perform other traditional rituals -- as visual, auditory, and experiential reminders of what He had done.) Though these things may not mound up to equal a life that the world implies (or outright states) that we must have (ie. meet certain benchmarks by certain ages/stages of life), the treasures do not lack value.


"Hmmm, your ideas intrigue me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter." Nah, in all seriousness, this is nicely stated. Most of us have a tragic penchant for letting some real treasures slide away unappreciated while we're chasing that next benchmark, panacea, phantom, or whatever. Cliched as it might be, life is what happens while we're making other plans. Too bad most of us have to figure that out the hard way.

quote:

Your writing is clear, succinct, and cogent.


Uh oh, ego boost! I thank you and am glad you enjoyed the posts. To borrow an exchange from The History of the World, it's difficult to "coalesce the vapor of human experience into a viable and logical comprehension" without exposing yourself as the BS artist you are. When the big three-oh is barreling down like a freight train with a tweaked up bonobo at the throttle, a man grows a bit too philosophical.

quote:

Thank you for your reply I found it interesting. The point that I take from your reply is to think about priorities. I'm guessing that for you work is just a way of earning enough to do what you really enjoy - which is great. Who says we have to get our satisfaction in life out of our jobs? For many people they feel that there real worth is in what they do in their evenings and weekends.

Another point you make is that no-one is satisfied with their jobs, and perhaps that is true. I certainly think that there is no such thing as a perfect job. There is no such thing as a perfect anything


Yeah, I think that pretty well summarizes it, but to be honest, even I'm not certain what I'm trying to get at most the time. I need to work on that whole "brevity is...wit" thing. Oh well. If you ever get it all puzzled out, please let me in on the secret.



uncabeeil -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/2/2009 10:39:54 AM)

As someone who'd been in the workforce longer than you've been alive, I've got a question.

Is it the work, or is it the work place?

I've been in the same type of job (purchasing/inventory control) for most of my working career and the one thing I've learned is that where I work has as much effect on my attitude as the work itself does. I'm doing a lot of the same duties that I did 35 years ago when I first started working and I'm happier than ever. Only because of where I'm working. So take a look around you and see what you can do to improve your workplace. If that's not an option, then update your resume and start floating it.



-Justyna- -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/17/2009 5:27:38 PM)

Im 27 and I dont even have a career. I have worked before but they were just dead end jobs. I would love to have a CAEER I was BORED WITH. I think you are ahead than most people here because you have a job. I dont even have a job currently. [&:]

My advice would be try to enjoy and appreciate what you *do* have.[:)]



NotDoneYet -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/26/2009 2:54:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sketch1000

hello everyone,

I have had the feeling for sometime now, that my career is going nowhere and I would be interested to know whether others have been in a similar situation and how you might resolve it.

I have a technical degree, and did well in my studies, but after 7 years of working, I haven't really learned a lot or moved on in my career. I am now 30 and I can't believe my 20s have gone by without me moving much above where I was when I left university.

I have just been stuck in a cycle of doing mundane work, and not really knowing how to break out of the pattern. I feel as if I have learnt very little since university.

Anyway i would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar issues

thanks a lot

sketch


If you haven't learned a lot or moved up in your career, then maybe you need to step back and come up with some goals. Meet with your supervisor and come up with a "road map" to get to the next level. Find out what you need to learn, find someone who is doing the job a step up from you and attempt to do the same. If I had someone working for me that was "happy" doing the same thing after 7 years, had not attempted to reach out or up for more responsibilities, I would not look upon that person terribly favorably.
As an aside...I've been working in the same place now for 9 years...I was a "late bloomer" when it came to college...anyway...in those 9 years I have moved up the ranks...by looking for opportunities, by learning all I could about my job, by looking to people in positions above me and getting them to mentor me. It has worked. My next step up will be just below a supervisory position...although right now I have a team of 4 working for me...I lead them and mentor them the same way I was led and mentored...and they'll be moving up the ranks too.



AnalystsAreUs -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/26/2009 7:57:26 PM)

With the job market what it is, be thankful that you even have a job.

That being said, sometimes you have to create your own work that you would like to pursue.



blessedinnyc -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (4/30/2009 7:50:59 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sketch1000

hello everyone,

I have had the feeling for sometime now, that my career is going nowhere and I would be interested to know whether others have been in a similar situation and how you might resolve it.

I have a technical degree, and did well in my studies, but after 7 years of working, I haven't really learned a lot or moved on in my career. I am now 30 and I can't believe my 20s have gone by without me moving much above where I was when I left university.

I have just been stuck in a cycle of doing mundane work, and not really knowing how to break out of the pattern. I feel as if I have learnt very little since university.

Anyway i would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar issues

thanks a lot

sketch

Technical degree? Does this mean an Associates or a Bachelor's?

Maybe it is time to go back to school.



DragsAndRags -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (5/4/2009 1:23:55 PM)

I feel your pain.

I work in software engineering (glorified term for "programmer" who can also create and process large piles of paperwork). When I was first hired as an intern for my company, and even after graduating and becoming a real employee with the company, I was very excited going into work. I didn't care if I got accolades or not, I worked my best and hardest for the Lord and to bless my company. I was told I was on the "fast track" and was encouraged as a junior engineer to take initiative for leadership and mentoring. I was also encouraged to be proactive in pointing out technical problems when I saw them so they could be discussed and corrected by the team. I did all these things, thinking that was part of my job, since that was what I was encouraged to do. These things are also what they look for in promoting people.

It all backfired over the last two years. Slowly. All it takes is one or two very well connected senior people to ruin your career. I can sum it up in two words: Office politics. It's nasty. And I didn't have anyone kind enough to mentor me in it. All the things I listed above I did my best at. I wasn't always perfect in how I did it. But that's where a mentor would have helped. Instead, the senior people I looked at to be honest with me and mentor me turned around and back-stabbed me. At first it was small things. I think they were embarrassed. I was a "rising star." They were worried I was going to take their jobs someday. I didn't want their jobs. I just wanted mine. And I wanted to do well at mine.

I eventually hit a very hard problem to solve at work. I was about to leave a project and go onto a new one, because of the office politics problems I was having. The thing is, I couldn't leave overnight, I had to stay a few months and wrap up my tasks and mentor someone to hand them over to. That's when one of my supervisors on the project started sharpening her axe. She was very patient to wait for the right moment. I just didn't quite have the expertise to know how to solve the problem, and was asking for help from an expert in the area. My supervisor on the project turned around and told me not to bother the expert. So I didn't, but that didn't stop me from telling my supervisor as time went on and the problem wasn't solved that I still needed help. Just even an hour of the expert's time would have been enough. And I still didn't get it. And I started running out of ideas to try and got very discouraged and frustrated. And running out of ideas, what do you do then? Time for my mid-year performance review came, and my supervisor had given my team lead a list of 1000 things to hang me with. One of them being that I was making up excuses and didn't really need an expert's help. Where my team lead had said that it would be OK for the expert to spare an hour, suddenly he couldn't and I was being unreasonable to ask! They told me the expert I was begging to have help from couldn't really help me with the problem because he hadn't worked in the related area/project that the problem had arisen in, even though I knew he had. I was told I wasn't trying hard enough. They even reached back into the prior year where I had gotten great reviews to find dirt on me. How I had done a lousy job at this or that, for things I had been told "good job" to my face. Even if I could manage to disprove one accusation, I still had 999 to go. It was literally death by a thousand cuts. Which is exactly what my supervisor on the project had in mind. She wanted me to hang and be defenseless, and she was using this problem I had run into to grind her axe.

To save my job, I had to be incredibly humble and apologize for the 1000 charges brought against me. Then I still had to solve that problem. And oh did I pray for God to help me solve it! I was so scared! And still not getting any real help! A miracle did happen. God pointed me to the very source of the problem, something I had missed 500 times. I could have kept missing it and been stuck for months more. Want to know who created the bug? The very expert I was begging for help from. The source of the problem was such that if I had had that hour of time with him that I had wanted, he probably would have remembered what he had done. Of course as soon as my supervisor finds that out, do I get an apology? No! She says, "Let's not point fingers or try to blame anyone!" :(

Since then, I've moved on to a completely different project in the hopes of never having to work for this person or work with a few other people from there again. I feel so blessed that I wasn't fired. But I know it probably affected my promotability this year. I was told it was for different reasons, since they can only promote so many people a year and one team seemed to get favored and another shafted. But I keep thinking this whole incident really hurt me. My new team lead, who is oblivious to what happened, told me that I should do that entire list of things I mentioned at first to get promoted next year. All the things I used to do. I'm too scared to do them. I'd like to keep my job, thanks anyway. But how do I tell him that? How do I tell him I'm scared of getting squished by some senior engineer? I would hope the people I work with wouldn't do that to me. But you don't know until it's too late! It's not fair. I'd like to advance my career, too. Not for myself. I've got a sick parent to take care of. I'm just trying to take care of her and make sure we're both financially comfortable. I'm not asking to be CEO here, just asking for the means to take care of family. God knows my motives. He knows what's best for me and can make that promotion happen. I still do my best at work, but I'm scared to point out problems. If I do point them out, I have to do it in a way that I'm stupid and don't know what's going on, please help me understand, o senior engineer! I can't get away with that much longer, though. I've been in this new area for 6 months now, and you're only considered new for so long. After a while they expect you to know something. I'm coming to the verge of knowing enough to be able to point out problems, so I can't play the "I'm new" card forever.

What do I do? If my career comes to a standstill at so young, my raises will be affected. They cap you if you don't get promoted. I'd like enough of a raise to at least keep up with inflation a little! Eventually I'm going to get no raise at all if I can't get promoted.

So yeah, I know exactly what you're going through. Feeling like your at a stalemate with your career. As you watch others get promotions, especially the senior people who stepped on you. But you know what? God will vindicate us in the end. Our reward is in heaven. Think about it. This is the only reward people like that will ever have. There's no reward in heaven waiting for them. This is all they get. I guess I can't begrudge them a promotion when that's all they've got to look forward to in life. You and I have so much more. I'm not too worried. I know God has me in His hands and will take care of me. I may have to wait yet another year, or longer, for any kind of promotion. It's hard, knowing you work just as hard as anyone else, but because you're not playing cutthroat office politics games you get passed by. It's really sapped the old energy I used to have when I went into work in the morning. Seriously, I used to write white papers and submit them for research and development ideas to get funding for. I used to come up with ideas for patenting and submit them to my company's patent department. They never panned out, but I was encouraged to keep trying because I had good ideas. Now it's just another job, like flipping burgers. But I'll be the best burger flipper I can if that's what God has me doing. I may be too paralyzed to do some things that would get me squished, but I'll do what I can.

Good luck with your job. Keep your chin up. Life is short. You've got all eternity ahead of you, and God has quite a career planned out for you in eternity. He'll be the best boss you ever had. I foresee a big promotion in heaven coming your way if you persevere.



AnalystsAreUs -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (5/4/2009 8:22:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DragsAndRags

I feel your pain.

I work in software engineering (glorified term for "programmer" who can also create and process large piles of paperwork). When I was first hired as an intern for my company, and even after graduating and becoming a real employee with the company, I was very excited going into work. I didn't care if I got accolades or not, I worked my best and hardest for the Lord and to bless my company. I was told I was on the "fast track" and was encouraged as a junior engineer to take initiative for leadership and mentoring. I was also encouraged to be proactive in pointing out technical problems when I saw them so they could be discussed and corrected by the team. I did all these things, thinking that was part of my job, since that was what I was encouraged to do. These things are also what they look for in promoting people.

It all backfired over the last two years. Slowly. All it takes is one or two very well connected senior people to ruin your career. I can sum it up in two words: Office politics. It's nasty. And I didn't have anyone kind enough to mentor me in it. All the things I listed above I did my best at. I wasn't always perfect in how I did it. But that's where a mentor would have helped. Instead, the senior people I looked at to be honest with me and mentor me turned around and back-stabbed me. At first it was small things. I think they were embarrassed. I was a "rising star." They were worried I was going to take their jobs someday. I didn't want their jobs. I just wanted mine. And I wanted to do well at mine.

I eventually hit a very hard problem to solve at work. I was about to leave a project and go onto a new one, because of the office politics problems I was having. The thing is, I couldn't leave overnight, I had to stay a few months and wrap up my tasks and mentor someone to hand them over to. That's when one of my supervisors on the project started sharpening her axe. She was very patient to wait for the right moment. I just didn't quite have the expertise to know how to solve the problem, and was asking for help from an expert in the area. My supervisor on the project turned around and told me not to bother the expert. So I didn't, but that didn't stop me from telling my supervisor as time went on and the problem wasn't solved that I still needed help. Just even an hour of the expert's time would have been enough. And I still didn't get it. And I started running out of ideas to try and got very discouraged and frustrated. And running out of ideas, what do you do then? Time for my mid-year performance review came, and my supervisor had given my team lead a list of 1000 things to hang me with. One of them being that I was making up excuses and didn't really need an expert's help. Where my team lead had said that it would be OK for the expert to spare an hour, suddenly he couldn't and I was being unreasonable to ask! They told me the expert I was begging to have help from couldn't really help me with the problem because he hadn't worked in the related area/project that the problem had arisen in, even though I knew he had. I was told I wasn't trying hard enough. They even reached back into the prior year where I had gotten great reviews to find dirt on me. How I had done a lousy job at this or that, for things I had been told "good job" to my face. Even if I could manage to disprove one accusation, I still had 999 to go. It was literally death by a thousand cuts. Which is exactly what my supervisor on the project had in mind. She wanted me to hang and be defenseless, and she was using this problem I had run into to grind her axe.

To save my job, I had to be incredibly humble and apologize for the 1000 charges brought against me. Then I still had to solve that problem. And oh did I pray for God to help me solve it! I was so scared! And still not getting any real help! A miracle did happen. God pointed me to the very source of the problem, something I had missed 500 times. I could have kept missing it and been stuck for months more. Want to know who created the bug? The very expert I was begging for help from. The source of the problem was such that if I had had that hour of time with him that I had wanted, he probably would have remembered what he had done. Of course as soon as my supervisor finds that out, do I get an apology? No! She says, "Let's not point fingers or try to blame anyone!" :(

Since then, I've moved on to a completely different project in the hopes of never having to work for this person or work with a few other people from there again. I feel so blessed that I wasn't fired. But I know it probably affected my promotability this year. I was told it was for different reasons, since they can only promote so many people a year and one team seemed to get favored and another shafted. But I keep thinking this whole incident really hurt me. My new team lead, who is oblivious to what happened, told me that I should do that entire list of things I mentioned at first to get promoted next year. All the things I used to do. I'm too scared to do them. I'd like to keep my job, thanks anyway. But how do I tell him that? How do I tell him I'm scared of getting squished by some senior engineer? I would hope the people I work with wouldn't do that to me. But you don't know until it's too late! It's not fair. I'd like to advance my career, too. Not for myself. I've got a sick parent to take care of. I'm just trying to take care of her and make sure we're both financially comfortable. I'm not asking to be CEO here, just asking for the means to take care of family. God knows my motives. He knows what's best for me and can make that promotion happen. I still do my best at work, but I'm scared to point out problems. If I do point them out, I have to do it in a way that I'm stupid and don't know what's going on, please help me understand, o senior engineer! I can't get away with that much longer, though. I've been in this new area for 6 months now, and you're only considered new for so long. After a while they expect you to know something. I'm coming to the verge of knowing enough to be able to point out problems, so I can't play the "I'm new" card forever.

What do I do? If my career comes to a standstill at so young, my raises will be affected. They cap you if you don't get promoted. I'd like enough of a raise to at least keep up with inflation a little! Eventually I'm going to get no raise at all if I can't get promoted.

So yeah, I know exactly what you're going through. Feeling like your at a stalemate with your career. As you watch others get promotions, especially the senior people who stepped on you. But you know what? God will vindicate us in the end. Our reward is in heaven. Think about it. This is the only reward people like that will ever have. There's no reward in heaven waiting for them. This is all they get. I guess I can't begrudge them a promotion when that's all they've got to look forward to in life. You and I have so much more. I'm not too worried. I know God has me in His hands and will take care of me. I may have to wait yet another year, or longer, for any kind of promotion. It's hard, knowing you work just as hard as anyone else, but because you're not playing cutthroat office politics games you get passed by. It's really sapped the old energy I used to have when I went into work in the morning. Seriously, I used to write white papers and submit them for research and development ideas to get funding for. I used to come up with ideas for patenting and submit them to my company's patent department. They never panned out, but I was encouraged to keep trying because I had good ideas. Now it's just another job, like flipping burgers. But I'll be the best burger flipper I can if that's what God has me doing. I may be too paralyzed to do some things that would get me squished, but I'll do what I can.

Good luck with your job. Keep your chin up. Life is short. You've got all eternity ahead of you, and God has quite a career planned out for you in eternity. He'll be the best boss you ever had. I foresee a big promotion in heaven coming your way if you persevere.



It just goes to prove that it's not over till it's over. I think the life of Joseph is a great example of this. Everyone was gunning for him to fall flat but God wasn't.

Though I think that we as American's have this mind set that life is all about us and our career. Well, it's not. Joseph could not have engineered, begged or bribed his way to the top even if he tried.

So you may be over qualified in your job like I am. Your purpose for being their may take 17 years for you to figure out. Then again, it may not. So occupy where you are at.



ctpruitt -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (5/7/2009 8:52:00 AM)

Buddy, I understand! I am 41 and have worked in manufacturing most of my adult life. Around 2005 I began to realize that I wasn't really living up the "husband as a provider" clause that you hear so much on Christian family radio. I was just "contented" in the little job I had on an assembly line. I had worked there 12 years, and after 12 years, all I was making was $10.40 an hour. My brother started with his company 2 weeks before I did, and he was making $16 at that same time. So I decided on a career change.
I enrolled in a technical school for CNC machining, and 2 years later I am unemployed. It's not that there are no jobs in that field, it is just that all the openings I can find require at 2 or 3 years experince on the job before I can even apply for them! I managed, for 2 and half weeks, to get on where my brother works operating a lathe. I told the HR guy, my brother told the HR guy and my uncle told the HR guy that I had NO prior operating experince. But I got told that I would have a 6 week training period. Well, two weeks later I get the boot becuase "it is costing us too much to train you..."
I have one more class I will be finished. It seems now to have been a waste of my time and goverment money. I know people that have degrees in fields that, once they got them, never even looked in that direction and went into something else entirely!



intheworks -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (6/4/2009 11:15:32 PM)

I have continued my education as I work. As long as I continue my education I am satisfied with my career. I also enjoy helping people in the job I do. If I didn't feel I was actually helping people meet their needs, I wouldn't be meeting mine.

I am currently in the business world (12 years). However, God has called my into ministry. Not sure if it will be full time or part-time or what my ministry will be exactly, but I am attending Liberty University online and highly recommend it.

My philosophy on dead end jobs is to pray. I have endured trials over the past 12 years and have prayed for God to show me a sign if it is time to go. I have always felt that God has called me to stay. Each time, it led to promotions or new learning experiences.

I also recommend reading The Purpose Driven Life. I know that many people have disparaged Rick Warren, but this book has helped me get out of more that one rut.

God Bless,

Tony



xkhrystiex -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (6/7/2009 11:02:30 PM)

IM a hairstylist and Ive always known this is what I wanted to do. I did go out and try a whole bunch of things like working at Kroger to oil changes to flowers then I went back to school to get my license. Its hard right now with the economy but honestly I love what I do. I wouldnt change it, Id rather be happy at what I am doing than miserable esp since work is where you spend most of your time at. I also think its good to be around a good group of people you can get along with. [:D] Thats just me though and what Ive dealt with in the past.



justpassinby -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (6/8/2009 12:06:10 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sketch1000

hello everyone,

I have had the feeling for sometime now, that my career is going nowhere and I would be interested to know whether others have been in a similar situation and how you might resolve it.

I have a technical degree, and did well in my studies, but after 7 years of working, I haven't really learned a lot or moved on in my career. I am now 30 and I can't believe my 20s have gone by without me moving much above where I was when I left university.

I have just been stuck in a cycle of doing mundane work, and not really knowing how to break out of the pattern. I feel as if I have learnt very little since university.

Anyway i would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar issues

thanks a lot

sketch


Yes, You sound like me, but wait until you get to be 50! I, too have a technical degree, and also some math credits to constitute a minor in math as well. I was happily humming along with a big telecommunications corporation making big bucks for almost 25 years before they closed up and tore down the building. Now I work for basically 2/3's that amount (although in reality these new employers actually pay on the high end--- could have fooled me). Thankfully, I was at my old place long enough to get a meager pension that helps somewhat and financially, I am not that much worse off (plus my wife found additional sources of income therefore we are about the same).

But the problem is I absolutely HATE my job. Like you, there's no advancement at all, and at my age that's not a good sign. The work is basically operating machinery monkey work (as opposed to real technical work I used to do) and rather humiliating to me. I tried other places (bigger corporations) and I even got to the point of an interview, but unlike when I was younger, I was not hired there and am stuck here. I wonder what they saw (or did not see) in me?

If this place ever goes under, and I do not have confidence that it will stay above water if the economy keeps going the way it is, I will probably be laid off again which emotionally is no shock to me, but it brings the added burden of getting another job. And based on my experiences, there's not much out there. And what am I to say to a prospective employer if I stagnated these few years? It is sardonic to expect from an applicant something they have no control over.



ctpruitt -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (6/9/2009 9:15:08 AM)

In reference to my original post above, I have been looking for a decent job for 4 years. Back in Jan, 2007, I decided to sign for cnc machining classes 'cause I always ads for operators and programmers. I have ran into a few odd situations with job hunting when your around 40 years old. One involves a few teenage boys from 17-19. Only one of these had ever had a job (@ Publix):

Back in 2008, a new company opened up that called the machining teacher wanting some people to fill just some cnc operator jobs. Nothing quite "technical": just operate a machine once it has been setup and the cnc code programmed into it. He submits my name along with 5 other men, 4 of whom had previous cnc experience. I have had none, on the job, anyway. Well, the boys I mentioned heard about it and wanted to submit their application, so the teacher put in theirs as well. Only one had actually had job. But all 5 get hired @ $18.75 an hour; less than half my age, no work experience and already making twice what I was after working 12 years at a job! No of the other men made it either. The teacher was just as puzzled.

Just a few months ago, I happened to see a sign at a hotel called America's Best Inn that read "housekeeping help wanted" so I went in to get an application. I got told that "we don't hire men for housekeeping jobs". End of that.

Etcon called me about a job at a tire manufacturing company so I went to interview. A day later Etcon calls and says that I was not hired because of my high blood pressure condition and my diabetes 2. I have been under treatment for both for several years and told the interviewer that and also my checkups had been ok. This is the only time I have ever been directly given a reason for not hiring me. The Etcon person told me that was really puzzling:

"One reason they use us for job screening is to weed out drug users and such. But they will hire people who have had a past history of drug abuse and people who will have to be out 2 -4 days a month for court, but won't hire anybody who does not have either a past criminal or drug history!" she said.

I guess the moral of this story is that even if you have a job you hate, you had better stick with it; a job is a job! I quit one that had been at for 12 years because I felt like that I wasn't living up to the "husband as a provider, protector, etc." deal. Well, nearly 4 years later. I have been unemployed 2.5 years of the last 4 and my wife has become "the provider, etc."



justpassinby -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (6/9/2009 4:22:13 PM)

quote:

I was not hired because of my high blood pressure condition and my diabetes 2.


Isn't that discrimination? What if they said you were not hired because you are such-and-such a race and those types are more prone to failure? You'd hear that on CNN soon enough. It's none of their business what your medical history is except it's so bad you can't do the job. High BP is not a prescription for a heart attack necessarily (and the medical establishment keeps dummying down the numbers so they can get more people on drugs because there's money to be made). The same can be said of diabetes. If you have it under control, that has nothing to do with the job.

Why not pray and join me in a crusade? All these "healthy types" who so self-righteously would judge the average person because of some medical problem (which we all have something) I hope dies earlier than the rest of us. If God so much grants me the grace, I will dance on their graves. I said, dance on their graves. And I hope you can too one day. I'm cheering for you and I hear you.



Concerto -> RE: Not going anywhere.. (7/5/2009 3:42:05 PM)

For those of us who have jobs, we should be grateful and appreciate that we have a job. However, that does not mean we should simply settle. I am currently in a dead-end job that will lead no where. The pay does not cover all my bills. I stare at a computer all day and click a mouse, hence my health is being affected. I have no passion for this job. And, I will find another job, somehow, with His help.

There are many underemployed people who perform the same function day in and day out. Yes, we are glad to be employed, but, we seek higher things. Our minds and hearts yearn for something else where we can utilize talents we currently do not have the opportunity to use. We reject those who offer comments which try and extinguish our hopes and dreams for something better. Our hearts, and our minds, will be liberated from the dreary daily grind of widget making...our dreams are ready to fly!

C



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