No more feeling accomplished at work :( Vent

buckeyebabe99

It's been a year now since I started a new department at work.  While it was my choice to do it, I still felt pressured in a way to take it to allow an up-and-coming manager step into my old role.  My fears and concerns are now here.  My staff is terrific and working their tales off with our new redesign and keeping up with current content, email marketnig campaigns and other digital media endeavors.  I'm, however, bored to tears.  I can only analyze so many stats. I can't give my group any more direction or projects as they are already maxed out.  We had major budget cuts so I am barely doing what needs to be done to keep a website up and running for 2008. No money for the desperately needed additional person on the technical side.

I am not technically capable. I'm a sales and marketing person who does a bit of HTML.  I'm of no help to my staff when it comes to writing Flash, Java and other Web languages.  My fear was that I'd create vision, strategy and direction for our company and then get to the point where I'd be bored waiting for things to happen.  I now just sit and research the latest and greatest techology, knowing we'll not use it within the next 10 years.

I'm constantly stepping on a counterparts (technically they are the "marketing" department vs "E-business" which is mine) toes b/c it seems that our job descriptions have one similar characteristic to them although my title is one step above theirs.  And my boss doesn't seem to "get it". So without pulling rank on this person, my hands are tied and I not longer have decision making controls over my own business line.

So I started to look for jobs today.  I just earned 3 weeks vacation so it'll have to be well worth it for me to switch.  DH says that I should just sit back and collect my paycheck for as long as I can. I just can't do that. I'm doing nothing for my career. I'm bored, a Director with their own business line who isn't being allowed to give "direction" or make decisions w/o consulting a "manager" who has no expertise on how to do E-business.

Thanks for letting me vent.  Any advice is heplful.  I've talked with my boss over and over again and he doesn't see any issues with the direction he's given us (this other person and I report to the same VP).

Mrs*Pink

That's awful.... I can't imagine feeling like you do now.  But on the plus-side, I know you've been tired of all the travelling.  Could this ultimately be for the best?  I don't have any advice for you, other than to wish you the best on looking for something else.  It should be nice to look for a new job without the pressure of being without a paycheck!  Good luck.

Danica1

I'm sorry. I  wish I had some great advice but I don't. I just want to wish you luck with a job search. There's nothing worse than being bored at work and not doing anything for your career. Best of luck!

mir322

I don't have any advice for you, but just wanted to send hugs your way   It's harder being at a job, bored, and just 'earning a paycheck.' I understand how you want to feel like you're actually doing something worthwhile.  Good luck with your job search! It can't hurt to see what's out there.

queenybride

I am really sorry you are facing such career issues.  I have had my share and am having my own issues now.  However, I just was telling my sister who left a great job she was really good at but felt like she wanted more, for another position that had more move up potential.  Unfortunately, the environment she moved into left her in tears almost every night and she was simply miserable.  I told her that from what many wiser and older friends have shared with me is that only on very rare occasion will a person have the best of both worlds.  A job that they love what they are doing; and an environment they loving doing it in.  Many times you have to sacrifice one for the other, and it comes down to are you the type of person that can leave work at work or does it follow you home?

This advice and attitude has really helped me in understanding and adapting my attitude towards job issues.  Good luck in your decision making process.

buckeyebabe99

    Thanks queenybride.  It does follow me home.  And wakes me up at 3:00am and keeps me up until it's time to go in again .

buckeyechik

((HUGS))  I just wanted to offer hugs and let you know you're not alone.  I'm pretty unhappy with my job right now, too, and it sucks because, like queenybride said, you can't leave it at work--it follows you home and makes you stressed there.  And that's when it's really not worth it.  You either need to learn to leave it at work (which I, personally, know is impossible for me...) or find something that makes you happier. 

Have you mentioned to your boss that you're looking elsewhere?  Maybe they don't realize the extent to which you're unhappy? 

((HUGS))  I hope you are able to find a way to be happy.

aleeandbry

I'm sorry that you're going through this.  It's a horrible feeling to not be happy at the place where you spend most of your time every week.  My advice (to myself) has always been, no matter what the situation, to have a plan.  Have your resume updated and have in mind what you would want to do or where you would want to go.  It can never hurt to look for jobs.  Often you'll find that the 3 weeks of vaca is nothing when you are offered more money and more benefits for your experience at another company. 

I thought I would be with the company I started with out of college forever.  I was forced to switch companies after 6.5yrs when I got married and moved here.  It's been the best thing that happened to me, even though I fought it tooth and nail. 

jannypie

I completely understand how you feel. I've been bored at my job for over two years, and I've only been here 3.5. It isn't challenging enough, I don't get to think enough. I swear I feel less intelligent now than I did in school and college, purely from lack of practice. I was hoping to get a new position this year with more responsibility, but that didn't happen. Just like you though, I just got my 3 weeks vacation and fully vested in my 401k. So that leaves us in a good position.The thing is that I know my job isn't terrible, it doesn't make me cry, I work for a good company. So I think of it as being in the position of, I'm in a good place now and have the freedom to look for something great. Something where I feel like I'm doing something worthwhile. Applying my brain and my hands to something. Basically, don't feel bad for the way you feel. You're much smarter and more talented than the position they have for you. You're more fast paced than they are, you think more quickly than they do. You need a company that wants to be fast paced too, that has a vision in the market and wants to make its name known. I truly hope you find somewhere!