I don't want to be a country song.
March 26, 2006 8:37 AM Subscribe
Topping 400 and my dog is 14 1/2 years old... but it's not really about that.
Stress from the past two years figures heavily when it comes to work issues and how I handle them. I stayed home with my child for a long time and have been back at work for three years. I work at an institution that very recently migrated from a circa 1996 frame-relay supported environment to new *everything*.
My most previous position was something that more fully funded institutions prefer a master's degree to do. I was very happy sitting behind my desk doing meticulous work that was somewhat independent. Everything I needed to look up was at my fingertips. I made the mistake (?) of learning the position quickly so my boss (and she told she supervisors this in a meeting) pushed me into a newly minted tech position because the institution can't afford a qualified tech person. I resent being pushed from something I loved doing. I loved it so much I didn't much mind not getting a raise with that position, but I feel my skills are being taken advantage of and more responsibility is being added on regularly. Never mind that you'd be shocked at how little I'm paid.
I enjoy the web part of my job and training others to use the new software. I enjoy that I'm *supposed* to be able to find time to do some of my old position's duties as a backup (which -ahem- is still desperately needed six months in) -that and Saturdays off are intended to be my perks since I didn't receive the raise I twice requested... funding, budget cuts, etc. This position also makes me visible as someone the director relies on, which makes at least two other employees want to give me *hell* on a regular basis. I blew up at one of them the other day and have yet to see what fallout will come from it, but am prepared.
Anyway, with the new system comes in expensive, in-depth training, which includes primarily SQL server and Crystal Reports elements. In order to determine if I can hang in another year, finally here is my question: This training is somewhat geared toward the field I'm in and the specific software we use. Without a degree to back it up, how beneficial would this training be in terms of finding another position?
Stress from the past two years figures heavily when it comes to work issues and how I handle them. I stayed home with my child for a long time and have been back at work for three years. I work at an institution that very recently migrated from a circa 1996 frame-relay supported environment to new *everything*.
My most previous position was something that more fully funded institutions prefer a master's degree to do. I was very happy sitting behind my desk doing meticulous work that was somewhat independent. Everything I needed to look up was at my fingertips. I made the mistake (?) of learning the position quickly so my boss (and she told she supervisors this in a meeting) pushed me into a newly minted tech position because the institution can't afford a qualified tech person. I resent being pushed from something I loved doing. I loved it so much I didn't much mind not getting a raise with that position, but I feel my skills are being taken advantage of and more responsibility is being added on regularly. Never mind that you'd be shocked at how little I'm paid.
I enjoy the web part of my job and training others to use the new software. I enjoy that I'm *supposed* to be able to find time to do some of my old position's duties as a backup (which -ahem- is still desperately needed six months in) -that and Saturdays off are intended to be my perks since I didn't receive the raise I twice requested... funding, budget cuts, etc. This position also makes me visible as someone the director relies on, which makes at least two other employees want to give me *hell* on a regular basis. I blew up at one of them the other day and have yet to see what fallout will come from it, but am prepared.
Anyway, with the new system comes in expensive, in-depth training, which includes primarily SQL server and Crystal Reports elements. In order to determine if I can hang in another year, finally here is my question: This training is somewhat geared toward the field I'm in and the specific software we use. Without a degree to back it up, how beneficial would this training be in terms of finding another position?
If you'd said Oracle instead of SQL, I'd wonder if you were a former cataloger pushed into a tech librarianship position. But I digress.
From your own experience (your past position being one where more fully-funded institutions ask for a master's), you've seen that degree requirements can be flexible. And gaining skills are always a plus. It sounds like if you leave your particular field, you'll be able to do well, especially if you enter other fields that can't afford "officially" credentialed people (but will hopefully still pay more that the current gig). I'd say stick it out, pick up the skills, move on. Stick it out long enough to help your current institution make the transition to the new system though... System migrations are a constant in almost any field, and assisting in one effectively can only do good things for your resume, and for the references you're going to get.
posted by Carol O at 7:16 AM on March 27, 2006
From your own experience (your past position being one where more fully-funded institutions ask for a master's), you've seen that degree requirements can be flexible. And gaining skills are always a plus. It sounds like if you leave your particular field, you'll be able to do well, especially if you enter other fields that can't afford "officially" credentialed people (but will hopefully still pay more that the current gig). I'd say stick it out, pick up the skills, move on. Stick it out long enough to help your current institution make the transition to the new system though... System migrations are a constant in almost any field, and assisting in one effectively can only do good things for your resume, and for the references you're going to get.
posted by Carol O at 7:16 AM on March 27, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jayder at 8:41 AM on March 26, 2006