One foot out the door

[Lil Honey]

I have worked in a family-owned business since high school. (Many years, but we won't discuss how many. ) This company just seems to hang by a thread day in and day out. I am bored 99% of the time. I feel like I've wasted my life and there haven't even been any challenges (other than to try to understand my boss.) I have been responsible for the accounts receivables/payables, correspondence and payroll.

 

This is my rant:

 

I had a talk with the owners yesterday late in the afternoon. I had printed out a financial summary of the bank balances, the accounts receivables and the payables. A sub-contractor is owed a buttload of money, and I frankly don't see how they could pay him and keep afloat.

 

I went into the office where the owners were with a copy of the printout for each person. That way, if there were any questions, we could talk about it. They looked at it and said nothing.

 

I asked, "I'm wondering if there is a PLAN." Owner #1 looked at me like I was from another planet. I clarified, "I'm wondering if there is a plan to have the finances improved by X amount by such-and-such a date. I need to know because I can install new accounting software, but I'd need to buy new forms. There is no point in doing that if we are closing in the near future. And if we are going to close, it's going to take 6 - 12 months for people to find new jobs, so I'd like a head-start."

 

Owner #1 huffed and said, "Well, I don't WANT to go out of business." (Um . . . I know THAT.) He went on to say that he was trying to keep people employed. He said that work is coming all at once (which doesn't have any relevance to the topic, since work will slack off again . .. and his idea of work "coming all at once" is having more than two jobs in any given week).

 

He said that he had talked to Owner #2 about it Sunday and they are going to pay half of what they owe the one sub-contractor. He said that he can get more money on his house but he wants to wait to do that in case we get a job that he quoted because we will have to be able to cover payroll. Okay, first of all, they never took me aside to tell me what was said Sunday or what was going on. Although I don't have any stock in the company, I am responsible for paying the bills and I worry about the bank balance. I think it's very inconsiderate to leave me out of the loop. Second, if a company doesn't have money to cover payroll, I would be safe to say that it's in trouble. Third, the money they owe on the loans for the houses will need to be paid back. I don't know how that is going to happen if the company isn't making money. It's like they are simply switching dollars.

 

Again, Owner #1 mentioned not wanting to go out of business, he mentioned competition (of which ALL businesses have, by the way), etc., etc. I finally just told him that he's missing the point and walked out. He didn't answer my question about having any plan whatsoever. My daughter said that it's almost as if they are ignoring the problem in the hopes that it will go away.

 

Now, I'm angry. I don't like the idea that they had a discussion about what they are going to do this week without telling me. That makes it obvious that they don't need me and don't feel that keeping me informed is important.

 

I've just had enough.

 

Once, when two former (male) employees were here, Owner #1 was asking about ideas to improve business. I gave him some of mine and he said that he trusts their opinions over mine because they have experience in the real world and I just graduated from college. Soooo . . . from that I'm going to say that maybe now it would be beneficial to them to have someone else take care of the accounts. They might listen to someone else. Someone else might be more influential in getting the company in a better financial position.

[whats wrong with me]

I'm bumping your thead

[HotCaliGirl]

what does it mean to bump a thread?

[whats wrong with me]

When I notice a older post that got 0 replies I "bump" it back to the top of the list.

 

Even if I dont have any advice...if someone else see's it they might.

[Lil Honey]

Thanks, WWWM.

 

I think most people who read this simply thought, Leave the job. I know. It's a pretty obvious (even to me ), but I just feel obligated to stay here. I'd feel guilty to leave. I just don't know if or when those feelings will subside.

 

When I notice a older post that got 0 replies I "bump" it back to the top of the list.

I look for the posts with no response, too. Even if I don't have anything wise to say, I try to acknowledge a person's frustration.

[whats wrong with me]

Thanks, WWWM.

 

I think most people who read this simply thought, Leave the job. I didn't My H and I own a business so I can relate a little bit (about a plan and discussing new ideas). I just dont know what to do about it...Although when I ran the place by myself and put my ideas in place now that we work together....my H is like your boss...he doesn't see my ideas as very good!

 

I look for the posts with no response, too. Even if I don't have anything wise to say, I try to acknowledge a person's frustration.

I do this too cause I figure someone out there really needs advice!

[SILLYRABBIT]

You did the right thing. It seems like you know the companies health better than they do and that's not good. Time to take that step and bring the other foot out the door! I'm making a change and starting my own company and cannot believe the new fire in me.. sometimes, change is the best thing you can do for yourself. Boredom is tiring, but new challenges keep the blood flowing so make a new plan for yourself and go for it.

 

Write your own letter of recommendation so that when you resign, you can have them sign it before you leave...just be honest and they should sign. This way you have what you truly need to move on.

 

Silly

[No Stress Lady]

You did the right thing. It seems like you know the companies health better than they do and that's not good. Time to take that step and bring the other foot out the door! I'm making a change and starting my own company and cannot believe the new fire in me.. sometimes, change is the best thing you can do for yourself. Boredom is tiring, but new challenges keep the blood flowing so make a new plan for yourself and go for it.

 

Write your own letter of recommendation so that when you resign, you can have them sign it before you leave...just be honest and they should sign. This way you have what you truly need to move on.

 

Silly

 

Absolutely agree. Change is very good - sounds like this company is on the skids if they're raising money against their homes - you've got experience - dust off that CV (resume?) and start looking!!!

[Lil Honey]

Thanks for the encouragement. Writing my own letter or recommendation is a great idea!

 

It's so true that changes invigorate a person. I've been stagnating in some many areas of my life. I am changing, but it's taking some time. (I think I have to "gear up" for a good share of the changes. No, it's more like I need a shove. )

 

In my one-year plan, I might be moving out of state. That means that I have to find a place to live and a place to work. How do I do that? How can I get a place to live with little work reference in the city in which I move? And how can I get a job before living in the city in which I work (without a local address)? Which do I do first?

[SILLYRABBIT]

Thanks for the encouragement. Writing my own letter or recommendation is a great idea!

 

It's so true that changes invigorate a person. I've been stagnating in some many areas of my life. I am changing, but it's taking some time. (I think I have to "gear up" for a good share of the changes. No, it's more like I need a shove. )

 

In my one-year plan, I might be moving out of state. That means that I have to find a place to live and a place to work. How do I do that? How can I get a place to live with little work reference in the city in which I move? And how can I get a job before living in the city in which I work (without a local address)? Which do I do first?

 

 

Hi Again Lil Honey, I read an article about relocating not to long ago. They found that it is harder to land professional jobs without a local address but not impossible. The thing is, companies felt like it was more of a risk if someone was relocating because of possibly not liking the area after a short time and quitting. On the other hand, I had a freind of mine just relocate very easily without moving there first. Your in accounting, and that is in the top 10 future most needed jobs so your in great shape. Think about all of the government busts lately in accounting..companies really want there books in order. If the city your looking at has a lot of corporations, then it will be easy for you to find work in your field. If it were me, I would send resumes and make contacts prior to moving. Just be selective, try and find one that has a human resources department so your rights are protected and you don't get jerked around. Good luck to you, I hope that it works out.

 

Silly Rabbit

[Lil Honey]

S. Rabbit: That's what I was afraid of: No local address makes it harder to land a job and no job makes it harder to buy a local address.

 

At this point, I've been looking at what is available out there. I go through the descriptions and make notes of the skills they look for, so that I can work on that. Trying to take one (baby) step at a time.

 

Thank you so much.

[No Stress Lady]

Thanks for the encouragement. Writing my own letter or recommendation is a great idea!

 

It's so true that changes invigorate a person. I've been stagnating in some many areas of my life. I am changing, but it's taking some time. (I think I have to "gear up" for a good share of the changes. No, it's more like I need a shove. )

 

In my one-year plan, I might be moving out of state. That means that I have to find a place to live and a place to work. How do I do that? How can I get a place to live with little work reference in the city in which I move? And how can I get a job before living in the city in which I work (without a local address)? Which do I do first?

Hi Lil Honey That's the cutest dog by the way !!!!!

 

If you're thinking of moving to another state you might try getting in toch with some Accountancy/Financial Services recruitment agencies in the area you're thinking of moving too - they might give you an idea of what kind of jobs are available.

 

The other thing to do (if you can) might be to pick up a part time job to save some money towards the deposit on an apartment and for living expenses when (if) you decide to move - that would make you feel more comfortable and confident about relocating.

 

It's so true that change is good - I made a huge life change 18 months ago and it's been the best thing I've ever done!!!- just look at your possible relocation as a series of small steps and you'll be amazed at how much easier it'll seem - get your resume together, contact some agencies, just making the first contact (like you've been doing) will get the ball rolling nicely !!!

 

You sound way too smart to be mouldering away in your current job - go for it!!

[HokeyReligions]

Look for another job. While looking make plans (keep them to yourself) to hand over to your current employer so that they can have your position covered when you leave. Give them details on how you do your job so that all they need to do is follow your 'instruction book' and/or also line up an outside firm or person whom you can recommend to them. You don't want to put another person in your same situation of uncertainity (nothing beats getting a job only to have it go under a few months later) but a person or firm that they can farm-out the work to for however long their company lasts. That might help you with the guilty feeling. I'll bet that when you find a new position you'll be too busy to feel very much guilt. If your current job is so slow, maybe you can do it in a few hours a week after you have found a permanent job -- that way you are not letting them down and if they do rebound, you will be there to help train whoever takes over for you.

 

Look at it this way - your leaving could be the difference in their succeeding in business because they will have that much less in salary and benefits to pay out and in the long run will help the company.

[SILLYRABBIT]

Read this morning on cnn.com , thought you would like to reference what I said about accounting.

 

 

5 careers: Big demand, big pay

If you're in one of the jobs listed here, you may be able to negotiate a sweet pay hike for yourself when changing employers.

By Jeanne Sahadi, CNNMoney.com senior writer

February 6, 2006: 2:06 PM EST

 

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) – Recent surveys show that a lot of people are itching to find new jobs and human resource managers are expecting a lot of movement - both signs that employers may need to sweeten the pot.

 

There also have been predictions that the labor market may start to tilt in favor of job seekers due to a shortage of skilled workers.

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CNNMoney.com talked with specialists at national staffing and recruiting firm Spherion to find out which job-hunting workers today are sitting in the catbird seat when it comes to negotiating better pay.

 

Below is a list of in-demand workers in five arenas.

 

Accounting

 

Thanks to Enron and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, those who have a few years of corporate auditing experience working for a large public accounting firm can negotiate a sweet package for themselves when they change jobs.

 

That applies whether they're leaving the accounting firm to go work for a corporation or if they're seeking to return to the public accounting firm from an auditing job at an individual company.

 

College graduates with an accounting degree but not yet a CPA designation might make between $35,000 and $45,000 a year, or up to $50,000 in large cities like New York. After a couple of years they can command a substantial pay hike if they move to large company as an internal staff auditor or to a smaller company as controller. At that point, their salary can jump to anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000.

 

The expectation is that they will obtain their CPA designation.

 

If they choose to return to a public accounting firm as an audit manager after a couple of years at a corporation they can earn a salary of $70,000 to $85,000.

Sales and marketing

 

The healthcare and biomedical fields offer some handsome earnings opportunities for those on the business side.

 

Business development directors, product managers and associate product managers working for medical device makers, for instance, can do quite well for themselves if they develop a successful track record managing the concept, execution and sales strategy for a medical device before jumping ship.

 

Typically, they have an MBA in marketing plus at least two to three years' experience on the junior end to between five and eight years' experience at the more senior levels. That experience ideally will be in the industry where they're seeking work.

 

An associate product manager might make a base salary of $55,000 to $75,000. A product manager can make a base of $75,000 to $95,000, while a business development director may make $120,000 to $160,000. Those salaries don't include bonuses.

 

The business development director seeking a vice president position could boost his base to between $150,000 to $200,000 -- depending on whether the new company is a risky start-up or established device maker.

Legal

 

Intellectual property attorneys specializing in patent law and the legal secretaries who have experience helping to prepare patent applications are highly desirable these days.

 

The most in demand are those lawyers with not only a J.D. but also an advanced degree in electrical and mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, biotechnology, pharmacology or computer science.

 

Even those patent lawyers who just have an undergraduate degree in those fields have a leg up.

 

Patent lawyers working for a law firm might make $125,000 to $135,000 to start or about $90,000 if they work for a corporation that's trying to get a patent or to protect one they already have. With a couple of years' experience, they can expect a 10 percent jump or better when they get another job.

 

Legal secretaries, meanwhile, might make $65,000 at a law firm or $55,000 at a corporation. Should they choose to move to a new employer, they can command close to a 10 percent bump in pay.

Technology

 

Two tech jobs in high demand these days are .NET (dot net) developers and quality assurance analysts.

 

Developers who are expert users of Microsoft's software programming language .NET can make between $75,000 and $85,000 a year in major cities. (See correction.) If they pursue a job at a company that seeks someone with a background in a given field (say, a firm looking for a .NET developer experienced in using software related to derivatives) they might snag a salary hike of 15 percent or more when they switch jobs.

 

Those who work in software quality management, meanwhile, might make $65,000 to $75,000 a year and be able to negotiate a 10 percent to 15 percent jump in pay if they switch jobs.

Manufacturing and engineering

 

Despite all the announced job cuts in the automotive industry, quality and process engineers, as well as plant managers certified in what's known as "Lean Manufacturing" techniques, are hot commodities.

 

The same applies to professionals in similar positions at other types of manufacturers.

 

One Lean Manufacturing technique is to use video cameras to capture the manufacturing process. A quality engineer will analyze the tapes to identify areas in the process that create inefficiencies or excess waste, both in terms of materials and workers' time.

 

Process and manufacturing engineers might make between $65,000 and $75,000. With a certification in lean manufacturing and a few years' experience, they can command pay hikes of between 15 percent and 20 percent if they choose to switch jobs.

 

A plant manager making between $90,000 and $120,000 may expect to get a 10 percent raise or more.correction

 

Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly stated that .NET developers can make between $75,000 and $85,000 in major cities "when they're starting out." In fact, that's the salary range they can command after a few years on the job during which they become expert in using .NET. (Return to story.)

 

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[Lil Honey]

Nearly time to leave, but I wanted to get a message out. Thanks for the pointers. I'll print them out and use them.

 

I appreciate the help. Thanks a lot. Have a good evening.