[Jobs]: Should I stay or should I go?

[M A V I C]

space-time wrote:
I would have start looking 12 months ago.

EDIT: but, don't quit until you have a solid offer in hand. You never know what happens to the economy these days. Also I remember you were expressing frustration that you could not get health insurance for you kid a few years ago (before you go this job). I hope the current job provide decent benefits and you had health insurance for your family. I hope you find a better job soon and compensation is decent and you also get good benefits. Good luck.

Yeah, last time I had a couple possible offers when I left. They didn't pan out (and one of them at least I'm glad didn't because the company has since laid off all its employees.)

deckeda wrote:
If changes are coming, you deserve some reasonable assurance of a timeline as to when that'll manifest, and how. If you get that, and it's agreeable, you'll stay.

Absent that, or if it's not agreeable, start looking yesterday. Hell --- look anyway. What's the worst that could happen? You find a better job?

It's a matter of commitment. For me, once I start looking for another job, it means I'm not committed to my current job.

DinerDave, good points.

August West wrote:
Convince them to do an organizational culture assessment, it doesn't sound like they have before. It sounds like the culture needs to be nudged into alignment. Break out the managerial assessment from the non-managerial assessment. If you can, break out the executives from everyone else. Find the significant misalignments and find ways to change them. Productivity and employee satisfaction will rise.

It's apparent that even if I convince several levels above me that change needs to occur, it doesn't. That said, I'm not entirely sure what a "culture assessment" is. I think they're content with their culture.

N-OS X-tasy! wrote:
[quote=davester]
I haven't noticed whether or not you quit things. I have noticed that you tend to go against the majority opinion of those on the forum though

Can confirm.

DP wrote:
It seems to me you've made up your mind already. However, could you insert yourself into a position of influence? If other parts of the job work well for you, perhaps there's a challenge in there for you!

I wish I could, but the issue is they just don't grasp how important design is. We don't have an actual design group. They'e talked for many months about creating it, but haven't. At this point they don't think it would actually form until Q2 of next year.

JoeM wrote:
Don't over analyze. It's really very simple:
If you want to stay: stay
If you want to go: go
But whatever you do, if you do decide to leave: don't, until you have a new job to go to.

I don't know what I want to do. It's really easy to think the grass is greener on the other side.

mattkime wrote:
Have you had a direct and honest conversation with anyone about this?

Yes. Many times. I have the full support of at least a half dozen people I work closely with. When I first started, we were all one team. Then ~5mo later, they split the team in two and brought in a new person to be in charge of the other team. That person decided they wanted to own design, even though it wasn't their area. Meanwhile the people that hired me have agreed that changes should be made, but the other team complicates things. I have yet to discuss it with anyone who disagrees... just nothing ever changes for the better.

Stephanie wrote:
I think I would have to know more details in order to give an opinion. A personnel issue? What kind of project managers are involved in this project. Has the organization tried to adopt any sort of framework - like ITIL (just an example)?

I work for an organization that is an end user of software from a specific software company that seems to have similar issues. W/o even knowing the ins & outs of their structure, I can tell 2 things:
1. They NEED something like ITIL because it is clear they don't have a handle on their business processes, nor do they have a handle on communication/coordination/cooperation between their divisions.
2. They have programmers, and it's obvious that they don't have ANYONE that specializes in design (more specifically, UI design). Combined with that, it's obvious that they don't know the first thing about usability.

We actually don't have any project managers anymore. I didn't know what ITIL was, but I looked it up. I really don't think they're open to any sort of process changes. They've told me they've been working this way for 8+ years. They seem content with it.

[mattkime]

if change doesn't seem possible and you're not growing in your current position then start looking.

[mrbigstuff]

I think you should talk with your wife and decide what is best for you and the family. Does she have access to health insurance through her employer? If not, how much will it cost you through the ACA and how would you deal with that if you are not working.

Being professionally bored is bad, but not as bad as being harassed or some other form of maliciousness at work. So, if it's merely professional boredom, start to think about your next move more fully before bailing out, and that may help you form some cohesive thoughts about what you want to do. (I'm doing much the same at this very moment.)

[bazookaman]

Whatever you choose to do, just remember the first rule of wing walking.

[M A V I C]

mattkime wrote:
if change doesn't seem possible and you're not growing in your current position then start looking.

Change is possible. But based on results, it doesn't happen. Maybe it could happen later today, but maybe I say that for another year and still see nothing.

mrbigstuff wrote:
I think you should talk with your wife and decide what is best for you and the family. Does she have access to health insurance through her employer? If not, how much will it cost you through the ACA and how would you deal with that if you are not working.

Being professionally bored is bad, but not as bad as being harassed or some other form of maliciousness at work. So, if it's merely professional boredom, start to think about your next move more fully before bailing out, and that may help you form some cohesive thoughts about what you want to do. (I'm doing much the same at this very moment.)

I'm the sole provider for my family. If it was just me, I wouldn't be here to begin with. I took a job at another company after ~10 years of working for myself since things like healthcare have become so expensive and there's a lot more risk on my own.

Thanks all for all your feedback. It's very inline with what I've been thinking, I just wasn't sure if I was too close to the situation. I've started looking for another job, but I'm going to take my time and find something I know for sure is much better than what I've got now.

[Stephanie]

M A V I C wrote:
We actually don't have any project managers anymore. I didn't know what ITIL was, but I looked it up. I really don't think they're open to any sort of process changes. They've told me they've been working this way for 8+ years. They seem content with it.

Yeah, this is NOT a good sign. The attitude of, "we're good enough," will be the downfall of the business. Also look into COBIT. And no, I'm not joking. These frameworks are worthwhile.