Reaching a career "Cul-de-sac". what to do?
Discussion
Apologies in advance for quite a long post.
As per the thread title, this must happen to plenty of people but what to do???
I'm sure its a familiar story. You start a career, work up from trainee/grad, to fully qualified team member, maybe a promotion or two. All the while you're becoming better at your job, doing more courses, picking up more skills, gaining more technical knowledge, expertise and more responsibilities, then suddenly you realise that:
1. You haven't really gone anywhere career-wise for a while.
2. The only staff turnover is going on below and around you and the incumbents above you look like "lifers"
3. Your pay starts to stagnate and you realise that you now have a list of fairly hefty responsibilities that were never on your original job description and that you're doing for maybe only a few grand more than when you were a fresh graduate with zero industry experience.
The obvious solution is to look to pastures new, right? The complicating factors though are:
1. I really enjoy what I do (for now).
2. I have a great line manager.
3. I am heading up a cracking team, probably the best group we've ever had, and I'd miss them (probably get over that though fairly soon!!)
4. Its a niche industry made up of SMEs so decent vacancies are few and far between and most tend to be either right at the bottom, or at board level.
Oh, by the way, the job I do is split into two main areas.
1. Structural inspections (typically to highways agency PI-standard work) with some NDT work (specialising in difficult access - heights, confined spaces etc.)
2. Consultants and safety/rescue specialists in confined space working (everything bar underwater works).
The last time this happened it was solved by being poached by another company, but I now find myself slightly further up the ladder, but essentially in the same situation. The more I research and look around the less certain I am of what to do. Starting to think I can't see the wood for the trees. I thought I'd throw it open to anyone, a fresh viewpoint is required I think. so, has anyone any advice? I'm going round in circles at the moments.
Any advice would be gratefully taken on board (even stupid advice).
Many thanks,
TNS
As per the thread title, this must happen to plenty of people but what to do???
I'm sure its a familiar story. You start a career, work up from trainee/grad, to fully qualified team member, maybe a promotion or two. All the while you're becoming better at your job, doing more courses, picking up more skills, gaining more technical knowledge, expertise and more responsibilities, then suddenly you realise that:
1. You haven't really gone anywhere career-wise for a while.
2. The only staff turnover is going on below and around you and the incumbents above you look like "lifers"
3. Your pay starts to stagnate and you realise that you now have a list of fairly hefty responsibilities that were never on your original job description and that you're doing for maybe only a few grand more than when you were a fresh graduate with zero industry experience.
The obvious solution is to look to pastures new, right? The complicating factors though are:
1. I really enjoy what I do (for now).
2. I have a great line manager.
3. I am heading up a cracking team, probably the best group we've ever had, and I'd miss them (probably get over that though fairly soon!!)
4. Its a niche industry made up of SMEs so decent vacancies are few and far between and most tend to be either right at the bottom, or at board level.
Oh, by the way, the job I do is split into two main areas.
1. Structural inspections (typically to highways agency PI-standard work) with some NDT work (specialising in difficult access - heights, confined spaces etc.)
2. Consultants and safety/rescue specialists in confined space working (everything bar underwater works).
The last time this happened it was solved by being poached by another company, but I now find myself slightly further up the ladder, but essentially in the same situation. The more I research and look around the less certain I am of what to do. Starting to think I can't see the wood for the trees. I thought I'd throw it open to anyone, a fresh viewpoint is required I think. so, has anyone any advice? I'm going round in circles at the moments.
Any advice would be gratefully taken on board (even stupid advice).
Many thanks,
TNS
" I really enjoy what I do, I have a great line manager and I am heading up a cracking team, probably the best group we've ever had, and I'd miss them, and it's a niche industry made up of SMEs so decent vacancies are few and far between."
And your problem is...? Most would kill for what you're experiencing in the workplace. I wonder if because you're in a plum job you think it's plum everywhere else? I do agree that the time to move is when you don't have to, but in the current climate? I'd sit tight and wait for the headhunters (don't forget it's +20% to make any move worthwhile). Good luck!
And your problem is...? Most would kill for what you're experiencing in the workplace. I wonder if because you're in a plum job you think it's plum everywhere else? I do agree that the time to move is when you don't have to, but in the current climate? I'd sit tight and wait for the headhunters (don't forget it's +20% to make any move worthwhile). Good luck!
yes you've got a very good point there, i was in two minds whether to post or not, knowing the s
t some people are going through at work at the moment.
I didn't want to come across as moaning, i know plenty of people would be happy with my job situation, i'm just trying to get different perspectives on the issue, and yours is certainly a good point i need to think about, and also the 20% rule is a good one, i didn't know there was a general rule of thumb for that kind of thing. Thanks.
t some people are going through at work at the moment. I didn't want to come across as moaning, i know plenty of people would be happy with my job situation, i'm just trying to get different perspectives on the issue, and yours is certainly a good point i need to think about, and also the 20% rule is a good one, i didn't know there was a general rule of thumb for that kind of thing. Thanks.
Well... you are in a classic conundrum, aren't you?
You have a real cushy job, but you would like to earn more.
The only way that you can answer your question is to work out a long term plan.
Where do you want to be in 20 years time? How much do you want to be earning? What job (if any?) do you want to be doing?
Now that you have defined the end goal, you need to work out the goalposts. To reach your 20 year goal, you will have to make certain progress in 10 years.
Next, you have to think about how you will reach your 10 year objective - then your 5 year objective - and so on until you decide what you need to achieve in the next 12 months.
Now we get to the important bit.
The next 12 months will decide if you have any chance at all of reaching your long tern objective.
To get where you need to be in 12 months, you will need to make some progress over the next 6 months.
At this point, I think that you can see where this is going. You need an aim for next month, for next week... and for tomorrow.
Write all of this down, starting with your long term objective.
...or maybe you want to have a cushy job for life.
Don
--
You have a real cushy job, but you would like to earn more.
The only way that you can answer your question is to work out a long term plan.
Where do you want to be in 20 years time? How much do you want to be earning? What job (if any?) do you want to be doing?
Now that you have defined the end goal, you need to work out the goalposts. To reach your 20 year goal, you will have to make certain progress in 10 years.
Next, you have to think about how you will reach your 10 year objective - then your 5 year objective - and so on until you decide what you need to achieve in the next 12 months.
Now we get to the important bit.
The next 12 months will decide if you have any chance at all of reaching your long tern objective.
To get where you need to be in 12 months, you will need to make some progress over the next 6 months.
At this point, I think that you can see where this is going. You need an aim for next month, for next week... and for tomorrow.
Write all of this down, starting with your long term objective.
...or maybe you want to have a cushy job for life.
Don
--
TeaNoSugar said:
and also the 20% rule is a good one, i didn't know there was a general rule of thumb for that kind of thing. Thanks.
It's what most top headhunters looking to place for the top companies will be expecting you to ask for, as a minimum. It represents the risk inherent in moving from an established role that is paying well and has very good advancement prospects in that role. It also represents possible changes to car circumstances, changes to travel time and plans, and in some cases, possible change of residence (but there would usually be a relocation package in substantial moves). And of course you'd need a couple of new bespoke suits to make a good impression!Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff