Jump to content

Job advice


paul87
 Share

Recommended Posts

If you felt unappreciated and extremely under valued in a government job with no near future promotion opportunities. But had perks like flexi time, a decent boss who will let you text for the next day off to go fishing or shooting, a half decent pension and 30 days annual leave.

Would you hang on to after the pandemic to get back to your old role? Which you loved and made around £300pm more doing.

Hang on for a promotion opportunity where you have to talk bs and hit key words. Which I am terrible at. Rather than being promoted on performance, initiative and cost saving for the department?

Or leave with no formal qualifications due to learning all on the job or via research. Go to the private sector, likely take a pay cut and prove yourself all over again? 

I had an essay typed out with details but the above is it in a nutshell, without making myself sound like a victim lol 

Edit to add

I do realise how lucky I am to have had a job and steady income during the pandemic and I feel for those not so fortunate.

Edited by paul87
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is just my view Paul, but in the current climate, where there is potential chaos upcoming in the job market (isn't Furlough STILL going until 30th Sept?), and a lot of uncertainty ahead (we could face another lockdown over Winter), I would take the secure job all day long, especially one with a very good boss, you lets you go off hunting and fishing at such short notice. 

 

There is still a lot of uncertainty in future with every sector as we see what will happen to companies moving forward, will they be viable without Furlough, will huge firms providing Offices collapse? 

 

I think the next few years will be very interesting, although potentially very difficult for some. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the input

I completely agree with what you say.

I probably should have mentioned my role is within IT. One sector which has been stable if not booming throughout the pandemic. And for that I am lucky in a way. IT workers are kind of the new mechanics imo, not many people can do without either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would stay where you are for now while things are so uncertain. You are still young enough to make a move later if you still feel the need. The flexibility in your working to allow for hobbies is rare and a new job might not allow that. It still keeps options open later when its more settled. By then you could have a shake up in your existing work which makes it more satisfying or found a better prospect elsewhere. In the meantime its might be worth looking into the possibility of getting some more formal qualifications using partime study to make you more marketable to another employer. That also will make you appear more proactive in your developement in your existing job and could lead to better things.

If I was sorting this with a difficult decision I would make two lists with the pros and cons of staying or going and the options. It helps clarify things. I would choose the option that will make you most happy.

I was facing something similiar in 2000 when I had the option of relocation and keeping a job I loved or taking a good redundancy package and retraining to do something else. My choice eventually after much familly discussion was to relocate. It worked out fine for me. Had another 12 good years in the job and am now retired.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Stick with it, 100%. Like you, I work in IT for a funded company, it's branched out over the last few years to get commercial money in but still relies on funding. As Lloyd said, there is no guarantee that a similar or the same role in the private sector would be as secure. 

I would sit tight for the time being and maybe ***** the situation in 6 months to a Years time.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Stay where you are for a while but don’t sit still. Try to improve your position. Perhaps study for IT qualifications in niche areas like project management and look for opportunities upwards and outwards to other Departments. In the workplace try not to appear like every other cog in the machine. Be seen to contribute positively and enthusiastically to problem solving (No, not brown nosing) to earn “fitted for promotion” markings. And, at your 1/2 yearly and annual report reviews ask where you need to improve and what resources / courses can be provided to achieve your goals.

In many ways your career path can be up to you. I enjoyed my public sector career. I joined, aged 22, as a locally recruited casual Clerical Officer. 36 years later having worked in three different departments across five locations (the last two were by commuting) and gaining a CIMA qualification along the way I retired as a Grade 6. So, don’t sit still. Go for it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Bobba said:

Stay where you are for a while but don’t sit still. Try to improve your position. Perhaps study for IT qualifications in niche areas like project management and look for opportunities upwards and outwards to other Departments. In the workplace try not to appear like every other cog in the machine. Be seen to contribute positively and enthusiastically to problem solving (No, not brown nosing) to earn “fitted for promotion” markings. And, at your 1/2 yearly and annual report reviews ask where you need to improve and what resources / courses can be provided to achieve your goals.

In many ways your career path can be up to you. I enjoyed my public sector career. I joined, aged 22, as a locally recruited casual Clerical Officer. 36 years later having worked in three different departments across five locations (the last two were by commuting) and gaining a CIMA qualification along the way I retired as a Grade 6. So, don’t sit still. Go for it.

This plus......

Future proof yourself by getting as many extra courses/qualifications as you can even if if means losing the odd day here and there out and about.

Your boss, rare as hen's teeth in his attitude, could move on and be replaced w a vegan !

Be the go to guy for problem solving so you build up supporters across depts who will champion you if needed

atvb

 

gdadphil

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's easy to sit where you are. The world is a scary place full of fear of the unknown. If you are in a skilled area of IT and are young then there is a whole world of excitement out there. My friend taught herself a programming language got a junior job with a Uni for a few years to prove she could do the work. Just put herself on the martket through agency and has had several companies auctioning for her services. Her salary has more  than doubled, with an introduction fee thrown in working for a large multi national. She has put herself on a trajectory which will put her in the top 5% salary earners very soon. 

You have to make your own world come alive rather than wait for it to pass you by. The world belongs to the brave.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm at this point for a number of reasons. I'll give a few examples below without going into too much detail.

I was taken out of my roll and put into a different one when lockdown began. Which was fair enough at the time, like I said glad to have had a steady job.

In this role, I was having a bad day if I did not resolve 10 calls in a day. Whilst people who do that job day in and day out were resolving 40 calls in a month.

I then changed role's slightly and became office based dealing with hardware and customers face to face. I used my own initiative over the last year to put measures in place to save my team and customers time. In doing so I have saved the department at least £30k. 

My boss comes to me for advice.

If an opportunity arises for promotion the guy who doesn't pull his weight but can talk the talk has a better chance of getting promoted than me. Achievements, work ethic and ability don't come into it.

At the end of it all we all got the same 1% pay rise.

I feel if I was in the private sector and performed as I have I likely would have had recognition for it by way of promotion or pay rise.

Don't want this to sound like a sob story as it's not, but it's great to get outside opinions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, paul87 said:

I feel if I was in the private sector and performed as I have I likely would have had recognition for it by way of promotion or pay rise.

Not necessary, you need to put pressure on your manager instead of just waiting around for somebody to notice you.

/Markus

Link to comment
Share on other sites

38 minutes ago, Nuke said:

Not necessary, you need to put pressure on your manager instead of just waiting around for somebody to notice you.

/Markus

I wish it worked like that in my job, I really do. Had many a conversation with my bosses boss and she wishes she could do something for me. She does show gratitude and appreciation for what I do but unfortunately that's as far as it goes. In my work it's a case of applying for a promotion when it comes up along with anyone else who meets the criteria. Rather than being earned.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We all have different priorities , and a different outlook on life . 25 years ago , money was my motivation,  and I was earning around three times more than I earn now . I got plenty of job satisfaction , and I was loving life (in fact , I was really kicking the xxxx out of it) , but , life can take some funny old turns,  and these days , job security without stress and worry , is my motivation.

Lots of people take the risk , and make the jump .  Some of them will have made the right choice ( for them) and will love it , but others will have jumped from the frying pan , into the fire.

The question to ask yourself , is , what is your priority? , job satisfaction ?, or , security ?.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't forget that the jump from public to private sector can be a double edged sword.  Yes, you could climb the ladder much higher than ever possible in the public sector, but it'll hurt more and you'll break more bones if you get chucked off the ladder, which is a much greater possibility in the private sector.

I don't envy your predicament.

Just a thought, how viable is it to do what you do as a self-employed contractor?  Might be a best of both worlds compromise in that if it's doable.  It's nice being your own boss but it's poop when work is sparse or you realise you haven't had a holiday for 3 years.....

Edited by Jim Neal
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Paul

My advice would be to add more strings to your bow, maybe DBA, Programming, cloud technology specialist or Technical Project Management before moving on but when you do move on, go into the contracting market. I have worked mostly in the private sector but also the public sector as a consultant and as a contractor and to be honest, apart from more bureaucracy in the public sector, there is not a lot of difference. You still get the same issues around promotion and it depends on whether your face fits or you are in the right place at the right time, regardless of the effort you put in.

I was in a similar position to yourself years ago albeit in the private sector. Didn’t feel I was was getting the opportunities of promotion even though I felt I was good enough and out worked everyone in my department. I wasn’t the most academic but I worked so hard. I moved around the organisation over the 16 years I was there and in each dept I did well. I soon came to realise that due to the nature of the organisation (a merchant bank) and my cockney accent and lack of qualifications, unless I went to work as an FX dealer, which I didn’t have the aptitude or qualifications for, my only option was to leave, if I wanted more money and a better standard of living….glass ceilings.

I was asked to work for a consultancy as I had moved to the IT dept for the last 6 years at the merchant bank and had been the implementation analyst implementing a new finance system that the consultancy had sold them. My money increased by £10k immediately (this was back in 1995) and I was given a company car….the downside was I had a 2 1/2 hour commute each way every day for the first 3 months. They then sent me all over the UK, over to the States and Saudi Arabia. I stayed with them for 10 years and I learnt something very quickly….as a consultancy, they hired highly educated young people and once again the only way I could compete with them was to out work them. I also learnt that if I was to succeed in this cut throat business, I had to be bold and after 2 years there, I started to demand promotion, rather than wait for it. This had the desired effect and I quickly moved up the ladder. When I left in 2005 I was what they called an executive consultant, one promotion away from being a director. Money was very good for each promotion and the company cars got much better…….but they demanded their pound of flesh and I lived out of a suitcase.

When I left though, which follows on from @Jim Nealpost and where my point really is aimed at, I became a freelance contractor. It was the best decision of my working life and my only regret was I hadn’t done it sooner. Since 2005 I have never been out of contract, nor do I work every day that god sends. It’s not for everyone, it’s a massive step initially and you have to be totally confident in your ability and have to hit the ground running if you want to make a go of it. If you don’t, the contracts will very quickly dry up as contracting is an incestuous business.
 

My advice to you is if you go contracting now and please accept my apologies if I have this wrong, you will always be an IT Support contractor. That in itself is not be sniffed at and will provide you with a decent income but that is what you will be marketed as. It’s difficult as a contractor to change your job title as the hiring company want proven experience. If you were to contract as a DBA, Programmer, Cloud Specialist, Technical PM or whatever the day rate for any of those roles is very good. 

Apologies for the long post but thought it would help you. Whatever you do, I hope it works out

All the best and good luck 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 18/09/2021 at 19:55, paul87 said:

I wish it worked like that in my job, I really do. Had many a conversation with my bosses boss and she wishes she could do something for me. She does show gratitude and appreciation for what I do but unfortunately that's as far as it goes. In my work it's a case of applying for a promotion when it comes up along with anyone else who meets the criteria. Rather than being earned.

You are being played. Praise is cheap.

/Markus 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...