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Edited on Tue Nov-25-08 10:35 AM by Symarip
I'm a defense contractor, but more importantly I'm an educator of sorts (despite the fact that sometimes I'm pretty illiterate on the interwebz). I typically like my job fine, and feel like I'm an asset to the company and ultimately, to my country.
Today I had a meeting where I realized I am completely trapped. Those I work for, specifically one person who runs this operation, is hard charging our team to basically chase windmills. Our methods of measuring success, aside from nickels and dimes, is to compare similarities in products that are ultimately inferior in design and procedure. To convey to anyone reading this, imagine turning in an essay that fails by every perceivable method but patting yourself on the back for having all the i's dotted in a uniform fashion. For me to suggest and implement what I know to be relevant and proper would be to rail against the system and essentially bite the hand that feeds me. To stay the course, as I am doing now, will only lead to complacency and a loss of skills needed to do a good job. I am completely trapped.
Unfortunately, I'm in a unique position where the specialties I dabble in are specific to only this job, right here and right now. In the past, when I've tried to look for other work, I've found that I would have to sacrifice pay and security. The economy has also played an effect in our industry. I could look for a more commercial company dealing with other area's of training but I would most likely lose my security clearance which in itself, is a paycheck. Also, much of my background as it pertains to this job relies on proprietary systems that don't translate in a non defense based workforce.
Le sigh. Sorry to unload on a Tuesday morning on the Lounge. I'll get back to creating lulz shortly.
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