So I know I said I never have anything that I want to friends lock, but this is the exception I guess. Hence the LJ post instead of my regular blog.
Well, my work doesn’t suck, but lately I have definitely not been into it. I had to start making cold calls, and while I’ve made a whopping 1, I think I really really hate it. A lot. It makes me feel worse than about anything else I’ve ever done. I was asking for advice from a few guys yesterday. One of them said that they didn’t have any idea how to cold call people so he started calling and just lied or made stuff up until he got through to an important person. My stomach did a back-flip when I heard that.
Anyway, nothing else is wrong w/ my job other than I just don’t like it really well. And this creeping thought has been in the back of my mind that the half-life of an engineering degree is 2 years….and I’m wasting mine. I doubt I could pass many technical skills tests right now, I haven’t “engineered” anything in months.
I kinda have this other idea going on, and I’m not sure if is productive, revalatory, or anything else but it goes like this: “I’m an engineer, God made me to do engineering. I’m pretty good at some kinds of engineering. I’m not a salesman. Does being a salesman honor God if he made me to be an engineer? Am I advancing the Kingdom as a Salesman?”
I like my co-workers, my boss, and I like parts of my job. I kinda like being at a smaller company…but I would perfer a bigger one. Nothing at my job makes me hate my job…just this one thing makes me not want to do the rest of my job. Too bad cold calling is a pretty major part of any sales job.
On top of all that there are a few jobs popping up w/in my radar that look like I’m qualified or almost qualified in manufacturing around the area.
I’ve been thinking about an interesting idea. I go to my boss, say I’m not happy doing what I’m doing. Tell him I really like the people here, and that I think he is a pretty good boss. Offer to stay around continuing w/ some basic things I’ve been taking care of until they can replace me and meanwhile I’ll look for a new job. And offer up the idea that I can do some “improvement” kind of things around the shop. Like I’ve already got this windows PE thing set up, now I just need to tweak it for different situations w/ different customers, but I haven’t had time since I’ve been building a vertical market of people to cold call. Also there is a pretty major revision of our quoting / manufacturing software coming out within the next few months. I could stay around and be the lead in charge of installing that since no one else has time to mess with stuff like that. Plus if I tell them soon they can strike at the recruiting from the university as May gets close.
Ultimately I’m going to update my resume, and post it a few places before I say anything. And today I’m setting a goal of making at least two cold calls. I figure I should force myself to do this for a little while before I say anything to anyone at work.
Man, I feel like such a wuss complaining about this. But this job isn’t fulfilling me, and I’m a degreed engineer from the U of I…I didn’t work my ass off to take some job that makes me feel weird, and that I have no desire to be doing. I thought part of going to school was to have some options on this kind of thing.
Also, my eye has been twitching at work. Today is better cuz I got more sleep last night. But this stress of thinking about cold-calling, and the bad lighting here makes it act up at work, and then get better when I get home. Odd.
Pray for me…for guidance, for an opening at another place, for understanding w/ my boss. Pray for strength for me to stick with it as long as God wants me to. Pray for my work to find a quick replacement if I do decide to quit.
I’m open for advice, questions, suggestions whatever. In fact, I’m starving for those things here.
rschmit says
I think I remember talking about this with you when you got the job. Anyways, before going to your boss with that idea (it’s a good idea), I’d at least have a solid lead or two lined up. I mean you could do that and all of a sudden the well could dry up, leaving you screwed. That’s all. Just be cautious.
arexchi says
..sounds related to some of the stuff we were talking about that one night before the wedding. it doesn’t sound like your enjoying your job very much. i still think you should pick something you *want* to do and go for it man.. your still young.. you still have a lot of time to work up to what you want to be. i know your GPA at uiuc wasn’t the greatest so it will most likely take extra work.. mine wasn’t great too so i know where your at. but what doesn’t take work? i’m probably stating the obvious, but my view on things is that nothing good happens professionally for anyone without a LOT of hard work.
of course things are more complicated if you don’t know what you want to do.. but i have a feeling that in your heart, you probably have *some* kind of idea of what you want to do. also if you’re not in a good place in life to take risks in could be more difficult.. but again, your young so i don’t know if there’d be a better time.
anyways, just thought i’d throw in a couple thoughts although they don’t particular pertain exactly to what you wrote above. hope things work out for you and gimme a call if you need to talk…
ca_chick says
I made great money doing Cutco, but i hated it. I am not a salesperson. I would make an amazing sale and be lifeless shortly thereafter just from all the energy it took for me sell. We weren’t allowed to cold call people, but even when we had their permission, it felt like such an invasion. I don’t know what God’s told you, but just coming from my own limited experience with sales – if you’re not made for it – get out!
I’ll be praying for your job situation.
braquaggio says
hey, i say go for it. some (my father, for one) would say that its just my youthful idealism that tells me you shouldn’t have to do a job you don’t like and aren’t good at, and they might be right, but that hasn’t stopped me yet. i’m doing a job right now that i actually kinda enjoy, which makes it really hard to look for a job that pays more money but that i don’t really want to do. i know that not everything in our lives as Christians is supposed to be easy, but i also don’t think that God wants us to be in a place where we aren’t effective.
dwchang says
x2
I say get a few *very strong* leads before going to your boss. It’s of course courteous of you to do so, but it’s still equally courteous to first get some sort of footing and security. Especially since it’s not just you who would be affected, but also Lauren.
Certainly pursue new things with a passion though. That’s what I’ve learned.
hopelark says
As the other potentially effected person in this scenario, let me just say, go for it! I personally will be much, and I do mean much, happier if you’re enjoying your work. You know me, I’m pretty comfortable with risk, and I’ve felt for a long time that you should be working somewhere else. I love you, you are so smart and talented. I know, and this is the Know that means I’ve been praying about it, that God has a good job for you.
ilnira says
when married people support each other…it’s cool.
rockyrockstar says
If you’re not gonna quit your job when you are young, married, with no kids, and a gazillion safety nets, when are you going to quit it? Do it. It blows my mind that people who have the option to change jobs stay at their miserable jobs.
j