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ONe last thing - the contracting position has "the potential" to become full-time. My understanding is that these large retailer tech divisions generally hire via contracting rather than straight up FTE. That's a consideration but I don't have anything in writing regarding this so there's risk associated there. Has anyone else had any experience in terms of contracting -> FTE?
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Mar 17, 2015 06:17
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BossRighteous posted:I started applying to new jobs and have a final interview next week. I already passed a pre-screen by phone and a programming test. It's for a mid-level developer position and I couldn't be more excited. It's going to be really refreshing to learn from people again and be part of a larger team of developers. Just crushed the on-site interview. No offer on the table at the moment but the last quarter was spent talking about what they can offer me, so I figure that's a good sign. The last question was how much notice I'd need to give. How awesomely exciting/terrifying!!!! I hate not being able to discuss it with people. Right now only my parents/wife and a couple of close friends know, but the anticipation is killing me!
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Mar 17, 2015 19:05
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That's so awesome!! Here's hoping it goes through for you 
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Mar 17, 2015 19:36
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So yeah. I talked to the bank lady last night, got an interview set up, and when I talked pay, I said it might be a deal breaker, that I'd probably look to get 15-16 if not more because the place I"m at was offering more money. She said that's not a deal breaker at all and we'll discuss in the interview. So now it's basically down to which one is better, looks like the jobs are going to be about the same, except maybe the bank wont' have quite as good retirement/vacation/sick time rollover. School: Pros: Lax attendance policy Great people Relaxed environment Great benefits Can take off just about whenever Can study for certs at work very little stress. Sick/Vacation rollover. Cons: Low pay, no real chance for raises No challenge, no growth Currently no benefits, supposed to be getting full time, benefits and raise soon.. Maybe. Bank: Pros Same pay as school at starting, possible better pay Possible chance for growth / actual raises down the road Possibility to move up More challenging position Benefits as soon as I start (Or 30 day waiting period which is standard). Cons: Slightly earlier schedule Maybe stricter time off Unknown stress / work load. Not sure of their benefits package yet. Same between the two Whenever the school gets around to hiring me full time, it should have about the same pay, and the benefits package should be about the same as well. Drive is about the same (Talking a mile difference). So yeah, I don't know how much this is going to change things. Ignore the teaching stuff, I won't be doing that full time either way. I'll update after the interview... e: Well, it looks like the pay and benefits are ultimately going to be the same. However, the bank job looks like it is going to give me room to actually grow. I told the IT director that I was going to finish my Net+, Sec+ then figure out of I want to be in SecOps, SysAdmin or Networking and she just looks at me and says "We have all three". I got a really good vibe, so if I get an offer, I'm probably going to take it. Gothmog1065 fucked around with this message at 02:51 on Mar 19, 2015 |
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Mar 17, 2015 21:18
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So here's where I'm at right now, working a sales job right now in the HVAC industry. Company is very small and there is no real structure for positions and such, everybody has several responsibilities that would be different at larger companies. I've got a background in sales but in technology and smartphones. I've been wanting to go into IT for years but landed this job last year after needing to get a fulltime job to pay bills. I'll list out pros and cons Pros: Ok pay but position will become commission-based in the future 12% match on 401K/profit sharing Salaried position but company is lenient on staying past 40 hours, take random days off no problem Company is one of the few in the country leading the charge in commercial HVAC energy efficiency solutions They bought me a laptop I picked out as well as sent me through training for a special program Cons: No real direction, this company is extremely unorganized, I'm not one to "go get it", this position doesn't really exist in the area and everybody else is busy with their own project management or engineering that I've never been shown how to actually do my job, I've mostly been winging it but I'm better at listening to directions than making them Only advancement is being paid more or doing project management (ick...) Not an industry I really care about or am interested in I've got an opportunity for an IT help desk position to finally break into the industry. The pay is a little bit more but it's a temp to hire position (so I'm not sure how that works for health insurance) and it is actually involved in something I'm interested in or have been looking to do for a very long time. One issue is that I almost feel a sense of obligation to this job. I've known the owner for a long time and they've invested a bunch of money into getting me a laptop and the classes so I feel like I should be giving it more of a shot but this is the 3rd time in just a few months where I've wanted to get out of this job and take a look at something new. I'd love some advice fellow goons. cage-free egghead fucked around with this message at 16:08 on Mar 23, 2015 |
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Mar 23, 2015 16:05
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Lblitzer posted:No real direction, this company is extremely unorganized, I'm not one to "go get it", this position doesn't really exist in the area and everybody else is busy with their own project management or engineering that I've never been shown how to actually do my job, I've mostly been winging it but I'm better at listening to directions than making them I feel you. Lblitzer posted:One issue is that I almost feel a sense of obligation to this job. I've known the owner for a long time and they've invested a bunch of money into getting me a laptop and the classes so I feel like I should be giving it more of a shot. You have a greater obligation to yourself to improve your own life and career. Go hunt you down some food! Lblitzer posted:I've got an opportunity for an IT help desk position to finally break into the industry. The pay is a little bit more but it's a temp to hire position (so I'm not sure how that works for health insurance) Temp to hire makes me nervous personally. Do you have an emergency fund if the crap hits the fan? I think it's really important to outline a term limit for the temp status. Some places have no problem stringing along temps until they get sick of it and move on. Setting some date that you either are working for them salaried or you are leaving is best for everyone. Other people may have more practical input on that.
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Mar 23, 2015 17:08
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Lblitzer posted:I've got an opportunity for an IT help desk position to finally break into the industry. The pay is a little bit more but it's a temp to hire position (so I'm not sure how that works for health insurance) and it is actually involved in something I'm interested in or have been looking to do for a very long time. You can see my posts further above, but I'm basically in the position you want to move into. I work for a school system in one of the shittiest states for schools now. My IT Director keeps promising me money and full time, but at this point, the "hire date" keeps getting pushed back. I'm not even sure if I am going to be even offered a position before my contract runs out due to budgeting issues (this is all coming to light more and more after I made my post). There is no immediate health insurance, but the Temp agency does offer insurance, I think it was $40 a week. I didn't even really look at it because I think it's pretty crappy insurance overall. If I ever get perm then I'll drop off my wife's insurance. Just remember, you're just a throwaway contractor, and can be dropped or hired on a whim, politics, budgeting decisions, where the director/CEO/manager's dog crapped that morning. They have no obligation to keep you and can keep dropping temps for more temps to keep paying less money.
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Mar 23, 2015 19:50
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Thanks for the replies, guys. Basically the job market where I'm at is pretty miserable. It's in a college town and it's saturated with lower paying job. I kind of want to relocate back home but feel like I have failed in a sense because I moved up here 3 years ago to be closer to my girlfriend and to change up my life (which has worked pretty well). I guess I'm just scared to jump again. Yeah the temp position I have is for a local staffing agency that's had a pretty good reputation but still the thought of losing health insurance and not being sure of a job after X months is a little intimidating. I've got about 2 months left on my lease and have thought of moving back home to avoid signing another lease up here. Ultimately I want to get my foot in the door into IT support and work my rear end off and get school done. I just feel like right now this job is holding me back from getting what I really want, it just came at a convenient time when a job with benefits was all I was asking for.
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Mar 23, 2015 20:09
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Having worked both salaried and as a placement temp, I can nevereverever! recommend leaving a salaried job for a temp service. Ever!!! I thought the temp thing was like a 1099/probationary period deal. Staffing places are miserable, scheming, and designed to make you unattractive for permanent hire. Their business model is to provide a backdoor to companies with high turnover to turn and burn low-mid skilled workers and avoid payroll taxes and benefits. In my experience at least. Ever!!!!
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Mar 23, 2015 20:17
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This thread is amazing, tons of helpful info! Now for my question. I currently work an essentially dead end office job. I've been here four years and I enjoy it/am good at it. Trouble is I want something more challenging and in the field I'd like to get into. I'm looking in the Information Security or a Business/Data analyst areas. I currently have a BA in French and I am working towards an MS in Systems Engineering. I recently passed the Security+ certification but my problem in finding a job is I don't have any work experience outside of what I'm currently doing. My current job is hard to explain but it has nothing to do with either of those fields. I know basic Python and am going to teach myself at least a little SQL. I applied for a Business Analyst position with my current company and so far I think I might get a second interview, in which case fine I'm on the way to where I want to be. I don't want to hold out for that though, I'd like to be proactive in my search. Anyone have any advice as to how to continue?
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Mar 23, 2015 20:48
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Another dead end job guy chiming in. I work for a respectable company that manufactures small regional aircraft between 50 and 100 passengers. My job strictly speaking is to spec out these planes according to customer requests and be on hand to answer any technical questions. I also tap our specialist staff when necessary for more detailed information to confirm validity of engineering. For all intents and purposes I'm working an engineering job, but my field of study is Business Administration. I can do this work and overtime I'll probably become good at it but that's all I'll be able to do. If I lose my job I won't be able to get a new one and I'm not really using any advanced skills. I'm pretty lovely with VBA and other more analytical related skillsets. My career is progressing too slowly, I don't make enough money to adequately afford a lifestyle of my own without family help and I'm not really picking up any skills. I realize a job is what you make of it but my motivation is pretty much burning out at this point. I need advice on what I can do with this "job" and how I can jump ship and spin it into a career? I can't afford an MBA and I'm not confident it'll provide me with a good return on investment. Mostly I just want more change and clear career progression without going back and doing another degree. Can I salvage my situation somehow? I was thinking about project management but I realized that field is more about a trade first and project management second.
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Mar 24, 2015 01:47
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What may help is to first think about what kind of skills you'd like to use in a career, and then think about how to make your current job a stepping stone to pursuing that career. It can sometimes be limiting to think of "I want this kind of job", because job titles and careers can vary a lot in responsibilities and skillset. Also, different industries can require vastly different knowledge for the same kind of role. What helped me to think of a career to pursue was thinking about what kind of skills I wanted to use. That way, I could better find the specific types of jobs I wanted to apply to and from there, start to think about a long-term career trajectory. This way of thinking also helped me to figure out how to use my current job to get the kind of experience I needed to demonstrate those skills. It's kinda bullshit, but employers want to see that you have a "career narrative", so being skills-focused can help you make your case, especially if you're making a career switch.
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Mar 24, 2015 14:37
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BossRighteous posted:Just crushed the on-site interview. No offer on the table at the moment but the last quarter was spent talking about what they can offer me, so I figure that's a good sign. The last question was how much notice I'd need to give. How awesomely exciting/terrifying!!!! Got an offer at full ask! But now to complicate things I am in talks with another firm too! I might have 2 job offers to choose from in the next 24 hours  And my biggest project of the year is coming to a close tomorrow, and I am behind schedule...I'm freaking out man! It's too much! No matter what happens I have a new job lined up, ready to take it, and my pay is going to be double last years take home 
root of all eval fucked around with this message at 19:43 on Mar 24, 2015 |
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Mar 24, 2015 19:41
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My question is kind of software/tech industry specific. If I'm posting in the wrong thread, please point me in the right direction. Education: BS in physics with an English minor in 2010, MS in technical communications in 2014 Relevant experience (2 years total): 1 as a contractor at a computing research institute writing internal/developer documentation, and 1 at my current (permanent/FT) job, which is a very large tech company, where I write customer-facing software documentation My goal is to transition into a software developer (or maaaaybe test) position, hopefully sometime in the range of the next 2-5 years. I know I'm capable of learning to do the work, because I've done random classes here and there on python, java, and c++, and always done very well. I've done most of the codeacademy on python and that's been a breeze. And I'm learning a lot about software development in general in my current role. I need a lot more education and experience though to really do the cool, interesting kind of work that I want to do. Basically, I want the job of the software developers that I write docs for. My company encourages internal moves as long as you don't do them too often, so I think as long as I was qualified, when relevant jobs came open I'd have a good shot at them. The issue is how best to get those qualifications, ideally cheaply and while working >40 hr weeks in a demanding job. I know there are code bootcamps and stuff, but I'm not really enthusiastic about those types of programs. My husband is about to start full time school so I can't really take a leave off work to go do that sort of thing. I'm not sure a standard undergraduate program is right for me either. No chance I'm re-doing all those GREs, and frankly, I don't want to make that kind of in person time commitment right now if I don't have to. However, I know I wouldn't qualify for a software engineering or comp sci master's program currently. The best path I see is for me to independently take classes and self-study until I could qualify for a master's program. I'm comfortable with the idea of taking 2 classes at a time, if they are all or at least mostly online classes. I'm not sure where or how would be best to take those classes though, or what methods to use to self-study. I'm also open to other paths. I've been advised by a somewhat suspect source that I wouldn't need the master's degree if I could point to big projects on github that I've contributed significantly to, but I don't know how to learn how to do that. I see this huge gap between my current abilities (code a little calculator or other toys) and being an actual useful software engineer, and I don't know how to fill it. Codeacademy is cool and all but I am pretty sure it won't give me the experience I need to work on big, complicated projects. Anyone have any recommendations?
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Mar 27, 2015 19:28
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T. J. Eckleburg posted:I'm also open to other paths. I've been advised by a somewhat suspect source that I wouldn't need the master's degree if I could point to big projects on github that I've contributed significantly to, but I don't know how to learn how to do that. I see this huge gap between my current abilities (code a little calculator or other toys) and being an actual useful software engineer, and I don't know how to fill it. Codeacademy is cool and all but I am pretty sure it won't give me the experience I need to work on big, complicated projects. You definitely do not need a masters degree to become a software developer. A masters in computer science doesn't really teach you practical software development skills, it's much more mathematical and theoretical. Computer science != software development. Also if you have enough qualifications to get into a good masters program in CS or SE you are more than likely already qualified enough to get a development job. The much more practical path would be to just start working on software development projects/problems that you think are interesting. Maybe you don't think you have the skills, but if you've done basic Python, Java, and C++ and can breeze through things like Codeacademy I guarantee you that you have enough base level knowledge to start hacking and learning on your own. There's no better way to learn how to write software than by writing software. Who cares if its "bad" or if your first designs don't work out, you learn SO MUCH by just trying to tackle a problem, researching tools and solutions, and trying to put them together into a working application. Software development is fortunate and somewhat unique in that there is an absolute mountain of information out there for free or for cheap, and many huge communities that discuss, teach, help, and collaborate on projects, design patterns, tools, techniques, algorithms, you name it. There's so much information out there that it can at times be overwhelming, but being able to search and comb through all that information is also a big part of being a successful software developer. Being a motivated, quick self-learner is an invaluable skill. If you say that you know Python (or whatever) and can demonstrate that claim reasonably well in an interview and/or with projects you've made then most people aren't going to care if you have a degree in CS, much less a masters, for a junior/mid-level developer position. Trying to do an internal transfer across skill areas in a large company can be an infinite waiting game. If you're serious about making the transition to development, I wouldn't necessarily plan on staying at the same company unless you are very friendly with some people who can pull some strings. If you work hard at learning and doing some side projects in the next 1-2 years I think it's entirely reasonable that you could get a dev job at a small-medium size company in a tech hub in that time frame. Whichever path you take is going to take a lot of time and hard work, but if you're as motivated as you say you are you should be excited to dive in. If you think you're interested in programming, you should start programming something today. Pick a problem or a project or an application or something, start a git repo, learn the ins and outs of git, set up a build process, write tests, and just generally dig in. Be lost and overwhelmed, have false starts, scrap it, start over, repeat, try different libraries and frameworks, and just keep going. Even if it is something that seems trivial, just do it. If its as trivial as you think, then it should be easy but you'll be surprised how much work it is to truly finish and polish a project. You will learn a poo poo load, I promise, and as you tackle bigger problems you will naturally be led into learning about algorithms, data structures, design patterns, etc., and at that point you'll have great context and background knowledge for picking up books on the subjects. Never stop learning. I graduated with a BS in Economics ( and a BA in History  ) ~5 years ago. I've transitioned from a data analyst to QA/SDET to an SDE in that time by jumping jobs a couple of times. Much like you, I had taken a couple of classes in programming and had a general computer geek background which also involved some scripting/programming/database stuff, but otherwise I am largely self-taught and have no problem keeping up with my CS degree-holding colleagues. Some of our best SDEs don't have CS degrees, many of which are ex-Amazon/Microsoft, and we're writing serious applications for large businesses, not just another throw-away mobile app.
Guinness fucked around with this message at 20:56 on Mar 27, 2015 |
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Mar 27, 2015 20:43
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Guinness posted:kinda scary yet motivational stuff Thank you, I think that was really what I needed to hear. I do feel overwhelmed at the prospect of just... starting on my own. I've felt that way before, though, and I know that a lot of the time that overwhelmed/terrified feeling is just what learning really fast feels like. I kinda needed to be reminded of that. Guinness posted:Trying to do an internal transfer across skill areas in a large company can be an infinite waiting game. If you're serious about making the transition to development, I wouldn't necessarily plan on staying at the same company unless you are very friendly with some people who can pull some strings. If you work hard at learning and doing some side projects in the next 1-2 years I think it's entirely reasonable that you could get a dev job at a small-medium size company in a tech hub in that time frame. This is good food for thought too. I'm not sure I want to work at a small-medium company. I might rather play the waiting game at my current company. But that's not the problem of the moment anyway.
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Mar 27, 2015 21:04
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Just interviewed for a new position on the other side of the country. It would be a promotion into a position that I've wanted to transition to for a few years now. I interviewed with the same group a few months ago for the same position in another location. I'm hoping that since they invited me back this go around they're already interested in making me an offer. C'mon you bastards! Get me out of Utah!
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Mar 27, 2015 22:26
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TouchyMcFeely posted:Just interviewed for a new position on the other side of the country. It would be a promotion into a position that I've wanted to transition to for a few years now. Fingers crossed!
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Mar 27, 2015 22:29
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T. J. Eckleburg posted:I do feel overwhelmed at the prospect of just... starting on my own. I've felt that way before, though, and I know that a lot of the time that overwhelmed/terrified feeling is just what learning really fast feels like. I kinda needed to be reminded of that. Guiness is totally right. Never stop learning. That alone will put you leaps and bounds ahead of everyone who stopped after "I got a degree."
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Mar 27, 2015 23:12
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I'll just use this thread as a little venting outlet, sorry. I (32y, married, 2 kids, Germany I should add) work as technical consultant & support for my small companys product portfolio (inventory software mostly). This makes we very very technically specialized into this direction, which I don't like (coming from a standard IT specialist apprenticeship, no higher degree). On the other hand, I get to dabble in a lot of additional fields that weren't open to me before - customer relationship, consulting, sales, helping to design and innovate our products through direct contact with developement, QA etc.. Pay is alright for the moment, employer is nice enough and I don't have a very hard time at work usually, which was a nice change of pace compared to my sysadmin position before that. I should be happy overall, but I'm not, instead I feel like I'm in a dead end job; No perspective to advance in my company, as it's just too small and not growing much, no room for more money, no chance of certifications getting paid as I only need to know specifics about our own products etc... What I would rather want to do (in no specific order): - Get a degree / a serious certification in IT business management (money/time problem), in part to help me with my next point: - Move up into lower managament at another company (currently looking for Team Lead positions in support, as I have some experience under my belt and am able to stand out in conversations and such, hoping to go further from there) - Win the lottery and just don't care anymore - Seriously learn programming instead of only knowing the basics and either go into this field or work on own projects I've been cooking up in my mind for years. Concerning this: Guinness posted:You definitely do not need a masters degree to become a software developer. A masters in computer science doesn't really teach you practical software development skills, it's much more mathematical and theoretical. Computer science != software development. Also if you have enough qualifications to get into a good masters program in CS or SE you are more than likely already qualified enough to get a development job. Although it wasn't directed at me, it spoke to me, thanks for this!
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May 6, 2015 11:32
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Hello internet strangers you are the perfect venue for major life changing decisions Me: Age 27, single, saddled with college debt (private student loans) but no debt or obligations otherwise, have my own car and a healthy resume with no large employment gaps. Career experience: Admin, Insurance both in the field and office (4 years), Art Degree Goal: A career that makes at least $40k, preferably with benefits. I'm sick of bouncing around through desk monkey jobs and want to make enough to survive on and finally start throwing the student loan people enough money to shut them the gently caress up. Considering my background, I'm considering insurance claims or maybe SIU work. I don't want to do insurance sales unless it's in the office, because field work sucks and pays horribly until you grow a big enough book of business to sustain yourself (I'm moving to a new area, so my old book of business is literally worthless). I'm also experienced in Admin and can type about 100WPM on average, but trying to move away from the field because it pays too low. It doesn't have to be insurance, though that might be the easiest jump because it's what my resume is centered on. Thankfully have the time and money to pursue any licensing getting a decent office job would require, but can't go to school again because I can't afford any more tuition. I was also considering teaching, and have both the connections (mother is a teacher) and degree required to become an Art or English teacher with just a bit of education training. Problem is, I loving hate children. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm also willing to post my resume. LOCATION EDIT: South FL. Mr. Creakle fucked around with this message at 17:34 on May 6, 2015 |
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May 6, 2015 16:25
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-snip- Taking this to a more relevant thread. Ibexaz fucked around with this message at 18:10 on May 6, 2015 |
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May 6, 2015 17:42
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So I need a little bit of advice on a potential upcoming "promotion". A bit about where I'm at: Career experience: Entry level support in a SaaS technology environment, senior level support, training management Goal: A career that makes at least $75k and that will allow me the flexibility to work from home. I'm currently making ~$50k, after starting at $27k when I was first hired in early 2008. The company provides health insurance, 2 weeks PTO, and a matching 401(k) program, so pretty nice benefits for a private outfit. I'm a good technical writer and have an extensive training/support background, though lately I've been teaching myself HTML/CSS/Javascript on Codecademy and getting tutorials on SQL Server from a coworker. I like to think that I'm very technically inclined but also capable of explaining and teaching others complex topics without overwhelming them. Recently, I was offered the position of a "partner success specialist", which would involve becoming familiar with our company's APIs, interfacing with our technology partners to ensure they're sending over the appropriate web services calls, certifying they've met our internal requirements and so on. However, where I'm troubled is that they want me on a "preliminary" (probationary) period of 4 months - until September 1st - before a rise in compensation is discussed. Frankly, while I understand it'd be stepping into a role where I have little actual background, it's a bit insulting that they want me to transition into a new role without any commensurate increase in pay given that I've been here the better part of a decade. I've had my issues with management and workload (check my post history in the TPS thread ) but was looking at this as a potential opportunity to escape those with a new role. My main problem is that I'm not really sure how to approach this. They're very much wanting me to assume the new role and responsibilities as soon as possible. What I think would be a good way forward is to approach them with a proposal of an immediate pay raise to justify the additional responsibility and workload, then after the probationary period if I'm doing well, to give me the rest of what we ultimately decide upon. Thoughts?
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May 6, 2015 19:54
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a shameful boehner posted:What I think would be a good way forward is to approach them with a proposal of an immediate pay raise to justify the additional responsibility and workload, then after the probationary period if I'm doing well, to give me the rest of what we ultimately decide upon. Thoughts? Beyond thinking that a compensation change would be appropriate, is the position change something you are interested in? Personally I'd 100% of the time take a new internal skills opportunity at the same pay if it sounded like the resulting job had more potential for growth in the future (experience, positionally, financially). Realistically they can force you into it regardless, so why not play ball? If the position sounds shittier, but you are hoping for a raise out of it, don't do it. If the position sounds better, take it, rock it, and use your actually contributions and benchmarks as a raise claim.
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May 6, 2015 21:13
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Cuckoo posted:Hello internet strangers you are the perfect venue for major life changing decisions Have you looked at job openings at your local university (or universities)? You could probably have a pretty easy time getting a job as a grants administrator or financial aid counselor or some other light finance type desk job. Breaking in is a bit hard, but once you're in, you're potentially set for life.
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May 6, 2015 21:36
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Edit: nm, solved it.
Tenacious J fucked around with this message at 01:22 on May 7, 2015 |
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May 6, 2015 22:24
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BossRighteous posted:Beyond thinking that a compensation change would be appropriate, is the position change something you are interested in? The position definitely sounds better in terms of experience and positionally within the company, but my company has a long history of "promoting" people by giving them insane workloads with a promise of a future pay raise until they eventually burn out. While I'm smart enough to not let myself get suckered into a bigger workload than I think I could succeed with, I'm still concerned that if I take the job without a pay raise I might not ever get one. My last increase was January, 2014.
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May 7, 2015 03:09
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a shameful boehner posted:The position definitely sounds better in terms of experience and positionally within the company, but my company has a long history of "promoting" people by giving them insane workloads with a promise of a future pay raise until they eventually burn out. While I'm smart enough to not let myself get suckered into a bigger workload than I think I could succeed with, I'm still concerned that if I take the job without a pay raise I might not ever get one. My last increase was January, 2014. At face value it sounds like you don't trust the company long term so you might want to think about whether the new position would open more doors elsewhere, or even if you should look elsewhere for your current role today. Regardless of position change we've established you probably wont advance monetarily. That said you can remain either stagnant or you can make a move. If in 1 years time you still don't have a raise: would you rather have the added skills and better transitional opportunity, or the less stressful year and more resentment toward your company/salary? A bad year of paid training isn't the worst position to be in and may put you in a much better spot to leverage an offer internally or elsewhere. To be honest I just went from 4 years in a stagnant position to taking a new job elsewhere that scared the poo poo out of me just in the last month. It was such a good move I cant even believe I waited this long. Scary is good if you are up to the task and committed to making it work. I've already picked up on a ton of skills that made the move worth trying if they fired me tomorrow, but, hey, it's actually working out really well because I don't feel trapped and I want to succeed.
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May 7, 2015 06:28
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Hi, Wanted to get something off of my chest and see what you guys think. I'm in need of some career path advice. Me: 24 years old, graduated from a good university with a math & econ double degree & a good GPA. I got a job at a small management consulting company out of college, and have been working there for two years now. The problem: I don't think that this type of consulting is what I'd really like to do in the long term. I do enjoy a lot of aspects about my job - the team I'm working with is great, I'm picking up some new business-oriented skills, and the office & benefits are both great too. On the other side though, when busy periods come around I'm often working quite late (from ~8:30am to 9-10pm, and some times even later...), and from what I hear I'm getting paid slightly below average for similar roles. Those are smaller points, however - the main thing is that I'm not particularly passionate about what I do, and can't really see myself staying here for an extended period of time. There's got to be something that comes after this, but I haven't a clue as to what that should be for me. There are a lot of areas I'm interested in, but committing on a course of action feels different entirely. Current possibilities I see - 1. Go back to school in something more theoretical, getting a master's degree or PhD 2. Go back to school for an MBA 3. Switch jobs without going back to school 4. Continue at this current job (or switch to something similar to what I do now) and ??? If I went back to school in option 1, I would probably be interested in something along the lines of Math, Econ, Statistics or Computer Science / programming. For a PhD I could probably only do the first two or three of those things given that I don't know much about computers / programming. The problem though is that I don't think I'd want to do this if I don't have an end-goal planned. As much as I loved undergrad, I don't see much of a point in going back to school for school's sake unless I have a career path planned afterwards. The same is true for option 2 - I'm sure an MBA could be useful for the networking connections & opportunities it provides, but I don't want to drop the cash / two years on it if I don't have an idea of what i"m going to do with it. My instinct is that I would like a job that is slightly more intellectual than what I have. However, this is coming from the fact that I really enjoyed my classes as an undergrad (particularly the math program), even though I wasn't always the best in class. In the past, I was also interested in working as an actuary or a trader, although neither of those came to pass. I think I would also be interested in a job involving programming. I have little in the way of coding experience beyond an intro class in college (teaching java and python basics - really enjoyed this as well), but the type of thinking it requires seems to mesh with what I'd like. The trouble I'm having is that I feel like choosing any of these options requires me to commit hard to them. And that's a bit scary, since it could well turn out that I don't actually enjoy what I'm going for. Has anyone been in a similar spot as me? How best should I go about researching / finding out about possible career paths? Any help or advice would really be appreciated.
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May 11, 2015 02:10
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ThePineapple posted:Hi, I think this is a pretty common Millennial problem, something with how we are wired. I went through it myself (26 yr old) and am actually probably halfway through the phase. I like what I do, am getting an MBA, but starting to think of the long game while not letting it devour me. I was talking to a mentor and he said this early on in our careers, try not to always think about 20+ years out, you are probably better served by thinking about jobs or positions as assignments where you can pick up a skill or a knowledge that points you in the right direction. That is, don't commit to something like a PhD because in 7 years you think you want to work in an Econ think tank. Instead, see if there is an aspect of your work or another job if you have to that will let you peek into that world and get you some experience in it. I don't really know what type of consulting you do, but I've seen people at my company who work with our systems, then go to a consulting firm because they have the experience. I guess I don't see why you couldn't reverse that, and if you've done consulting in a field you think you may be interested in, look for jobs and leverage your experience. You are young enough that the world is your oyster, don't do something totally stupid and you will end up alright. Don't try to control all the variables for a dream 30 years down the road, you'll kill yourself trying and you'll probably want to make twenty career moves before then anyways (oh my god what have the Boomers done to me...) e: also, you need to be careful, when I hated my last office job, my brains reaction was to convince me that I wanted to fix cars(I did this as a teen). If you are like me, sometime your brain tricks you into something comfortable, not something smart (this may be school in your case...) Crazyweasel fucked around with this message at 03:29 on May 11, 2015 |
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May 11, 2015 03:27
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ThePineapple posted:3. Switch jobs without going back to school I'm not big on going back to school for more degrees unless there is a specific job you could get that you are certain you'd like. I'm not a fan of MBAs, the course content is really good but not at a large price and it's more useful once you run a business or are in upper management. Getting a masters or PhD may not leave you in a position to get a better job, often people with higher degrees can be viewed as being overqualified. You could look at specialised post graduate degrees or master's degrees that will lead to a job. There's nothing wrong with committing hard to a specific job if it's what you want to do. It's what I did and I didn't think twice about it. So work at your current job while you are learning useful skills, then look to elsewhere for a better job once you feel you've gotten everything you can out of it. What you are learning working is likely more useful than studying a masters degree. If you feel you are missing out on something academic then it's worth doing some research. While my business is good and a result of my specialised master's degree and experience in the field some days my brain hurts from all the thinking involved in my work.
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May 11, 2015 04:43
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I may have asked this before, but does anybody have tips on getting a good career counselor? I have a slightly unusual job history and set of skills. I'd like someone more knowledgeable to help me sort through the jobs I'm qualified for and the jobs I'd actually want to do. I tried my university, but all I got was "your degree is in demand, just browse more" which was not helpful.
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May 12, 2015 12:43
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What's your degree in? Have you done any internships or anything?
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May 12, 2015 21:05
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Xandu posted:What's your degree in? Have you done any internships or anything? Masters in Biochem. No published research though.  My current job for the last five years has been something like but not exactly QA supervisor for food manufacturing.I'd like something with more regular hours. Work from home would be ideal.
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May 13, 2015 13:14
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So I'm having a problem and I'd like some input. Right now I'm a Master's student in system engineering. I'm hoping to get into the information security field when I graduate. I also work 40 hours at a completely un-related corporate job. I really would like to get into a career in information security but it's kinda hard with no proper experience. I recently became Security+ certified, which is a start. Here is where my dilemma comes in: I applied for an internship at a very large company in the information security department and I'm in the final steps to actually getting it but... it is only 4 months long. It is paid(and pays more than I make now) but after the 4 months there's no guarantee of a job. I do have enough saved up for a couple months of being unemployed looking for work but I don't know if that's a good idea. Here are the options: 1)Stay at current job that I hate, continue finishing my degree and hope that finishing my degree is enough to get me a job. or 2) Quit current job, do 4 months internship in the field I actually want to work in but then be out of a job for who knows how long while I search after it ends.
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May 15, 2015 23:06
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More money and experience in your desired field sounds awesome. If you don't have kids, do it.
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May 15, 2015 23:48
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If you can, try to go for it. I just did the same thing. That said, I had less to lose since my job is laying people off, so I had no job security anyway. Plus it's in a city I always wanted to relocate to, so I had more pluses than minuses towards taking the risk. If the internship is with a good company that would be great to have on your resume, or will at least give you experience you'll need, you could go for it and have a long term plan for making it work (and another plan for if it doesn't).
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May 16, 2015 16:13
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As mentioned previously here, currently in retail sales and management. Anyone have any input on how careers in insurance and investment are (not saying I would do both, just two different options)? I would be looking for growth, income starting at $70K, etc. Both seem to be agency model based from my research. Curious on inputs of what real world expectations would be?
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May 22, 2015 00:37
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Can anybody give insight on Urban Planning/GIS careers? I've been mulling going to graduate school for a Masters in Urban Planning, but there are schools (CUNY Hunter) that offer GIS certificate programs as well.
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May 27, 2015 04:25
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Anyone able to point me in the right direction for some good reading about ISTQB and software testing? I've had a book recommended to me (by Rex Black) but I'd like to see if there's good stuff online to start me off.
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Jul 17, 2015 06:30
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