TruthSetsYouFree Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 I have been at my current job for about a year and a half. I certainly do not hate it, but I don't love it either. The perks are that it is very close to where I live so my commute is only about 10 minutes each way. My boss is great. His money management skills are a bit lacking (we are severely in debt), but he trusts me to do my job and tells me on occasion what a good job I am doing. He is also very flexible with me taking time off when I need to without keeping track of it. I do not take advantage of his generosity, of course. I work for a very small company - only 8 employees. The downsides: The benefits are not that great. I had a mole removed recently, for example, and still owe the doctor $350. There is no room for me to advance in my position. Above me is my boss, the president. I have a Masters degree, yet I am making the same amount I was while I was still an undergrad in college. There is little chance of me getting much of a raise ever considering the amount of debt my boss is in. So... I have started looking for other jobs. But I feel guilty about it. I haven't told my boss I've been looking because I just don't know how to. He's such a nice guy and, well, I'm afraid of hurting his feelings. I have a job interview tomorrow. This job is about an hour commute each way, but it's with a large company with fantastic benefits and lots of room to advance. It's just an interview so there's no saying I'll actually get a job offer. Plus, out of the 30 or so jobs I've already applied for, it's the only one I have heard back from. It's not like I have a multitude of opportunities banging on my door. I want to be sort of excited but instead I feel more guilty than anything else. Can anyone relate to this? If so, how did you handle it?
laRubiaBonita Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Can anyone relate to this? If so, how did you handle it? you just have to remind yourself that your current job is good EXPERIENCE and you have met some really nice people. other than that, it doesn't sopund like thios job is doing you any favors. you will not move up in the company, your work will most likely become monotonous and if your boss/ company owner has poor money management skills (and people managing skills it seems) i seriously doubt this company will be around long enoughto dao anything for you, except create a bitterness. so move on before you get stuck in the quagmire- use your educatiuon to the Max!
Trimmer Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 I want to be sort of excited but instead I feel more guilty than anything else. Can anyone relate to this? If so, how did you handle it? Well, I haven't been in exactly that same position, but here are some thoughts to consider. First of all, although you have personal feelings involved here, it's important to remember that business is business. And employment is a part of business. If you're not getting what you want or need from your employment, you owe it to yourself to go out and find something better. That's an important thing to remember - moment by moment, you owe your employer your best work, honesty, and loyalty, but in the long run you have to be sure your needs are being taken care of. Secondly, there should be no shame or guilt in at least going out and looking for other opportunities. Especially given that you can see that your current situation is somewhat precarious. You know that your current company is carrying a significant debt load ("severely", you said...) You are savvy enough to see that this doesn't bode well for any kind of improvement or advancement in the foreseeable future. Business is business... Finally, you need to let go of these concerns, at least while you are out talking to other prospective employers. The question will almost certainly come up: why are you considering leaving your current job? You've got a great answer: I really enjoy the people I'm working with, but it's a bit of a concern working for such a small company that operates on the edge financially, and I would really like to work for a larger, stable company that offers more potential for career development and more diverse tasks, etc. etc.... A lot of people being interviewed have to hem and haw and explain why they are currently unemployed... The fact that you are currently employed is actually a plus. So get rid of the guilt - you need to treat yourself and the development of your career as "TruthSetsYouFree, Inc." Go into the interview with confidence, and sell yourself enthusiastically and without hesitation - here's what I'm doing now, and here's what I am ready to do for you. And in the end, if you get an offer, you can ask yourself the question: if I stay where I am, are things going to get better any time soon - or potentially worse? And what is the better choice to make, as the responsible CEO of TruthSetsYouFree, Inc.?
Author TruthSetsYouFree Posted May 17, 2011 Author Posted May 17, 2011 Thank you both for your replies!! It helped me feel a little calmer about the whole thing. I think I was feeling like I was committing some form of betrayal, but you're right - business is business and this is just the nature of the beast. I may not even get this job - and if they do offer it to me, it would have to be worth the 400 miles of driving and in gas I'd have to put into and on my car a week. So perhaps if I come to that bridge, then I'll consider whether to cross it or not. Beside the financial situation at my job - and I do not know the nitty-gritty of it (just from what I can tell managing our QuickBooks) - there is no where for me to advance here. While there are some days that I like how cushy my job can be, I ideally want a job where I am working toward something and can go home feeling a sense of accomplishment. Not just that I did the exact same things that I did at work yesterday, and the day before that, and the month before that.
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