I just told my boss and our biggest client

[ThomCat]

that I'm putting out my resume and looking around. I just left a message for a headhunter I know who has been interested in talking to me for about a year now.

It may be time to move on to a position someplace else.

I feel like I'm jumping off a cliff. I won't leave here until I find someplace else better, but I hate the uncertainty. I'm a homebody at heart. I like to find a place and settle in for the long haul.

I guess that's not the way to manage a career any more.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. Thom, I wish you the absolute best of luck in your job search.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

3. Thank you. I hate the idea of going on interviews.

I'm an expert in my field, and I know I'm damned valuable. I should have no problems.

But the idea of walking into an interview on crutches, and watching them speculate on my health because they're not allowed to ask...
x(

Surgery would be more comfortable.

[Haole Girl]

6. Can you just tell them why you walk on crutches?

Would that be better than letting them speculate?

Hope you find your dream job, by the way! :hi:

[ThomCat]

9. Of course,

but it's the health problems and complications behind it they're going to wondering about. There is no way I'm explaining my extensive medical history to anyone.

You know, if my current employer would finally deliver on that assistant they've got budgeted and have been promising me, and give me a decent raise, then this would be the dream job. They keep trying to cut corners, and I'm the one who has to take the workload because of it. It's unfortunate, but I've got the reputation for pulling through when the going gets tough, and there in the habit of taking advantage of that.

[Haole Girl]

13. Well, don't let anyone take advantage of you...

...from what I've read, in your posts, you seem very intelligent to me. I'm sure you can succeed in finding another great job! :-)

[LostinVA]

21. Your telling them you're talking to a headhunter might just do that

What did they say when you told them?

[ThomCat]

26. My boss and the client CIO are meeting tomorrow to discuss

this. We'll see what the reaction is after that meeting. :)

[Drum]

2. That's brave, ThomCat.

It's good to protect yourself...especially from overwork or undersatisfying work. Good luck, and I hope you'll soon be considering multiple interesting offers.
:thumbsup:

[ThomCat]

4. I hope so too!

I warned my boss almost a year ago that this was coming up. If he isn't willing to work with me to keep me here then this is what I have to do.

There are few things worse than being taken for granted.

[jonnyblitz]

5. good luck!

:hug:

[ThomCat]

11. Thank you!

:hug:

[WhollyHeretic]

7. Good luck.

Always a daunting task but it's what you need to do if you're not happy with your present job.

I started looking for a new job today. I've gotten the feeling a bunch of people at my company are going to get laid off at the end of the year. Happy New Year to us! A couple people have been laid off already.

[ThomCat]

10. I hope you get some good leads too!

I'll be just the latest in a string of people to leave here too.

Hopefully we'll both be posting good news at the beginning of the year! :toast:

[bigwillq]

8. Good luck!

:hi: :hug:

[ThomCat]

12. Thank you!

:hug:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

14. If you get there and know of any openings, let me know.

I'm one hell of an organizer and thrive on being swamped. In fact, I really don't know if it's possible to stress me out. :evilgrin:
Duckie

[ThomCat]

15. I just checked your profile.

If you were here in NYC I might have some leads for you. :)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. I've always wanted to live in NYC...

We've actually planned on living there for at least a year out of our lives. If the money was good enough, I'd be all over it.
Duckie

[ThomCat]

17. The money would be decent

but I don't know of anyplace that covers moving expenses anymore. Moving to NYC and settling in is damned expensive.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

19. Yeah, that's what sucks about it.

It's a dream I'll just have to put off a few years longer.
Duckie

[xchrom]

18. woo-hoo -- walk on the wild side!!!

good luck!:toast:

[ThomCat]

20. Thank you!

Not too wild, I hope. But as wild at it takes. :7

[leftofthedial]

22. good luck

don't count on settling in anywhere longterm

[ThomCat]

24. I know. There is noplace settled any more.

I'm unusual in staying in one job for almost 6 years now. I should have moved on 2 years ago.

Thank you. :)

[leftofthedial]

38. find a place you can tolerate

if not one you really like

and make it work for as long as you can

[Hotler]

23. First rule for being employed.....

Never tell or let your boss know that you're looking for another job.

[ThomCat]

25. I know that my boss really wants me to stay

and he's in a shit load of trouble if I leave. It would take him six months to bring anyone up to speed on my job, and he'd have to pay two people to do it. So telling him lights a fire under him to either act to keep me here or not.

I doubt he'll retaliate.

So, while I agree with your rule in most cases, I think I needed to tell my boss. It lights a fire under his ass.

[rbnyc]

46. When I changed jobs, my new boss was very impressed...

...that I told my old boss that I was interviewing. He respected my honesty, and that I was willing to take a personal risk for the sake of the health of the organization. I think it was part of why he hired me.

[ThomCat]

52. I hope it goes over that well here.

[BarenakedLady]

27. Good luck

That is such a brave thing to do. But then again, you are one of the bravest guys I know. :)

I hope it all works out for you.:yourock:

[ThomCat]

28. Thank you!

I hope so too. :hug:

[graywarrior]

29. From my experience reading your posts, I'd hire you in a second

and I wouldn't even care if you were in an iron lung.

[ThomCat]

31. That's an amazing complement.

Thank you. :hug:

You're awesome. I love you! :loveya:

[graywarrior]

32. Back atcha.

:loveya:

[Redstone]

30. Send me a PM and tell me what you do, if you want to. No promises, but you

never know if I might know someone who needs someone...

Redstone

[ThomCat]

34. Awesome. Thank you.

PM sent. :)

[swag]

33. You will succeed because you are honest, talented, and industrious.

Smart and handsome don't hurt either.

Best to you always.

[ThomCat]

35. I hope some corporate VPs out there agree with you.

Thank you.:hug:

[hfojvt]

36. I stepped down from my full time position

and I suddenly became a saint. Before that I felt like the President - I got blamed for everything.

[ThomCat]

37. I have a feeling I'll be something like that.

Generations of future people are going to be hearing, "When Thom was here..." :)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

39. Good luck, Thom!

I'm contemplating switching careers, too. :hi:

[ThomCat]

40. I may be able to refer you to a good headhunter or two here in NYC.

Send me a copy of your resume when you can. :)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

54. I actually have an interview tomorrow.

Wish me luck! :D

[ThomCat]

57. Definitely!

Good luck! :hug:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

62. Thanks!

:hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

41. Best of luck ThomCat

sending you the best vibes :hug:

[ThomCat]

44. Good vibes are always welcome.

Thank you. :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

42. Good Luck Thom!!

In the end, you know what is right for you and I hope you find the best possible position. :hug:

It's scary to contemplate though, eh?

[ThomCat]

43. It's very scary. But it has to be done.

:(

:hug: Thank you.

[buddhamama]

45. Good Luck with the job search !

Making changes and going into the unknown can be scary, but the 'leap' is required of us at times if we are to be happy.

Best Wishes. I hope you find what you're looking for! :hug:

[ThomCat]

48. Yes, it's not nearly as scary to push for political changes

as it is to push for personal ones. :shrug:

Thank you. :hug:

[NewWaveChick1981]

47. ThomCat, I know just how you feel...

:hug: Before I got my current job (which is about to change!), I had looked for a new position for a good while. When I had the first interview for one of the positions I'd applied for, I had to tell my boss so I could get the time off. Once the old employer knows, it can be a little uncomfortable.

Good luck with the search!!! :pals:

[ThomCat]

50. Thank you.

Not only does my current boss know, I'm going to ask him if he'll be a reference. How's that for chutzpah? :P

[Brewman_Jax]

49. Good luck

You show better judgement than my brother, he told his former employer to, in so many words, cheney themselves. It took him a year.

You aren't alone, one of my compatriots here in the lab was made an offer by one of the equipment manufacturers and is leaving next month.

Good luck! :hi:

[ThomCat]

51. Thank you!

I hope your brother is in a much better position now.

I'm hoping to have something to celebrate around the first of the year. :hi:

[swimboy]

53. Hey Thom--

Congratulations on taking action. I've stepped off the edge twice before and each time ended up better off. I hope they will decide to do the right thing by you. :hug:

[ThomCat]

58. It doesn't look like they will

but I have an interview scheduled for Monday morning already, so it may be just as well.

All that inertia I've felt for the past year is melting and suddenly I'm eager to find someplace else. :)

[wildhorses]

55. was it a good idea to tell your boss?

i am worried for you :hug:

good luck:loveya:

[ThomCat]

59. I think it was.

He needs to know that he has a choice to either keep me here or see me walk. He has to take responsibility for that.

So far, he's avoiding the issue entirely. He ducked out early without talking to me today. We'll see what happens between now and Monday (when I come in late after my first interview). :)

[TK421]

56. Good luck n/t

[ThomCat]

60. Thank you, TK!

:)

[Jamastiene]

61. Change is so scary to me.

I wish I could be married and be a housewife to a professional woman. They won't let me get married though. And with this current administration's economy, I can give up my dreams of getting to stay home and take care of the cats. :eyes:

Good luck in finding the most perfect and best paying job in the best place possible. You deserve nothing but the best. You are a great guy. :hug:

[ThomCat]

64. Thank you.

It's funny. My boss was talking in a meeting today about several long term projects and he clearly expects that I'm going to be taking the lead on them.

He doesn't think I'm serious about leaving. He hasn't come back with a raise. He still hasn't provided the assistant even though it's already in the budget.
:eyes:

[crim son]

63. Thom! I didn't see this earlier.

You're doing the right thing, I know it. Take your time and find the place, and then get out of there! I'm sure your health will improve, not just your spirits. :hug:

[ThomCat]

65. My spirit will definitely improve.

My health will hopefully stay steady for a few more decades. I'd be very happy to maintain for a while.

I'll certainly share any good news. :hug: