Advice on feeling "stuck in a rut" at work.
Discussion
I'm feeling now like I'm stuck in a bit of a rut at work, and not really going anywhere with my job. But I'm not sure how best to get out of it - I have that fear of the unknown but hopefully some PHers can guide me or shine some light on options I have. Apologies if I go into too much detail!!
Background:
Tomorrow marks the 13th anniversary of when I joined the company I am with. From an entry level position aged 18 that was meant to be a summer job during my time at university to make some cash, I've since stayed with the company ever since and worked my way up to a job with 'manager' in the title.
I kind of decided that the degree I was taking was not leading towards a career I was interested in at some point in the second year but thought I ought to stick with it, chose the 3rd year options to suit what I felt most interested in and ended up with a 2.2 in Land Management from reading uni. But most of the other types on my course we're the 'raa' types with their Jack wills gilets and red trousers.. Not me. Last week was the 10th anniversary of graduating and this is perhaps what has prompted me to look at my life.
I worked my way up from "entry level" man at a company providing many services, but for me, it was working at the airport looking after disabled customers where I started off. After finishing uni I stuck around for a bit, and whilst I had plans to save a few bob and go travelling for a post-uni gap year with my girlfriend, the relationship ended and with that, that desire to go travelling. At about this time then, I was offered a new role which was "office based" to help out with some work that needed to be done for a year or so whilst the company was re-tendering for the business. That worked out quite well for me, I got a bit more money, I learned a lot about the business and how it ran, and go to know more of the senior people. Although the company didn't succeed in getting the contract, I was fortunate enough to TUPE to new place and applied for a new role and became a Duty Manager. Very nice, I was only 23 at the time and felt good. BUT - I got not "formal" management training from this new company and our site manager's attitude was very much "get on with it and learn as you go" - which I did. And I felt like I made a pretty good DM etc. Whilst that site manager disappeared and new ones came in, so I stuck about. And worked my way along to another role at a similar level.
I was still very much the youngest member of the management team but well respected by my line manager and the area director and even the MD of our division whenver I met them because of apparently, my exceptional knowledge in the business, my attitude and my desire to do well for the business. By this point a couple of years ago, I was in a role dealing a lot on a daily basis with our customers (the airlines, the airport management etc) as well as trusted with staff issues, disciplinaries etc. I was quite often the "face" of the operation to customers, I did well.
But things, perhaps, started to go wrong a couple of years ago. A new person took over who was charged with oversight of our contract (they worked for the airport) and for some reason, unlike his predecessors, he didn't like me. this is another story, but the end result was I was facing redundancy, pretty much unexpectedly. And this was all whilst I was at the point of having just about sold my first house and wanting to buy my next place with my now wife.. so I was panicked. At almost the last minute I was saved, by a former contract manager from my sector who had moved to a new place within the company (same division, but another "victim" of the contract manager person) and I got my 11th hour reprieve quite literally 1 hour before I was due to be made redundant, I got the phone call to say I got that new job.
But that was nearly 2 years ago. since then, whilst I do very well at my new role int he same division, I am just not feeling that I am going anywhere. I now deal almost exclusively at a different airport and only serve the business, no real client interaction. I also now deal a lot with aircraft cleaning (division's biggest income source) but whilst I'm very familiar with it now, it isn't the same vibe as my old role.
My original manager has again been changed, my new manager is a really nice chap but he is terrible at making contact - he is based at site 50 miles away whilst I mostly work from head office. I am also now in a position where I can kind of see that the new MD we have in the business, as well as the new CEO, and other new people, represent the company's desire to venture into new sectors. But with the new manager I have, I feel I have lost a considerable amount of the relationships I had built up previously, albeit whilst my former direct manager has again been moved elsewhere to sort things out in another site. I now find myself with quite a lack of direction as to what to do at work, I am in a position to offer a lot of advice and support to the business that I am tasked with, but quite often whatever I am doing is butted down because now we are again at a point of renegotiating contracts, and they are worried about too many changes rocking the boat, even though I am demonstrating their cost savings and how they can use this to their advantage.
What has been the final straw? A few months ago, my now current manager, and his boss, approached me with details of a new role they were setting up, was advised by them I was probably an excellent candidate for this role, it pays more money, this is what we want etc. Never so specific as to say "the job is yours" but it felt very much like it would go that way. So the job was put on the appropriate portal at the end of March and I put my application in etc, I know a couple of others did too. Since then, my boss has said "Oh we must get interviews sorted...." and then since April I've heard NOTHING about it and then he's been off a lot because of his own wedding, and the loss of his father-in-law soon afterwards, and requests made to talk about it, get put to one side.
What to do? How I see it is this:
Stay where I am, earn my money, but not really sure I'm going anyhwere without doing much.
Go to the market. Look for a new job. I don't really know what I want to do but with the experience I have, I feel I would succeed in a logistics area, or elsewhere in the airport industry. Why am I hesitant at this? Whilst I have years of experience, I have no formal qualifications that a lot of places seem to ask for in the job spec.
Approach current manager - I feel I want to do this, but how best to broach the subject that I'm feeling a bit lost, without causing insult?
Approach former manager (still with company) - I get the impression he does like me and values what I can do, but also, how to approach him and what to so?
Again - thanks for any advice if you have had the patience to read this, apologies, I kind of feel its quite long and rambling though I've attempted to make it readable
Background:
Tomorrow marks the 13th anniversary of when I joined the company I am with. From an entry level position aged 18 that was meant to be a summer job during my time at university to make some cash, I've since stayed with the company ever since and worked my way up to a job with 'manager' in the title.
I kind of decided that the degree I was taking was not leading towards a career I was interested in at some point in the second year but thought I ought to stick with it, chose the 3rd year options to suit what I felt most interested in and ended up with a 2.2 in Land Management from reading uni. But most of the other types on my course we're the 'raa' types with their Jack wills gilets and red trousers.. Not me. Last week was the 10th anniversary of graduating and this is perhaps what has prompted me to look at my life.
I worked my way up from "entry level" man at a company providing many services, but for me, it was working at the airport looking after disabled customers where I started off. After finishing uni I stuck around for a bit, and whilst I had plans to save a few bob and go travelling for a post-uni gap year with my girlfriend, the relationship ended and with that, that desire to go travelling. At about this time then, I was offered a new role which was "office based" to help out with some work that needed to be done for a year or so whilst the company was re-tendering for the business. That worked out quite well for me, I got a bit more money, I learned a lot about the business and how it ran, and go to know more of the senior people. Although the company didn't succeed in getting the contract, I was fortunate enough to TUPE to new place and applied for a new role and became a Duty Manager. Very nice, I was only 23 at the time and felt good. BUT - I got not "formal" management training from this new company and our site manager's attitude was very much "get on with it and learn as you go" - which I did. And I felt like I made a pretty good DM etc. Whilst that site manager disappeared and new ones came in, so I stuck about. And worked my way along to another role at a similar level.
I was still very much the youngest member of the management team but well respected by my line manager and the area director and even the MD of our division whenver I met them because of apparently, my exceptional knowledge in the business, my attitude and my desire to do well for the business. By this point a couple of years ago, I was in a role dealing a lot on a daily basis with our customers (the airlines, the airport management etc) as well as trusted with staff issues, disciplinaries etc. I was quite often the "face" of the operation to customers, I did well.
But things, perhaps, started to go wrong a couple of years ago. A new person took over who was charged with oversight of our contract (they worked for the airport) and for some reason, unlike his predecessors, he didn't like me. this is another story, but the end result was I was facing redundancy, pretty much unexpectedly. And this was all whilst I was at the point of having just about sold my first house and wanting to buy my next place with my now wife.. so I was panicked. At almost the last minute I was saved, by a former contract manager from my sector who had moved to a new place within the company (same division, but another "victim" of the contract manager person) and I got my 11th hour reprieve quite literally 1 hour before I was due to be made redundant, I got the phone call to say I got that new job.
But that was nearly 2 years ago. since then, whilst I do very well at my new role int he same division, I am just not feeling that I am going anywhere. I now deal almost exclusively at a different airport and only serve the business, no real client interaction. I also now deal a lot with aircraft cleaning (division's biggest income source) but whilst I'm very familiar with it now, it isn't the same vibe as my old role.
My original manager has again been changed, my new manager is a really nice chap but he is terrible at making contact - he is based at site 50 miles away whilst I mostly work from head office. I am also now in a position where I can kind of see that the new MD we have in the business, as well as the new CEO, and other new people, represent the company's desire to venture into new sectors. But with the new manager I have, I feel I have lost a considerable amount of the relationships I had built up previously, albeit whilst my former direct manager has again been moved elsewhere to sort things out in another site. I now find myself with quite a lack of direction as to what to do at work, I am in a position to offer a lot of advice and support to the business that I am tasked with, but quite often whatever I am doing is butted down because now we are again at a point of renegotiating contracts, and they are worried about too many changes rocking the boat, even though I am demonstrating their cost savings and how they can use this to their advantage.
What has been the final straw? A few months ago, my now current manager, and his boss, approached me with details of a new role they were setting up, was advised by them I was probably an excellent candidate for this role, it pays more money, this is what we want etc. Never so specific as to say "the job is yours" but it felt very much like it would go that way. So the job was put on the appropriate portal at the end of March and I put my application in etc, I know a couple of others did too. Since then, my boss has said "Oh we must get interviews sorted...." and then since April I've heard NOTHING about it and then he's been off a lot because of his own wedding, and the loss of his father-in-law soon afterwards, and requests made to talk about it, get put to one side.
What to do? How I see it is this:
Stay where I am, earn my money, but not really sure I'm going anyhwere without doing much.
Go to the market. Look for a new job. I don't really know what I want to do but with the experience I have, I feel I would succeed in a logistics area, or elsewhere in the airport industry. Why am I hesitant at this? Whilst I have years of experience, I have no formal qualifications that a lot of places seem to ask for in the job spec.
Approach current manager - I feel I want to do this, but how best to broach the subject that I'm feeling a bit lost, without causing insult?
Approach former manager (still with company) - I get the impression he does like me and values what I can do, but also, how to approach him and what to so?
Again - thanks for any advice if you have had the patience to read this, apologies, I kind of feel its quite long and rambling though I've attempted to make it readable
If in doubt leave, but do wait for plenty of others to post 1st and see what they say
It's no good being stuck in the same job for too long and now that you are thinking so much about your situation it could well be that a change is as good as a rest
Get searching for something else
I have had loads of skilled jobs and always enjoyed moving on
It's no good being stuck in the same job for too long and now that you are thinking so much about your situation it could well be that a change is as good as a rest
Get searching for something else
I have had loads of skilled jobs and always enjoyed moving on
Nought wrong with a bit of career mentoring for the kind of slack water you're experiencing.
If you've got a good relationship with this ex boss then connect, if you're good at your current role but have ambition to do something more challenging and progress then he might be able to mentor you.
I've sat waiting for "calls" before and it only prolongs the status-quo, I've also left companies that hindsight I was bonkers to leave. But without doubt the best moves I've made have been through networking and getting ahead of the curve to put myself in a good position through networking. Dont letting personal relationships lapse to a point where you can no longer gain from them.
Don't leave a company till something else is sorted (unless you're minted) and never (ever) burn bridges.
If you've got a good relationship with this ex boss then connect, if you're good at your current role but have ambition to do something more challenging and progress then he might be able to mentor you.
I've sat waiting for "calls" before and it only prolongs the status-quo, I've also left companies that hindsight I was bonkers to leave. But without doubt the best moves I've made have been through networking and getting ahead of the curve to put myself in a good position through networking. Dont letting personal relationships lapse to a point where you can no longer gain from them.
Don't leave a company till something else is sorted (unless you're minted) and never (ever) burn bridges.
Is there anyone who's left the company you'd rate that's doing something vaguely interesting?
You could use linkedin to search out track them down, and offer to buy them a coffee/beer.
I have no clue about your industry, but being vaguely dissatisfied, with no clear plan for what you want is something very hard to deal with as a manager.
You could use linkedin to search out track them down, and offer to buy them a coffee/beer.
I have no clue about your industry, but being vaguely dissatisfied, with no clear plan for what you want is something very hard to deal with as a manager.
As has already been said; don't bolt without a plan and a secured role.
But; it does seem you need to identify your longer term aspirations.
Are you truly ambitious and willing to take the risk (and hopefully reward (financial and job satisfaction)) that comes with such ambition? If not, then maybe sticking it out might be the best thing. If you are, then use those networks; happy hunting.
But; it does seem you need to identify your longer term aspirations.
Are you truly ambitious and willing to take the risk (and hopefully reward (financial and job satisfaction)) that comes with such ambition? If not, then maybe sticking it out might be the best thing. If you are, then use those networks; happy hunting.
hello all.
thanks for your advice on this a couple of months ago. Over the summer I've had a reasonable chat with my direct manager, and still am feeling a bit stuck. Mainly because I am not quite sure where the company direction is going at the moment, and also because lots of us have been on holiday, new people have come in, and there's lots of time been spent on nothing.
Now I have a new dilemma.
A job has been advertised which is now that "step up" in several places - bigger area of responsibility, bigger risks and bigger opportunities. As well as a bigger pay packet to go with it.
How do you know when you are right to make that leap?
If I go for this job, it would mean applying to a company I have never worked for before, though to be fair I have pretty much only ever worked for the same company for 13 years now.
Within the business area, I consider myself to have some of the best knowledge there is about what is required, and how it operates, and have been told this by one of my current company directors that he has that opinion also.
How easily does one go from "employee" to "proper actual commercial decision maker?"
thanks for your advice on this a couple of months ago. Over the summer I've had a reasonable chat with my direct manager, and still am feeling a bit stuck. Mainly because I am not quite sure where the company direction is going at the moment, and also because lots of us have been on holiday, new people have come in, and there's lots of time been spent on nothing.
Now I have a new dilemma.
A job has been advertised which is now that "step up" in several places - bigger area of responsibility, bigger risks and bigger opportunities. As well as a bigger pay packet to go with it.
How do you know when you are right to make that leap?
If I go for this job, it would mean applying to a company I have never worked for before, though to be fair I have pretty much only ever worked for the same company for 13 years now.
Within the business area, I consider myself to have some of the best knowledge there is about what is required, and how it operates, and have been told this by one of my current company directors that he has that opinion also.
How easily does one go from "employee" to "proper actual commercial decision maker?"
768 said:
Shakermaker said:
How do you know when you are right to make that leap?
When they offer you the job.If you don't go for it, you won't know. No one will give you grief if they think you don't make the grade.
Thank you.
Will revise my CV tonight and get the application underway.
Shakermaker said:
You know what, that's actually really, really good advice, for me at least.
Thank you.
Will revise my CV tonight and get the application underway.
Remember they like stuff like this was the scenario and I implemented such and such which delivered this! You seem to have a wide range of experience and transferable skills. Make sure you compress all this into a easily readable page.Thank you.
Will revise my CV tonight and get the application underway.
Well, CV updated but its currently a 2-pager, and has been for a while. Haven't yet submitted my application for the new role but am working through it mainly as there's a few security bits they want.
How much detail then should I now have on my CV?
I'm 31, have a degree, but have worked at the same place since before I started uni and as such, I have 8 different job titles as I have worked my from the entry level position to where I am now. Not a straight line, there has been some sideways movement within that, but at what point do I just start listing the job titles and dates without the detail behind it?
Similarly, do I still need to put my A-level results from 2003 on there?
How much detail then should I now have on my CV?
I'm 31, have a degree, but have worked at the same place since before I started uni and as such, I have 8 different job titles as I have worked my from the entry level position to where I am now. Not a straight line, there has been some sideways movement within that, but at what point do I just start listing the job titles and dates without the detail behind it?
Similarly, do I still need to put my A-level results from 2003 on there?
Shakermaker said:
How much detail then should I now have on my CV?
I'm 31, have a degree, but have worked at the same place since before I started uni and as such, I have 8 different job titles as I have worked my from the entry level position to where I am now. Not a straight line, there has been some sideways movement within that, but at what point do I just start listing the job titles and dates without the detail behind it?
Similarly, do I still need to put my A-level results from 2003 on there?
I would - I don't subscribe to all of this 2 page nonsense for a CV. You need as much space as you need to sell yourself. Anyone who rules you out because your CV runs to 3 pages is probably someone you don't want to work with.I'm 31, have a degree, but have worked at the same place since before I started uni and as such, I have 8 different job titles as I have worked my from the entry level position to where I am now. Not a straight line, there has been some sideways movement within that, but at what point do I just start listing the job titles and dates without the detail behind it?
Similarly, do I still need to put my A-level results from 2003 on there?
I recently changed my CV and made the front page have a list of all of the key information, including A level / Degree results etc and a full career history timeline (job title, company), then the other pages contained the detailed employment history etc.
This works really well imho, as someone scanning a pile gets the key information immediately on a single sheet but with plenty of useful info behind it.
Bob
13 years is a long time at one place. Imho you become part of the furniture and generally get overlooked vs new shiny people arriving. Move on, there will be a far better job out there waiting for you. Mark my words when you find that job and hand in your Notice it will feel fantastic!
TX.
TX.
Shakermaker said:
I'm 31, have a degree...
Similarly, do I still need to put my A-level results from 2003 on there?
I'd say no, I've long since stopped putting my A-level results on. Too much that's more relevant to include those, you've got a degree and the grades were good enough to get on the course.Similarly, do I still need to put my A-level results from 2003 on there?
Terminator X said:
13 years is a long time at one place. Imho you become part of the furniture and generally get overlooked vs new shiny people arriving. Move on, there will be a far better job out there waiting for you. Mark my words when you find that job and hand in your Notice it will feel fantastic!
TX.
These days 13 years is unusual, if not exceptional! TX.
Go for the position elsewhere (you have nothing to lose). If you get offered it you may even find when you give notice that your current employer suddenly realises your real worth and offers you something better!
At the end of the day it sounds like you aren't currently in a happy place, so exploring other options has to be the best option - even if they turn out not to be so good, sometimes it just helps provide a bit of perspective!
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