Work Angst

[Solara Hanover]

Ok... so I find myself in a bit of a dilemma. I've been at my current job for 11 years in September, 8.5 of those years in the store I'm currently working at. I spent awhile deluding myself into thinking I was going to finish school, and that this job was not going to be permanent, but for the last year or so I've been realizing that there's a good chance this may be my career. So, last year about this time, one of our assistant front end managers stepped down, because she's sick and the stress of the position wasn't good for her. I applied along with another gal who has been working at our company for MAYBE three years. They decided to hire outside the company. Ok, fine, whatever. Then, in February of this year, our OTHER assistant front end manager got engaged and moved. I applied for her position, again, along with the other girl. They pulled a manager from another store. Fine. THEN the guy they hired to replace the first replacement quit for a better opportunity, and they didn't even INTERVIEW us. They just promoted our Starbucks manager, who had been a checker and was one of our backup managers for when someone was on vacation. That's cool, he's a good guy, I figured he'd get the position. Well, this last week our other backup manager got fired. Long story. Who gets the backup position? The other gal. She's barely 21, no management experience whatsoever, and it makes me feel like the powers that be don't want me around at all. So... do I take this as a sign to start looking for other work? I don't want to be a checker forever, but I really feel like there's no room for advancement for me at this particular store. Ugh.

[FreakyBoy]

Yes, it's time to look for another job. You've got lots of experience - look for other stores (not of the same parent) that are hiring managers. You should have a pretty good shot at being the outside person this time around.

[Dom/SlimKop]

I worked retail for a while, and the same thing kept happening at our store. For whatever reason, hiring outside of the company was always more attractive. I agree with FB. You can be the outside manager they hire!

[kitoba]

Since this isn't what you'd really like to be doing anyway, maybe let this be the kick in the pants to be more proactive about looking for something else.

And as a side note, if you feel like you're unwillingly settling for this job, that may have subconsciously sabotaged your job interviews. I've been on both sides of that equation, and people can always tell when an applicant doesn't really want the position.

[Kea]

Is there anything else that you'd rather be doing*? Maybe it's time for a career change.


* I meant realistic things, not chucking it all and moving to Tahiti.

[weatherwax]

Tahiti! Dooo eeeet!

[Solara Hanover]

Mmmm Tahiti. LOL I actually always thought I'd do well in like a front office situation. I actually worked for my dad's company for a while when I first moved back to Colorado Springs from Greeley in '01 and I really liked it. My problem, atm is that checkers are ridiculously well paid, especially once you hit journeyman wages. Since I've been working there since the dawn of TIME... you see my issue. But, I think its time to at least LOOK and see what's out there. I crunched the numbers and I can take like a $3.50 an hour pay cut and still make bills if I work 40 hours. I'm not getting anywhere NEAR 40 right now. Not to mention, in talking to my coworker today, I'm not the only one who is disgruntled. *sigh* Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it.

[CCC]

If I may make a recommendation:

Go out, and look. And once you have looked, when you have a number of options to choose between (including retaining your current position) then take a number of sheets of paper. At the top of each sheet of paper, write the name of an option (e.g. "Cashier", "Unemployed", "Waitress", "Assistant manager", so on - yes, "Unemployed" is an option too at this stage). Divide each paper into a left and a right column; on one side, write down all the disadvantages of that option, and on the other side, write down all the advantages. For example: under "Unemployed", a disadvantage might be "No wages", while an advantage might be "Lots of free time". Set a time (say, at least five minutes) per column, and have a clock there - spend at least that long thinking of things to put in that column.

Once you're done with that, only then make a decision. Having spent that long considering pros and cons, you're going to be able to make a decision that you'll have confidence in. And if the decision is to stay at your present place of employment, then at least you'll know exactly why, and which options there are that are worse.

I crunched the numbers and I can take like a $3.50 an hour pay cut and still make bills if I work 40 hours.

Incidentally, you should be doing more than just making bills. You want to retire some day, I take it, and not just work until the day you die? Then you should be saving up enough to live on during your retirement. (Tricky, because you don't know how long that will be, but putting a little aside each month now can mean a lot later).

[Grillick]

Also, just to add on here, once you have options, don't simply quit your job. Set up a meeting with your boss, explain your dissatisfaction and tell him/her about your options. It's possible the company would rather retain you (and accommodate your dissatisfaction) rather than let you go, and they've just been passing you over because they feel confident you won't leave.

[kitoba]

There are some good suggestions on here. About six months ago I did a job search because I was contemplating leaving my current position. What I learned was that I am qualified to get a job doing the same thing for more money at a more stable company, but that I would have to work harder with less flexibility and lose my seniority.

At the time I decided it wasn't worth the trade-off, but it is great to know my options and to also know there are other jobs out there that I likely could get, even in this economy. I also feel I'm in a stronger position to air my concerns with my current boss. He's a great guy and I get along well with him, but even so, it's helpful when talking to him to know that I have other options out there.

[arcosh]

And also think about, what you don't like about your current position. It does not seem to be the money. Is the work boring? If so, what positions would be less boring, after the initial effect of being different? Is it the status? The status inside the company, or in society in general?

Like i work for the same company since 10 years, and people who came much later became project leaders, while i stayed a simple programmer. Which might not look too great on resumes and i don't get a job title to brag with. But i am fairly certain that i would hate the management work, that i would get at project leader, and likely i would not be good at it either, in short it would be a waste of my talents. In the company i am respected for my programing abilities. I am not having something, that looks like an archetypical career, but i have come to the conclusion, that i don't need that that much anyway.

[Solara Hanover]

Sadly, talking to my current boss won't do much good at all. While the position I've been going for is an assistant manager position under her, our store director is in charge of all hirings and firings. I did actually apply for a sales job at a local dealership yesterday, so we'll see if that pans out at all. It is a pure commission sales post, but my dad used to work for this particular company and he was easily able to support he and my mom, and our expenses are MUCH less a month (by my math, all our monthly bills add up to less than their mortgage LOL). As for retirement savings, I've been putting money into a 401k since 2002. It's growing steadily, and I won't take a position where I won't have the same available.