Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
(OP)
I have been with a company for 4 years now, Mfg. Eng and design(age 46 yrs,have AS in Mfg. Eng). After the first year it got really boring. Things don't happen too fast in this mature organization. My boss has given me better than average reviews with little complaint. I can do the work in 1/4 of the time expected. With the advent of Solidworks, they are having Masters degreed Engineers create all of the models. I am stuck with the tailings, besides some process improvement work and simple tool design. My commute is 1/2 hr, not horrible, but the health insurance is about double the usual and my wife is 3 months pregnant. I have been looking for other positions and have had 3 interviews in the last 3 years.
I feel like I am wasting my talent and time, I could be excercising my talents further. With an AS, nowadays the options aren't many, and besides taking a night class once in awhile, I am not interested in going for a BS at this time.
MY question is, a) Should I risk a job change with the pregnancy? b) Given the lousy economy, should I stay on for the security or take a risk with a different company?
I feel like I am wasting my talent and time, I could be excercising my talents further. With an AS, nowadays the options aren't many, and besides taking a night class once in awhile, I am not interested in going for a BS at this time.
MY question is, a) Should I risk a job change with the pregnancy? b) Given the lousy economy, should I stay on for the security or take a risk with a different company?





RE: Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
I'm a couple of years older than you, and frankly my thoughts are aimed more at some sort of retirement in 8 years than needing some more excitement from work (which as it happens I get for free, like it or not).
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
RE: Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
FYI. I left my company about a year ago do to the repetitive nature of the beast and a few morale issues within the company. Six months later, I was back, but with a new found insight about myself and I find it much easier to deal with the daily mundane.
The grass isn't always greener, my friend. I pay a small fortune on insurance premiums. On top of that, we have a $5000 deductable. I now have credit card debt just because of the medical bills. I never used to have a credit card balance. It is stressful and really puts on edge on my marriage. But coming in here and dealing with that crap is much better than what I found outside.
You may not like your current position, but do you like the people you work with?
Do you like the products your company makes? Or the technologies they are using?
If you can do work in 1/4 of the time, find a project that interests you for the other 1/4 of the time. 1/2 the day is spent "fighting fires," I assume. In addition to my full-time responsibilities, I'm creating Access databases to do trend tracking of key performance parameters and metrics. This will help me do my job better and help the company over a long term.
Perhaps there are some continuous improvement projects you could pitch to management and get some internal research and development funding to pursue. They may not make it into production, but the knowledge may help the company.
Start a internal wiki to capture company wide best practices.
Read eng-tips.com all day.
There are lots of projects that you can probably take on yourself, without even requiring management approval. It will keep you on a task that is interesting to you when you have the time for the fill-in work between your designated duties.
--Scott
http://wertel.eng.pro
RE: Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
That leaves about 20-30 other assorted Engineers, Designers & Interns designing things and creating drawings with little or no regard to tolerancing, at best they look up hole sizes etc in a chart, which they then frequently miss apply.
You don't necessarily have to become a full on expert at GD&T but being able to do basic stacks + co-axial features into stepped holes and simple hole patterns, at least initially, will give you the basic tools to find the most common problems.
If you decide to run with this idea look over on the GD&T & tolerance forum. forum1103: Drafting Standards, GD&T & Tolerance Analysis
I tend to be fairly cautious by nature/fear change in the employment situation etc. so I'd stick it out with the Baby coming, but that doesn't mean it's right for you.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
Patricia Lougheed
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RE: Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
With your family upcoming event I would be hesitant to change now and as others said have another solid job lined up and make sure it does not affect your eligibity for health plan.
RE: Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
Educate yourself. It will be one of the few things that you will take with you once you change jobs.
RE: Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
RE: Leave Stable but Boring Job at a Risk?
You run the risk of not growing in your current role and therefore not being able to justify increased levels in salary. I have changed one job because of that reason.
6 months is a decent amount of time, you will be stabilised in the new job before the baby arrives.