Taking an opportunity and leaping out of comfort zone

[funkyrobot]

I've been at my current company six years doing analysis, report writing, handling system upgrades, training and general troubleshooting and fixing. For the last few of these I've felt trapped in my role with no hope of any progression, even though this has been promised.

I was head hunted the other week for a new role at another company. This will involve similar aspects to my current job, but has added items such as being the first proper IT worker at the company. They currently outsource and do everything through third party companies. However, due to expansion, they need someone to sort everything out and effectively build the IT department up.

I've taken the job and since handing my notice in I've become aware that my current company do not want me to leave (because I'm one of the few hard workers there), but they don't want to let me progress any further either.

Doing the above has been a big leap out of my comfort zone. I have experience of running projects and related teams, I've never been a manager before though. The opportunities the new role present are amazing, but it's going to be a lot of hard work. I'm not bothered about this, just nervous about the new role, having the proper support and getting up to speed with the job.

I could stay where I am, but it's rotting my brain and I'm deeply unhappy. Add to this the fact that my fiancee is due to pop a baby out in September/October and you have a very excited, but very nervous person.

So, has anyone else taken a leap of faith like this before? Has anyone been stuck in something dead end (but safe) and jumped ship to take up a great opportunity? If so, how did it go?

[funkyrobot]

Gargamel said:

Move....

You have a very solid work history behind you, but you work for an employer with no interest in your development.

You need to take these chances when they come along, being the first person in, is usually a great way to learn a really broad range of skills.

No brainer isn't it ?

Yes. But as a person who worries a bit, it's been a tough decision to make.

[funkyrobot]

Du1point8 said:

Stuck in Sheffield in a dead end job, watching everyone else get promoted on their friendship with the boss and how long they had been there, rather than on their skills etc... I was the lowest ranked but most highly skilled.

The last straw was a colleague getting promoted for her good work and me getting a bking for not finishing a deadline that had quadrupled in work (was a day late) and needing to help out a certain colleague who couldnt do their work (so I did most of it as well) under orders of the boss.

I pointed out in my review that I had done her work under his orders and was not backed up by him (the boss) when I needed his help to keep the client in check on my project, when I asked him to step in and lower the work load or add resource... he just green lighted everything and said I needed to step up.

I was put on an action plan and told to grow up and a be a team player... week later my notice was on his desk and I was heading to London with same company.

He went on stress leave for 4 months 2 days after I left

Went to london with not knowing anyone, broke up with Ex 2 weeks after moving there... so complete cluster fk, knuckled down in my job as I had nothing else and took many risks, took a huge risk 10 months in and landed a job in Investment... that was 2007, not looked back since.

I know your pain.

I literally carry the workload at my current job. I have a senior colleague who isn't interested, but takes the credit when things are done. My manager doesn't want me to go because he knows this and tries to keep it under wraps.

Funnily enough, when I told my manager the other day it was at the start of my yearly appraisal. Was quite funny listening to him saying how I need to do better, need to do more, haven't done this and that, can grow the role etc. It's all a load of twaddle.

[funkyrobot]

Bullett said:

Stuff.

Thanks. Good to know.

My new role will be one hell of a learning experience. However, I'm very keen to learn and develop it. It's like the baby thing. I'm both nervous and excited.

Will be funny when one of the other managers in my office returns from holiday soon. We've had many disagreements because he is terrible at his job and his attitude stinks. For some reason though, my manager (his manager) absolutely loves him.

Apparently, after some of the recent chats, he has proudly told people behind closed doors that it doesn't matter what I say because he is a manager and I'm a 'lowly' system person.

Can't wait to see his face when he gets the news next week. I'm not a horrible person at all and I've been really tested here. It's just nice that things do eventually come round and ignorant, horrible people get what they deserve.

[funkyrobot]

Bluequay said:

I've just handed my notice in as there wasn't any room for progression, even though the salary was decent enough and I got to work from home. The reason being that I don't see myself doing the job in 5 years time, so it makes sense to try and make the jump back into IT contracting (which I did before this permie role) now when I'm 41 rather than later. So don't worry too much at least you have a job!

I'm 35 soon. I said to my manager that I don't want to be in my current role this time next year. No matter what I do, he can't give me the opportunity to progress because that would involve moving his favourite people around.

[funkyrobot]

As daft as it sounds, it's the IT specific stuff that has me nervous. The company currently use third party support, so initially it will be coordinating this (which I do in my current role).

My main experience is around bespoke production systems and databases. However, with time I'm sure that I can learn the relevant IT stuff.

[funkyrobot]

Du1point8 said:

This is one of the reasons I do contracting/consulting... none of the politics bullst of promoting friends over knowledge, its annoying when that happens and last time I made the boss justify to HR and he got a bking for it, but they couldnt remove the promotion, as a result I got a bking for not going to him first with my concerns.

I asked him how I should go to him with my concerns that he was promoting his friends first no matter of how incapable they were and how he would address it, he couldnt answer it and told me it was done on merit, then the arguement broke out that how can it be on merit, if Im doing their work too as they cant... He left the room and I got an action plan for that one.

The managers in my office are loved, carried and protected by my manager. As long as they are there, there is no room for me to move up no matter what I do.

For instance, one of them brought down our systems a few months ago because he didn't do his job properly. What did the manager do? Called a meeting tried to tell me off whilst telling the other manager not to worry, it wasn't a problem.

I think that ended it for me.

[funkyrobot]

Thanks all.

Looks like I'm not the only person who has ended up in a rut.

Had my resignation confirmed yesterday and when I told my more 'senior' colleague about it, his face dropped too. Apparently, my manager had told him that I was thinking of going, but didn't think it was serious. What the hell?

It looks like I did call my manager's bluff the other day when handing my notice in. He had ignore me until I did that. Fancy telling others that I was only thinking of going eh. Lots of denial happening here now.

[funkyrobot]

Du1point8 said:

Presume the counter offers will come in now...

Remember not to burn any bridges when you leave, some day you might be back.

The counter offer was there is no counter offer.

Everything is being left very amicably. I've managed to negotiate my notice and get it halved. I'm also leaving it on a very friendly note with my current manager.

[funkyrobot]

Thanks shirt.

Good to hear that you are progressing well.

Also very good to hear about someone else who has made a significant leap and gained from it.

[funkyrobot]

ocrx8 said:

I recently jumped ship from an ultra safe job into a new company. The role is a definite step up and I'd be lying if I said there haven't been moments where I've questioned the move I made! My confidence has gone to pot as it's all new, which hasn't helped. It's early days though, so I'll see how it pans out. And if I'd never taken this role I would have always (always) wondered what if.

Best advice I'll give to you is not to be too hard on yourself at the beginning of the new job, should you decide to take it. Most new jobs are a steep learning curve and nobody will expect you to be able to do everything immediately.

Thanks. Hope it goes well for you in the end.

I think my problems stem from being so hard on myself. I do expect a lot and do feel bad if I can't get to grips with things so soon. As you have said, it is a learning curve though and you need to take a step back sometimes and accept this.

The advert for my old job has gone out and it's quite amusing. Funnily enough, nearly all of the people in my neighbouring dept have gone for the job. Says a lot about the manager of the team I share an office with.

[funkyrobot]

Wow. And I thought I had a tough decision with just moving jobs and adding 20 miles extra to the daily commute.

Thanks for your comments.

[funkyrobot]

pherlopolus said:

at 43 with 10 years service I applied for VR 2 weeks ago. No plans, don't know if accepted, but going to head off contracting for a while.

It's a big leap, but I contracted before for 10 years or so, and now I have a much better skill set. It's going to be a bit of a worry, but really looking forward to a few weeks off (probably means I land A contract straight away!)

Good luck.

[funkyrobot]

Well, the fun continues.

Negotiated a reduction in notice period, but it was still left at quite a long time for the 'status' of my role. I thought the point of this was to help my current company get someone else in and trained etc.

They have advertised my job, but put the end date just over two weeks before I leave! I'm also being shunned, ignored and treated like I'm a traitor. There has been no handover plan, no attempt to discuss the work I'm doing and there will be no way of me training the new starter.

What is the point in making me stay here if they aren't interested in me anymore? I'm really sick of this place now and want to crack on with my new job. I've tried to be helpful by offering time at our other sites with my colleagues to help train them up. This, like most things at the moment, has been shunned.

Unfortunately, my silly manager doesn't realise that I do the work and my senior colleague doesn't know what he is doing.

Speaking of my manager, he is telling everyone here that the only reason I got my new job was because of family connections. Apparently, I wouldn't have a hope of getting anything else like it and I'm lucky my family has links to the business. What a load of st!

There is a young chap in the office who I really do feel should take my job. However, any time I'm trying to setup to help him is being cancelled. He has also developed a very arrogant attitude towards me, despite the fact that he was very interested in my role a few weeks ago.

I have to do an exit interview in the last week I'm here. To be honest, I don't see the point. The attitude in here that has made me leave has soured even more over the last week. I really have been reduced to coming into work and browsing the internet all day. It's ridiculous!

Oh well, at least I know I'm out of here soon. The notice period is going to be a real challenge though!

What a silly way to end six years of hard work!

[funkyrobot]

Anonamoose said:

I can feel your pain as I'm sat here in exactly the same position. I managed to negotiate my notice period down from 12 weeks to 4, I suggested gardening leave but they said no they needed me to 'train my replacement' I've sat here for the last 3 weeks browsing the internet etc bored out of head. This thank god is my last full week and my replacement has started today. He has has done this job for year albeit on a different project, it took me an hour this morning to explain the project to him. He pretty much knows everything else that I know.

I've also been ignored and given nothing to do, which is understandable and the reason why I wanted gardening leave because I'm just wasting time here.

Just keep telling yourself it's all over soon. Or you could take a few sick days?

Yes, I keep telling myself that.

Regarding sick leave, I've actually come in today with a stinking headache. Should have maybe stayed at home.

My replacement won't start until I'm long gone. Pointless me being here really.

[funkyrobot]

fin racer said:

how long is your notice period?

Was three months (ridiculously long for someone in my position).

Got it down to six weeks. However, they want me to have a phone for the six weeks after. New work place have said ok as long as it doesn't affect my work there.

[funkyrobot]

ewenm said:

funkyrobot said:

Was three months (ridiculously long for someone in my position).

Got it down to six weeks. However, they want me to have a phone for the six weeks after. New work place have said ok as long as it doesn't affect my work there.

How much are they paying you in the second 6 weeks for the telephone support? If little/nothing it's a goodwill gesture by you to have it, so if it were me, it would be off during working hours at the new place and messages checked when convenient for me.

I am doing it out of goodwill so will only turn it on to check messages in the evening etc. As far as I know, I won't be paid for this.

Bit of a pain really but new company said they can't wait three months for me. I have done it so I don't miss the new job opportunity.

[funkyrobot]

Chest Rockwell said:

Good luck with the new opportunity.

funkyrobot said:

I am doing it out of goodwill so will only turn it on to check messages in the evening etc. As far as I know, I won't be paid for this.

I appreciate you're doing that as a goodwill gesture, however, they should pay you. I know it might be a bit late now, but I would talk to them about a consultancy agreement. It's your time so you should be compensated as such. Makes no odds to them because if you serve out your notice period then you get paid, so the same should apply to this arrangement too. You can bet your bottom dollar that they don't offer such goodwill to their customers.

Interesting, thanks.

The only reason I negotiated the phone cover was because it was the only way I'd get my notice period down. The new company simply couldn't wait 3 months and my current company were getting fussy about the notice too.

I suppose they should be paying me, but everything has been documented and agreed upon now.

Anyway, with the attitude I have been getting lately, who says I have to help with the phone calls. I can always say 'I don't know' and end the call.

To be brutally honest, I'm just glad that I'm out of here in 4 weeks. The atmosphere in my office is slowly degrading more and more, but I will try my hardest to see it through.

Thanks for your advice.

[funkyrobot]

Chest Rockwell said:

funkyrobot said:

Thanks for your advice.

No probs, I wish you all the best with the new opportunity.

Thanks.

I've decided that I'm going to see HR about this today. I don't see why I should offer them the phone cover for free. Will see what they say.

If they refuse to pay me, I don't think there is a lot I can do. I just need to know so I am aware of how much attention I need to pay to the phone for that time period.

[funkyrobot]

gottans said:

Hmmm, really shows you what the company you are leaving is really like.

Taking a job out of your comfort zone is something I think everyone should do, I left a solid job to go into a hi-tech start up. The company could have been dead in 6 months but has provided 13 years of employment with a few bumps in the road but I am far better at my role than I ever imagined. It has been really hard work but we have done things that people just say wow when they hear it.

Now we are part of a much bigger company it feels like everything is in slow motion and we are just passengers and something special has been lost.

What a journey! Sorry to hear that the special spark has gone.

I am going to do the usual in my new job; throw myself at it and learn as much as I can. It will be nice to be somewhere where I can do this without being pegged by people who keep their job because they are friends with the manager.

Just over three weeks to go now and even though I'm very nervous, I'm looking forward to it.

It was interesting here last week. As I've taken a step back, my senior colleague has caused no end of problems and has been asking me how to do things. As usual though, he is told it doesn't matter and when asked to fix things, it's done with a smile and a grovel. Absolutely crazy.

Oh well, I'm out of here soon.

Interestingly, I have been going over old emails from the first few years I was here. I've had problems with senior colleagues since I started. There are lots of old notes about complaints I raised which were just laughed off. Looks like nothing has changed over six years, so I doubt it ever will.