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Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

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Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#51

Post by hcarvalhoalves »

changdizzle wrote: post #37

Most of the responses here are from developers but from a more business perspective, I find this article somewhat flawed. Regarding "It Would Take a Big Event for You to Get Promoted," the author says "For example, say your boss has been in her position for five years, and her boss has been in his position for seven—and they both seem very comfortable where they are. That means, in order for you to move up, something…

> A good manager should be able to promote and advance their employee if they're adding significant value even if it doesn't mean taking the manager's position.

Do we live in the same world?

I've never seen a manager promote anyone based on performance, this is even irrational (if it's doing a good job with the current salary, leave at it). If you're too valuable to a company, chances are your manager is looking at ways to not be dependent on you rather than luring you in staying with a promotion.

The only time I see employees promoted, it's for political reasons (e.g., a manager promoting someone he can control between himself and some employee he can't deal with).

Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#52

Post by verisimilidude »

crpatino wrote: post #40

The title says it is about Dead End Jobs, but it is not. It is about People That Cannot Stay Put In a Damned Place. Look at this quote: > "Yes, unfortunately, even good jobs can be dead-end jobs—or positions with little to no room for advancement." This is the massive obsession our culture has developed around growth and progress. The whole premise of this article is that if you are not eager to make it big and shoot…

If you ever find yourself in a dead-end job that you love, you'll understand.

In my case, I had to leave a position I really liked because it simply didn't pay a livable wage, with no raise or promotion in sight. Taking low pay to engage your passion is great when you're single, but the game changes once you get married and/or have kids. For me, leaving had nothing to do with the rat-race and everything to do with meeting the basic needs of my family. I suspect others who've found themselves in this situation would be able to give other reasons, too, that are not related to growth for the sake of it.

Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#53

Post by _pmf_ »

It's kind of depressing to see that the current mindset seems to be to quit as soon as it gets a little difficult.

I have gotten used to taking pride in the fact that I deliver only slightly shitty work under very shitty circumstances.

Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#54

Post by stevetursi »

When I think of "Dead End Job", I think of a clerk at a convenience store or fast food joint, the guy who drives a tractor for the company that won the contract to cut the grass on the side of the highway, or the janitor comes to clean our offices at night.

It's hard to imagine a working programmer making $80K at a stable company as being in a dead-end job. Maybe in the strictest sense of the word it's a dead-end if they don't have the opportunity to advance, but if that is the end, then they didn't do so bad - and if you're in that situation and you do think that way, ask the janitor who empties your trash at 8pm how he feels about your dead end job.

If you feel like you're not reaching your potential, then yeah, I know what you mean. I feel the same way. But me not reaching my potential is different than having a dead end job.

Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#55

Post by skylan_q »

crpatino wrote: post #40

The title says it is about Dead End Jobs, but it is not. It is about People That Cannot Stay Put In a Damned Place. Look at this quote: > "Yes, unfortunately, even good jobs can be dead-end jobs—or positions with little to no room for advancement." This is the massive obsession our culture has developed around growth and progress. The whole premise of this article is that if you are not eager to make it big and shoot…

Personally, I don't advance solely because of the money. My main motivation is facing and overcoming new challenges. I've worked for a couple startups and another small company. In my experience I face challenges at the start and overcome them while leaving my imprint. Soon after, things are better then when I showed up and the place starts feeling stale. I suppose I just hunger for more punishment. :p The increases in pay are just an added bonus that makes the other stuff in life slightly easier.

Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#56

Post by rhizome »

huherto wrote: post #35
ambiate wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was with my CIO the other day. He turned on his monitor and said 'look, is this what you want to really do?' Spreadsheets on time management, project management, and convincing his fellow Chiefs that he was on the right track. He had a damn good point. I love coding and math.

I have never understood why many companies have executive and managers doing administrative tasks. They should get administrative assistants tracking time, projects, resources, etc. It is a waste of their executive and technical talents. There are many great things that a CIO can do without having to spend a lot of their time tracking things.

We can't assume that GP's CIO is not title-inflated.

Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#57

Post by umsm »

rjprins wrote: post #2

For software developers, I feel this career thing works a bit differently. Going up the ladder means managing people or projects, but that is not necessarily more fun than writing code. I don't know where I see myself in 5 years, but it might actually be still just coding, no actual change in title or function. It's fun and challenging and I imagine it can be like that for a long time. Instead, a dead end job for me…

One thing that a friend in management (on the technical side) said that he felt least secure in that position as it meant that he would most likely be fired first if something happened at the company.

Also: Because he was a manager for a few years, that means that his technical skills were almost zero. So he wouldn't be able to be as agile in finding another position as he was as a developer.

Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#58

Post by mturmon »

dustinupdyke wrote: post #14
t2d2 wrote: post #8

I'm in a job a bit like that, not much room for advancement. Not much of a challenge, but the pay is about double what most other places in my town are paying because it's a small location of a much bigger company. my family is here and we have no intention of leaving so for now it's a very comfy dead end job with good benefits etc.

Golden handcuffs.

Velvet coffin.

Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#59

Post by mturmon »

hcarvalhoalves wrote: post #51
changdizzle wrote: post #37

Most of the responses here are from developers but from a more business perspective, I find this article somewhat flawed. Regarding "It Would Take a Big Event for You to Get Promoted," the author says "For example, say your boss has been in her position for five years, and her boss has been in his position for seven—and they both seem very comfortable where they are. That means, in order for you to move up, something…

> A good manager should be able to promote and advance their employee if they're adding significant value even if it doesn't mean taking the manager's position. Do we live in the same world? I've never seen a manager promote anyone based on performance, this is even irrational (if it's doing a good job with the current salary, leave at it). If you're too valuable to a company, chances are your manager is looking at w…

You're making it seem inevitable that valuable people will be held back in stale roles. Things don't have to be this way, although I have heard of places where they are.

In other firms, new tasks come along and they need good people to lead them. People who have developed a smaller system that is now in maintenance mode are a perfect candidate. And that is how you advance.

Re: Signs You’re in a Dead-End Job

#60

Post by umsm »

UK-AL wrote: post #38
voltagex_ wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are your particular problems with C#/F#? Honestly interested.

They probably get paid more than him ;)

There is a lot of truth to this statement. I've seen so many jobs that are looking for .NET coders that pay so much more than most other languages...
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