31–40 of 40 posts
After a lengthy period of me asking about what my duties were and if anything was written down and what various policies were, a senior coworker simply said "Read. Buy some books and read." I spend about one hour of the day on getting real work done, another hour or two on moving things through the idiocracy, and the rest of the day is spent on Pylons documentation. :D
If the workload isn't much, can you work on your side project during the day after you've gotten your work responsibilities taken care of (or while you're waiting)?
Since this would involve getting a signed letter from the company stating that the company does not own work you do for your side project while you're at work, it seems unlikely that this is an option.
If this doesn't apply to you, well, I'm sure somebody reading will find it helpful. If you're a "software engineer" and writing the same code every day, stop! Don't do that. It's bad engineering. Write better abstractions. You'll learn something.
If you had a heart attack, came to in a hospital bed, would you rip out the IV, get dressed and go to work??? Didn't think so. So you CAN SWITCH, it's just that you've become attached to your present circumstances and are not prepared to break free. So stop killing yourself, quit and do whatever it is that you can contribute greatest value by.
I believe your problem is that you cannot switch, not that the job is boring. I would try to solve that problem.
That's one reason I've seen people stick out jobs for a few more months.
http://blog.trailmeme.com/2010/04/four-hour-workweek-or-exec...
" “retire at work,” develop an under-the-radar personal brand, and achieve covert lifestyle design."
1) Switching requires moving to an entirely new town where you have no friends and no family. I'd double check that this is actually true and start working on building up a social network in a different metropolitan area if this were the case.
2) Immigration reasons.
Anything else? Options are never a certain "win" (think about lack of an exit, reverse splits, stock taking a dive). Worried about what your resume will look like? Worry less about your resume, worry more about yourself. Worried about loss of income? Don't just quit the job, search passively. "Counted on" to ship a product? Announce your departure in advance (more than the usual two weeks), hand your responsibilities over to others. Starting bonuses you will have to pay back? Money isn't worth not having something to wake up for in the morning.
So, honestly, switch. However, before you make the switch, very carefully think what is that you will be looking for in your next position and how to verify that it provides that.
People claim that you should "work to live" not "live to work". I call bullshit. Your work consumes plurality of your day and majority of your own waking hours. When I feel underused, micro-managed or otherwise unhappy at work, it means I am not looking forward to waking up in the morning. Personal projects are important (and I try to have several even when I am absorbed in interesting work), but they happen at the end of the day when you've already given up your best hours.
...but it's more because of their inexperience than anything else.
Is that really true? Do you know more about the business than they do? Can you manage a team better? Do you bring up challenges to them, or just scoff and think they're stupid. Hacking is not just manipulating code. Could you start your own company and out do the current company?
I was expecting progress, instead I find my judgement being overruled by less experienced people
Why are you being overruled? Is it emotions based? Title's based ("I'm SENIOR engineer..")? Where's the logic, analysis, and/or data to prove otherwise? Why can't you sell your idea to others?
I guess it's all about making lemonade out of lemons.
I understand your grievances all too well, but yes; sweet, sweet lemonade.
Final thing is that I think it's better to communicate how you feel about your situation to your supervisor-type. If the they don't feel like they need to make a change, and you don't want to be there, easy solution.
Get fired/laid off.
Live off unemployment.
Work on your project.
???.
Profit.
I know these system exists, but if you have time it is good experience. Also, ideally, you should work on things that you can take with you when you leave. However, this is usually not possible. I have had friends who built open source projects at home. They then convinced their boss to use it and contribute to the project. If you keep your mind open, I am sure you can think of some creative ideas.