Sum Dum Gai
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jun 3, 2011 18:34:57 GMT -5
I saw from your last post that you've recently been promoted. Is it possible that this just isn't your type of job in your organization? Some of us are adrenaline junkies and work better as firefighters than cube jocks. Not that recently, it's been two and a half years... I think. Somewhere around that. Honestly the job I liked the most was doing front line computer support and special projects in the military. The pay was pretty damn lackluster though, and if I stayed in and got promoted they would have stuck me with a boring desk job anyway. The military is like a really poorly run union. Everything is based on seniority, and if you try to stay a lower rank so you're actually doing something instead of sitting in an office telling other people to do stuff, they boot you out after a while. 3. What's the next job you want in this company? And how long before you can get it? None of the jobs above me really hold much appeal to be honest. There's a part of me that wants the MBA from Stanford, a cushy senior VP or CIO job in the valley, 80 hour workweeks, fat paycheck, leased mercedes, big house in the hills, stock options, the whole shebang. I'm pretty sure it also comes with a wife and kids I never see, a divorce, future trophy wife that even I can barely stand, a touch of alcoholism, and an early death from something stress related (assuming I survive a few decades of commuting that is). It's also possible that I watched way too much TV and movies and growing up.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on Jun 3, 2011 18:59:25 GMT -5
So your job isn't that challenging at the moment. I can relate. I used to post a lot more on here, but things really picked up recently and now I barely have time to read this board. If you truly are just sitting on your ass all day, the best advice I can give you is to suck it up and enjoy it while it lasts, because most companies aren't going to keep employees like that around for too long before efficiency experts come in, reorganize, and clean house to the point where the remaining employees are overwhelmed with responsibilities--particularly if the company has a bad year financially. They'll institute ticket systems to count the incoming service requests, determine how long it takes to resolve each ticket on average, and then start reducing head count. I've seen it happen at every company that I've been at, and most of the laid off employees wish they had banked their pay while times were good. Even if the above doesn't happen, you'd be smart to stay where you're at and start reducing your expenses and banking your pay so that you can afford to transition into a more rewarding career when you're truly sick of your job. That's what I'm doing. I'm saving one third of my income and stuffing as much as I can into retirement and after tax savings accounts, so that I can walk away from my job in case it does become that unbearable. Anyway, quitting a high paying job just because you're bored in this day and economy is insane IMO. You've just forgotten what real stress and struggle is like; consider yourself lucky. Very lucky. ETA: Maybe you can use this: news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-20068523-2/sparked-volunteer-work-right-in-your-cubicle/
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Jun 3, 2011 19:34:05 GMT -5
I will echo everyone who's said try school... there are worse things in life than being paid $100K/year to get a degree you can take with you when you quit I'd imagine after a semester or two of classes, you'll have a better idea of what you want to do with the rest of your career.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2011 20:36:34 GMT -5
Dark, I don't have any answers. I don't think that wanting a sense of satisfaction (other than a nice paycheck) from your job makes you an asshole just because other people have worse problems. Being bored "sitting on your ass" all day isn't the worst problem to have, but that doesn't mean it isn't a valid issue for you. And spending 8 hours/day doing something you really don't like can be a source of stress.
I feel you. My job is physically demanding and doesn't require that I be mentally engaged at all. The ONLY thing I like about it is it's relative stability and that it pays my bills. And I don't make near as much money as you do.
I've thought about going back to college, but I talk myself out of it mostly because I still haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. So here I am.
It's hard to switch it up when you already have the responsibilities that you do and a job that takes care of those responsibilities comfortably even though it doesn't really float your boat.
It seems like you have a real partner in Loop, though......... so think outside the box and try to figure out what you'd like to do. Then you and Loop can figure out how you all can make it happen.
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bring in the new year
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Post by bring in the new year on Jun 3, 2011 20:52:20 GMT -5
Okay, Dark, there are some MBAs from Stanford without trophy wives. Not many I grant you but some.
I feel for you and am sorry you're going through this. I've quit jobs because of the lack of challenge before. I can't say that was always the right decision but I ended up happier.
But then I'm single and only animals depend on me.
So all I can suggest is going back to school to pick up the credentials while you're in this holding pattern and then on your free evenings (ha! to that once you're back in school) start designing the company you're going to start once everything looks more stable.
Or figure out how you would take this company and make it more efficient.
Right now they're not getting full benefit from you because you're bored. How would you design it so they would?
(No, I don't think you can convince senior management to make things more efficient - that would break serious laws of the universe.) But as long as you're sitting there you might as well be plotting your take over of the universe just in case one day things happen.
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bring in the new year
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Post by bring in the new year on Jun 3, 2011 20:54:51 GMT -5
Pink Cashmere,
A hundred years ago when I was young, I said something similar to my aunt. And I said something along the lines but it would take me x number of years to go back to school part time.
And she (because she is so much smarter than me) said. "Well, you're still going to be working in x number of years. Would you rather be working doing this or doing that?"
I didn't get the degree I should have but it's still better then it would have been.
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Mardi Gras Audrey
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Post by Mardi Gras Audrey on Jun 3, 2011 21:16:52 GMT -5
Talk to the Bobs.. They'll help increase your motivation! Oh, and don't let them take your coffee cup or swingline stapler...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2011 21:47:40 GMT -5
"Well, you're still going to be working in x number of years. Would you rather be working doing this or doing that?"
Along the same line, I tell myself that the next few years are going to pass regardless of what I'm doing. At the end of those years I could've accomplished something by working towards a goal or I could still be doing what I'm doing now.
The problem is that when it comes to a fulfilling career, I don't know what that would be for me, so I don't really have a goal. So even if I go back to college, exactly what goal would I be working toward? Getting a degree just for the sake of having one doesn't motivate me to spend the time, money and effort. If I really wanted to go into a particular field, that would be different, but like I said before I still haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. That may sound horrible, but it's the truth.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jun 3, 2011 23:11:15 GMT -5
I think some of that is true, I just don't know how much. There's a guy who used to live that kind of life although not sure about the MBA, in advertising who took a job at Starbucks when it all fell apart and per his books is much happier. If you love your job and your family not so much, maybe it is a way to go?
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txbo
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Post by txbo on Jun 4, 2011 6:20:52 GMT -5
Is there anyway that you can take on additional responsibility. If not you certainly have a lot of free study time. I don’t know what would be worse a job like yours or one that is so stressful that you burn out at an early age. This is what happened to me at age 50 I hated everything about my work, could not motivate myself, and had to make some changes. I talked to HR about an early retirement and what type of deal we could workout. Found out one must be 55 years of age for retirement, we came to an agreement that I would be placed on five year LOA; my health insurance is paid for life (I pay $16 per month). My 401K, profit sharing, retirement and stock options would stay with the corporation until age 55. Also received a large severance check and I sold back 76 days of vacation that I was unable to take. Best decision I ever made.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 7:13:30 GMT -5
Dark, I have to say I kinda wish I had your problem, but I remember that I already went through that at my current job. It took me less that 6 months to "get" everything and then I got extremely bored (and started posting here). My solution was to start the Masters degree program I'm in now (on the company's dime of course).
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qofcc
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Post by qofcc on Jun 4, 2011 10:48:23 GMT -5
It sounds like you need to spend more time figuring out where you want to be in 10-15 years when the kids are on their own and in 30-40 years when you might not be able to work any longer. Those goals might require a degree and it sounds like you'd have plenty of free time at work to complete and independent study undergraduate degree before needing to start a 1 night/wk master's degree. But you've also talked about doing computer consulting and running a bar or helping Loop start up a business she wants to do. Those probably don't require all of the effort you'd need to put into more education. It also sounds like you could use a hobby that can occupy your mind during the day other than message boarding and possibly some friends that you can go to lunch with. Also, when you figure out your goals, it's easier to say, I'm going to be here for another x number of months rather than thinking about your time in this job as infinite. I couldn't drag myself out of bed in the morning if I wasn't working towards a vision of how I want my life to be.
And you probably need a vacation with lots of cocktails. And maybe some time with people who are unemployed/underemployed and struggling. Your family has a great life and you had kids young and you're making good money and saving it, so you're going to have the chance to have an entirely different life and start over in your 40's if you want to. In the mean time, just keep telling youself... 10 more years, don't screw it up now.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 11:28:16 GMT -5
Dark,
I would look into the Executive MBA programs; you don't necessarily need a BA or BS and can do a lot work on-line. I know there's a school up in Orinda (you might have to drive out there on a Sat) called College of Mary (?) or the University of Phoenix as Pat Stab suggests. You want to be careful because I believe both are "For Profit" Universities and may not really have your best interests at heart.
I do agree with the others that using this "down" time for school is a wonderful opportunity that you might not have again. AZPhx paints a good picture of reality in his post. Pick a degree that gets you reimbursement but in a really broad field so you can re-invent yourself down the road. Although DH and I have degrees neither one of us have degrees in our field. DH's degree is in cognitive psychology (minor in AI) and is now running the (business) Risk Program for IT Services for his company. Over the nearly 25 years he's worked for this company and its subsidiaries he's reinvented himself several times. However he would have never gotten this job had he not had a degree. It's too easy for HR to all the resumes without a degree when they have 200+ to sort through. BTW I think he was 28 when he got laid off from his last job (in San Diego) and took the job in Northern Virgina (greater Washington DC area).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 11:33:33 GMT -5
2 years ago I walked away from 140k in unvested stock grants and took a 30k/year pay cut not because I didn't love the job, but because I had to travel every week. Being away from home 3-4 nights a week for 4 years was hard on my wife and I.
So I took the pay hit and landed a great local job. The company has loved my work and rewarded me very well to the point of almost closing the entire pay gap already.
My opinion for you is being happy in challenging work will eventually pay off for you even if you have to take a short term pay cut. Do not settle on a slightly less shitty job though - only make the move if you will be challenged in the new position. I'm trying to remember - you are a defense contractor? I'm not sure that gravy train can last forever. I have way too many friends in IT as defense contractors letting their skills atrophy supporting systems 1-2 major versions behind the industry.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 13:42:55 GMT -5
Dark, a lot of classes are GE and even if you are "majoring" in something related to your work you can take GE classes that interest you. Also getting a BA/BS could help you get another job.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Jun 4, 2011 14:54:06 GMT -5
I don't think doing school work on the job when you have nothing to do is any more unethical than surfing the web when there's nothing to do. If anything it's better for your clients to work on yourself and increase your value than surfing the web will.
You'd also be setting a good example for your daugthers. You'd show them that you value education and that it's never too late to go back to school.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Jun 4, 2011 15:03:12 GMT -5
"The problem is that when it comes to a fulfilling career, I don't know what that would be for me, so I don't really have a goal. So even if I go back to college, exactly what goal would I be working toward?"
Personally I think being passionate about your work is overrated. I don't know anyone who absolutely loves what they do and can't wait to go to work on the morning. My philosphy is that one of the facts of life is that I need to have a job, so I might as well get the most money I can for doing something I can stand for the least amount of work.
Doing that usually requires schooling and training, so I'd just find what is midly interesting and you can stand doing it for a few decades and then do it.
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april47
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Post by april47 on Jun 4, 2011 19:15:55 GMT -5
If I had had your job I could have made it to 65! You need to stand up and do some standing exercises. Can you read on the job? That would help me a lot if bored.
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Nazgul Girl
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Post by Nazgul Girl on Jun 4, 2011 20:36:38 GMT -5
In all honesty, Dark, I'm passionate about a career that pays my bills ! I don't care what it is. I know that sounds stupid, but the longer you work, the more you'll see that it's true. Besides, you'd miss Loop and the kids if you had that "dream" career with the house in the hills and the 80-hour work weeks.
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daylight
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Post by daylight on Jun 5, 2011 14:50:31 GMT -5
Okay, so my first instinct was to tell you to just deal with it. I'm having the 60+ work hours weeks/months and it's frigging difficult trying to have a private life without the benefits of a housekeeper. This week it was on a Sunday morning the first time I actually saw the apartment I supposedly live in in daylight. But that's my problem and I should be dealing with it in a different topic. I guess I am just trying to tell you to be careful with wishing what you want. I agree with everyone else that you need a bit of change, I would probably go for an MBA and use your GI bill benefits. There must be at least one great company that would value you and provide interesting challenges without the trophy wife route...
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share88
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Post by share88 on Jun 5, 2011 15:06:33 GMT -5
I had a job like that til the last reorg.
I'd give anything to have it back now!
My point is just that it may feel like forever, but it probably isn't so what are you going to do with the time?
I would agree going back to school is your best option. You have a lot of working years left - chances are they will not be spent there and you may need a degree to open some doors.
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reader79
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Post by reader79 on Jun 5, 2011 19:42:04 GMT -5
I understand what Dark is going through. I used to love my job, but have been really bored lately. It has gotten repetitive and my boss has no interest in what i'm doing, other than that I make him look good. I too, haven't finished a degree yet. But I have made the decision to finish paying off my existing student loans before I go back. Why, I don't know, but that gives me a year or so to figure out where/what I will study. If I payoff the loans, and most of my CC debt, that gives me the freedom to move if I want to go to school somewhere else. And with my sister living in Hawaii.....it's a tentative goal.
I don't have any other relevant experience other than the 10+ years I have in with this company, so without a degree I know that it will be difficult to get another job should something happen. But I don't have dependents, so the stress Dark is under is of a different level.
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sil
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Post by sil on Jun 6, 2011 10:35:23 GMT -5
Quote:There's a part of me that wants the MBA from Stanford, a cushy senior VP or CIO job in the valley, 80 hour workweeks, fat paycheck, leased mercedes, big house in the hills, stock options, the whole shebang. I'm pretty sure it also comes with a wife and kids I never see, a divorce, future trophy wife that even I can barely stand, a touch of alcoholism, and an early death from something stress related (assuming I survive a few decades of commuting that is). It's also possible that I watched way too much TV and movies and growing up. BIL is a bit like this, though he probably works 65-70 hour weeks, is usually home on time to tuck the kids in and is still happily married to my sister who looks like she could be a "trophy wife" I do worry about his stress level, but he thrives on a competitve work environment, and plans on retiring in his early 50's when he will play golf and put his focus to home improvement projects. My sister spends half of the day at their daughters' school helping kids with reading issues, then spends an hour or so at the gym (like I said....looks like a trophy wife, minus the silly car and wardrobe) then shops/plans/cooks something gourmet and organic for dinner while helping their kids do homework or shuttling them to activities. There are worse ways to live
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Jun 6, 2011 12:28:26 GMT -5
Dark: From what you've posted, I bet you'd like project management.
My perspective: I'm ~5 years older than you. I'm married to a non-working (currently in school) spouse, though all of our children have 4 legs each. About a year ago, I was promoted into a new job where I have gone from being busy all the time to mostly being seen to be in my office in case someone needs something. About 2-3 days a quarter do I actually need to work. It's boring. I spend way more time here than I should, and it most definitely isn't what I want to be doing for the next 20-30 years. So I have recently put together a plan in my head. DH is back in school full time this summer. He will graduate with his BA/BS (which ever he goes for) next year. If he decides to get his teaching endorsements, he'll have another year of school. I believe in staying in a position for about 3-5 years, longer to make sure you leave for the right opportunity. That means that I don't want to leave my current position for at least 2 years, and its possible I'll stick around a little longer depending on DH's job situation, kids (if there are any), and the opportunities available to me. I like the company I work for, and I believe in its mission. But in my field, there are organizations that do work I am much more passionate about. When I leave where I am, I want to go to one of those organizations. So, I'm putting together a long term plan. I already have my MBA, so unless I want a medical degree, more school isn't going to provide any added benefit. So I'm looking at joining a professional organization for my field and taking some of their tests/certifications, so that I can add a few more letters after my name.
Its not super exciting. And in the mean time, I still have to come in to the job where I spend most of my day on this board, but having the plan, even knowing its years out, helps me get through it. I talk to DH fairly regularly about my plan and his plan, so that we are on the same page and can both make the decisions work best of us as a family.
Talk to Loop. Tell her you have no intention of going anywhere just now, that she and the kids are priority number 1, but that you're not happy at work and you need a plan to get in a better situation in a few years when the kids are older. Tell her the options you've considered. Give her a chance to give input and offer "help"- like going back to work once the kids are in school full time so that you can afford to take a lower paying job. Approach it as a family. Get your plan in place, and then enjoy the lazy days knowing they won't last forever.
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Waffle
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Post by Waffle on Jun 6, 2011 12:40:19 GMT -5
Are there any committees, or extra duties you can volunteer for? For example, we've got an IT guy here who seems to be average at best for IT (not saying that's how you are), but he volunteered to be on the company's Emergency Response Team. And it's like he's a totally different (better) person when he's doing anything safety related.
So he gets to keep his well paying job and do something he enjoys as well. This is not necessary a long range solution for you - but there might be something out there to make the days easier to cope with.
Good luck.
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oreo
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Post by oreo on Jun 6, 2011 12:55:13 GMT -5
Dark, I totally know where you are coming from. I'm sort of in the same position (although I have to DO work while at work occasionally and I'm a lot older than you (46)). For the last several years I've been wanting to find something I really like doing rather than something I dread doing. My current job isn't as bad as my last job but after this job ends (I'm working as a consultant here) I'll have to find something else and REALLY want to find something I'll enjoy. The problem is, I've been trying to figure out WHAT that is and haven't figured it out yet. I keep thinking about different jobs and how would I like doing job xxx and I just haven't thought of anything I would enjoy. I make ok money and suspect that anything else I'd want to do would be for considerably less money (since I likely won't have any training in anything else at least initially). So far I've just been sucking it up and doing what I do and hoping I'll have an epiphany that will help me figure out what I should be doing.
Overall, yes, I'm very lucky to at least have a job, family, health etc but it is somewhat depressing to want time to rush by and you can't really enjoy your time because you hate your job and you wake up every morning and you have to force yourself to go do something you just hate.
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Sum Dum Gai
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jun 6, 2011 14:12:12 GMT -5
We had a busy weekend, so I'm just getting back into this thread for the first time since Friday evening. There's a good bit to chew through, and I'll try to answer some of the questions that came up.
First I'll talk a bit about the degree thing. Loop and I discussed it some over the weekend, and I've been thinking about it for a while. I think I'm finally at a place that I would enjoy going back to school instead of seeing it as a chore that I need to check off. I'm still not thrilled with the idea of taking away some of my family time though. I have a lot of free time at work which I can spend studying and doing homework, but it would still take away some of my time with my daughters, and between my commute and work it already feels like I'm not spending much time with them as it is. That might be something I just have to accept though.
If I knew that I'd already be doing it. I've never been one of those people that knew from the age of 8 what I wanted to be when (if really) I grow up. I have pretty vague notions, not anything concrete I can work toward. I want a non boring job, some stress is fine as I handle it pretty well, decent pay, and benefits. I don't really care what exactly I'm doing, but if it's not something that's pretty constantly changing I'll get bored quick. That's it. That's the entirety of my "dream job". Written out like that it's a pretty simple dream. You'd think it would be easy to find, but I don't even know where to start looking.
That's part of my problem though, I don't work at most companies. I work for a defense contractor, which means the company functions completely different from a regular company that has to produce and sell a product. Take a company like Coca Cola. They make and sell coke, right? They also employ a bunch of people that aren't directly involved in making and selling coke, IT guys, HR, managers, etc., etc. Fundamentally though, the core business is making and selling soda. Everyone who doesn't directly contribute to that aim is overhead, and the business is keen on keeping overhead as low as possible. So you see really slim departments, people with huge workloads, efficiency experts, and whatnot.
Defense contractors on the other hand, especially service based ones, work more like a temp agency. A government organization, say the Social Security Administration, needs to maintain a huge computer system to run that program. They're never going back to the days of having thousands of file clerks update paper records in some massive warehouse somewhere. It's just not going to happen. So, they need computer experts to maintain a huge database that tracks everyone's contributions, their SS eligibility, sends the checks, and those benefit statements we all get near our birthdays. This system needs to be very secure, for obvious reasons. The government decides that there aren't people in the civil service system with the expertise needed to build, maintain, and upgrade that system, so they let private companies bid on providing that service, and sign a contract with one. These contracts are usually 3-5 years, but at the end of that period they put a new one out for bid and it almost always goes to the company already providing the service. See, they're allowed to give special consideration to the company already working for them if they can justify it (not that anyone really looks all that closely at how they justify it), meaning that company doesn't have to be the lowest bid at contract renewal time. The way these contracts work is that the company providing the service gets to bill the agency for X number of full time workers. So my boss hires me, he pays me $50/hour plus benefits. He then bills the agency $150/hour for my 40 hours a week of work. I'm the product, not an employee. My boss doesn't necessarily care whether or not I'm busy, fully utilized, or any of that other crap. All he cares about are that I'm here putting in my 40 hours a week so they can be billed to the agency which lets the company make $4k a week (just making up round numbers here, I'm not sure what my billable rate is at the moment). Well that and that the agency is happy with the service they're getting so they re-up the contract with us when it expires. The company makes the same amount off my labor whether I'm here busting my butt all day everyday, or sitting here staring out the window while drooling on myself. It's actually in their best interest to have too many people on the contract compared to the workload since they're billing by the hour for each body, not by the amount of work that gets done, by the project, or anything else that would encourage them to save the agency money.
It's a pretty fraked system
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Jun 6, 2011 14:44:01 GMT -5
"First I'll talk a bit about the degree thing. Loop and I discussed it some over the weekend, and I've been thinking about it for a while. I think I'm finally at a place that I would enjoy going back to school instead of seeing it as a chore that I need to check off. I'm still not thrilled with the idea of taking away some of my family time though. I have a lot of free time at work which I can spend studying and doing homework, but it would still take away some of my time with my daughters, and between my commute and work it already feels like I'm not spending much time with them as it is. That might be something I just have to accept though."
How much time you have to spend away from family depends on a lot of factors. I've gone to school and graduated as well as taken graduate courses while working full time. I don't know how much time a workweek you have free at work, but you may be able to do most of your studying at work. However, if you have to go to class at a brick and morter building, you'll have to do that during your off work hours. It can be a drag to work 9 hours and then go sit in class for 3 hours. Also I'm sure you'll get projects and papers to do, and those can be time consuming and may require you to do some work at home.
But you don't have to take a full course load. You can take 1, 2 or as many courses as you feel comfortable with. If you can take online courses, then you can simply take the course online during work.
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qofcc
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Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:30:58 GMT -5
Posts: 1,869
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Post by qofcc on Jun 6, 2011 15:06:44 GMT -5
It sounds like you need to spend more time figuring out where you want to be in 10-15 years when the kids are on their own and in 30-40 years when you might not be able to work any longer.
If I knew that I'd already be doing it. I've never been one of those people that knew from the age of 8 what I wanted to be when (if really) I grow up. I have pretty vague notions, not anything concrete I can work toward. I want a non boring job, some stress is fine as I handle it pretty well, decent pay, and benefits. I don't really care what exactly I'm doing, but if it's not something that's pretty constantly changing I'll get bored quick. That's it. That's the entirety of my "dream job". Written out like that it's a pretty simple dream. You'd think it would be easy to find, but I don't even know where to start looking.There are career counselors who can help flesh that out. Another thing would be to look at the salary information on the department of labor website for your area and download the list of salary by job. Delete all of the jobs with salaries that don't meet your requirements and all of the jobs you don't have any interest in and see what's left. Probably a pretty short list for the "working for other people" category. The other category is self employment. Again, make a list of all of the types of businesses you're remotely qualified for, then see which ones support the kind of salary you want. I have a lot of free time at work which I can spend studying and doing homework, but it would still take away some of my time with my daughters, and between my commute and work it already feels like I'm not spending much time with them as it is. That might be something I just have to accept though.Around here, there are tons of "degree completion" or "adult learner" programs to complete a BS or BS/MBA. Most meet one night per week (they form a "study cohort") for 18-24 months. Supposedly there's a ton of homework, but it sounds like you'd have time to do it on the job. Maybe that one night/week Loop & the girls could get involved in some other activity. There are also colleges where you can do all of the work online or with independent study mentors. One that I know of is www.esc.edu. That's a state school, not a for-profit and the tuition seems reasonable.
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Poppet
Established Member
Joined: Dec 28, 2010 15:45:12 GMT -5
Posts: 364
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Post by Poppet on Jun 6, 2011 15:21:07 GMT -5
Will more education lead to even more cube life but maybe now with a nice view and Swingline stapler?
What you need is to get hypnotized into thinking you've been fishing all day. ;D
Or
To try something completely different, because all the suggestions thus far sound like more the same thing.
"Fucken A." ~ Peter Gibbons Office Space
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