Advice on leaving employer
Advice on leaving employer
(OP)
Hello all,
I've been with my current employer for a little over 5 years, first job after undergrad. I've started taking classes towards a general engineering masters through what I feel is a decent, accredited online program (NCSU). My employer reimburses me for classes, with the stipulation that the funds are repaid if I voluntarily leave within 3 years. Right now I am over $4k indebited if I leave; an amount I cannot afford to pay back right now. One loophole I see is the voluntary leave aspect. If I accidentally make a mistake and get fired, I don't think they can hold me to it. On the other hand, if such a thing were to happen, the bridges with that company would be burned.
My employer has mediocre (at best) pay with very good benefits. I like most of the people, but a lot has changed in the last five years. I don't enjoy what I'm doing, and it hardly qualifies as real engineering work. I'm torn as to what direction to go in. Should I burn the bridge and move on? Should I be happy I am at least employed and stay where I am? Should I stop pursuing master's degree that isn't specialized in any one area? These are all questions I'm trying to answer. If anyone has advice, I would appreciate it.
I've been with my current employer for a little over 5 years, first job after undergrad. I've started taking classes towards a general engineering masters through what I feel is a decent, accredited online program (NCSU). My employer reimburses me for classes, with the stipulation that the funds are repaid if I voluntarily leave within 3 years. Right now I am over $4k indebited if I leave; an amount I cannot afford to pay back right now. One loophole I see is the voluntary leave aspect. If I accidentally make a mistake and get fired, I don't think they can hold me to it. On the other hand, if such a thing were to happen, the bridges with that company would be burned.
My employer has mediocre (at best) pay with very good benefits. I like most of the people, but a lot has changed in the last five years. I don't enjoy what I'm doing, and it hardly qualifies as real engineering work. I'm torn as to what direction to go in. Should I burn the bridge and move on? Should I be happy I am at least employed and stay where I am? Should I stop pursuing master's degree that isn't specialized in any one area? These are all questions I'm trying to answer. If anyone has advice, I would appreciate it.





RE: Advice on leaving employer
Leave now and start at another company, you have more of a chance for layoff...and you will be more in debt.
Have a talk with your boss, stay where you're at and finish your degree.
Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP5.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Advice on leaving employer
A case would be vary rare in which I would suggest attempting to get fired (though a current thread in the Ethics forum is one such instance). That will carry with you for quite some time to come, particularly since you've been there for a while and cannot conveniently ignore it on your resume.
All of that said, if you cannot float a mere $4k to get out of a bad position, I think you should consider yourself lucky you're employed and suck it up for a while longer... but don't ignore my previous suggestion of talking to your boss.
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Advice on leaving employer
It amazes me what gets posted sometimes. Is no one from your company tech savvy? One quick search of your unique id gives me a name, photo, and location that would pretty well get you fired without the accidental mistake.
<tg>
RE: Advice on leaving employer
If the conversation goes well, fine. If you don't feel good about it, you can start looking for a job. I think you'll be surprised how difficult the job market is right now. Above all else, don't quit your job until you have another job locked-up and in writing!
Good luck,
Latexman
RE: Advice on leaving employer
RE: Advice on leaving employer
It doesnt sound like you will be happy staying there, no matter what they offer you. Go now, and start building experience in a field you enjoy.
Will having your Masters degree help you at your current employer? I have learned that it doesnt make much of a difference, and you would probably have to leave anyways. It sounds like you arent doing engineering now. Is your undergrad in something other than engineering? I dont think a masters degree will benefit you at all where you are at.
Never be happy just to have a job. It makes it sound like your employer is doing you a favor.
Do something you love and are passionate about, or you will end up well paid but miserable like me.
RE: Advice on leaving employer
$4K is nuthin. It really isn't. If you immediately reduce your lifestyle sufficiently, you might be surprised how fast you can accumulate that.
Then here's an additional option to consider: If your next employer really considers you to be Tarzan-the-Engineer, then you should try to negotiate with them a sign-on bonus to pay for some or all of your required payback.
"make a mistake and get fired" ......sheesh
TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com
RE: Advice on leaving employer
RE: Advice on leaving employer
Poor pay but good benefits. Benefits are pay and should be included as pay in your mind, well at least the ones that hold any value to you.
Talk to your boss. For all you know, he might be deliberately giving you a light load to help you with your studies. After all he is assisting you to study, so he has some interest in your skills development and that is a valuable and rare benefit.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Advice on leaving employer
1) I would be careful to burn bridges in your situation if you are actually in the Bioengineering field. I know in certain industries people are cycled around and eventually everyone knows everybody else.
2) You are in a great position to really start enjoying your job and probably get a promotion. The best time that I have ever had at a job are the last few months before I know that I am going to leave. At that point I just didn't give a crap and could essentially be myself. I would however keep up with my work out of respect for those that would have to do it if I left. Work each day without fear of getting fired and you will perform at your best.
3) As others have said if your employer is supporting you getting your masters then I would milk that to the end. If after that you are still not happy then take your free degree and leave. Prospective employers will assume that you left because you got the education to get promoted and your current company didn't support that.
RE: Advice on leaving employer
Perhaps you can find a new employer that would be a better fit and would be willing to pay the amount you owe to your current place? Even a 50/50 split would make it more reasonable.