Where are you right now on the career-ladder?

[E equals MC2]

Past & Present

1. Graduated from college with double major in mgmt/marketing last May.
2. Landed a job as a project coordinator in Sept 05, making $35K
3. Got promoted- I'll be a Project Specialist starting May 1st, 2006. $45K

My thoughts on future
Stay 6-12 months and get a new job else where. Look aggressively and hopefully land a $50K+ job and most importantly do something I like to do (or like it more than my current job)

Reasons
1. The next level up from my position has a glass ceiling. It could be years until I can get promoted to the next position, which is Project Manager. In this fast-paced industry, it's better to aggressively look for other jobs with the leverage I have with my resume with the rather quick promotion and all.

2. I want to travel for my next job. My company doesn't quite require you to travel, even at PM level. Some people may hate it but I want to get it out of my system. I'm sick of staring at monitor from 8-5.

Questions
1. Is six additional months too short? If I leave this work in Sept 06, that means I only worked 12 months, 6 months each for my old position and my current position. For some reason my prospective employers may not care much.

2. How the hell do I interview for other jobs while retaining my current job? I can't exactly hide it if they call up my boss for reference. How do you do this? If I Do tell my boss I'm looking for other jobs and references keep calling him up over time, I don't think that's quite a good idea and a nice thing to do to my boss. (please answer this)

3. Any further advice? Thanks!

 

[E equals MC2]

no one? 🙁

 

[altonb1]

Stop trying to jump ship so quickly. I would stay in your c urrent job closer to a year. I think you'll be better off that way because you'll show longevity with a company.

 

[E equals MC2]

Originally posted by: altonb1
Stop trying to jump ship so quickly. I would stay in your c urrent job closer to a year. I think you'll be better off that way because you'll show longevity with a company.

What do you think is the best?
A: 1 year total (6 months initial position + 6 months new position), that would be Sept 06
B: 1.5 year total (6 months initial position + one full year new position), that would be March 07
C: 1.5+ and why?

 

[Azurik]

Originally posted by: altonb1
Stop trying to jump ship so quickly. I would stay in your c urrent job closer to a year. I think you'll be better off that way because you'll show longevity with a company.

...AND we work on the same street! How can we be friends if you move away so quickly?😉

You can work in Contracts here as a Contracts Administrator initially. You want travel? You got it!

 

[Azurik]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: altonb1
Stop trying to jump ship so quickly. I would stay in your c urrent job closer to a year. I think you'll be better off that way because you'll show longevity with a company.

What do you think is the best?
A: 1 year total (6 months initial position + 6 months new position), that would be Sept 06
B: 1.5 year total (6 months initial position + one full year new position), that would be March 07
C: 1.5+ and why?

B, not A because you don't want to be seen as a job hopper, not C because you don't want to be complacent when there's a glass ceiling.

 

[her209]

I've been with my current company for 3.5 years now. Plan to stick around until I hit the 5 year mark when I'm fully vested in my 401k.

 

[Azurik]

Originally posted by: her209
I've been with my current company for 3.5 years now. Plan to stick around until I hit the 5 year mark when I'm fully vested in my 401k.

We're immediately vested in our company's contribution. 5 years is a long time! Then again, our pension vests in 5 years...

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: her209
I've been with my current company for 3.5 years now. Plan to stick around until I hit the 5 year mark when I'm fully vested in my 401k.

We're immediately vested in our company's contribution. 5 years is a long time! Then again, our pension vests in 5 years...

Immediately 100% vested?

 

[oddyager]

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: altonb1
Stop trying to jump ship so quickly. I would stay in your c urrent job closer to a year. I think you'll be better off that way because you'll show longevity with a company.

What do you think is the best?
A: 1 year total (6 months initial position + 6 months new position), that would be Sept 06
B: 1.5 year total (6 months initial position + one full year new position), that would be March 07
C: 1.5+ and why?

B, not A because you don't want to be seen as a job hopper, not C because you don't want to be complacent when there's a glass ceiling.

If there's possibility of growth in a company, then staying longer than 1.5 years (which isn't that long of a time in the first place) isn't that bad of an idea.

 

[E equals MC2]

Originally posted by: oddyager

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: altonb1
Stop trying to jump ship so quickly. I would stay in your c urrent job closer to a year. I think you'll be better off that way because you'll show longevity with a company.

What do you think is the best?
A: 1 year total (6 months initial position + 6 months new position), that would be Sept 06
B: 1.5 year total (6 months initial position + one full year new position), that would be March 07
C: 1.5+ and why?

B, not A because you don't want to be seen as a job hopper, not C because you don't want to be complacent when there's a glass ceiling.

If there's possibility of growth in a company, then staying longer than 1.5 years (which isn't that long of a time in the first place) isn't that bad of an idea.

except the PM position is doing the same damn thing as my two positions currently do- just more involved. I want some fresh change already, I just quickly realized how much I can't stand sitting in a cubicle all day long.

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: altonb1
Stop trying to jump ship so quickly. I would stay in your c urrent job closer to a year. I think you'll be better off that way because you'll show longevity with a company.

What do you think is the best?
A: 1 year total (6 months initial position + 6 months new position), that would be Sept 06
B: 1.5 year total (6 months initial position + one full year new position), that would be March 07
C: 1.5+ and why?

B, not A because you don't want to be seen as a job hopper, not C because you don't want to be complacent when there's a glass ceiling.

Agreed. That's what I was trying to say and guess I was not clear enough.

 

[oddyager]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2


2. How the hell do I interview for other jobs while retaining my current job? I can't exactly hide it if they call up my boss for reference. How do you do this? If I Do tell my boss I'm looking for other jobs and references keep calling him up over time, I don't think that's quite a good idea and a nice thing to do to my boss. (please answer this)

You DON'T list your current employer as your reference.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: oddyager
You DON'T list your current employer as your reference.

So what do you tell your prospective employer? I'm currently "unemployed"?

 

[E equals MC2]

Originally posted by: oddyager

Originally posted by: E equals MC2


2. How the hell do I interview for other jobs while retaining my current job? I can't exactly hide it if they call up my boss for reference. How do you do this? If I Do tell my boss I'm looking for other jobs and references keep calling him up over time, I don't think that's quite a good idea and a nice thing to do to my boss. (please answer this)

You DON'T list your current employer as your reference.

So I would apply to other jobs as a fresh out of college kid? That defeats the whole purpose of looking for better jobs and fish another lame entry level job at best.

 

[oddyager]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: oddyager
You DON'T list your current employer as your reference.

So what do you tell your prospective employer? I'm currently "unemployed"?

What does that have to do with references?

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: oddyager

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: oddyager
You DON'T list your current employer as your reference.

So what do you tell your prospective employer? I'm currently "unemployed"?

What does that have to do with references?

They're going to call your past and current employers for reference if you have them listed.

 

[MulLa]

Originally posted by: oddyager

Originally posted by: E equals MC2


2. How the hell do I interview for other jobs while retaining my current job? I can't exactly hide it if they call up my boss for reference. How do you do this? If I Do tell my boss I'm looking for other jobs and references keep calling him up over time, I don't think that's quite a good idea and a nice thing to do to my boss. (please answer this)

You DON'T list your current employer as your reference.

Of if you can have a manager in a different department that you can associate with and will keep it confidential. I've done that once 😉

 

[oddyager]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: oddyager

Originally posted by: E equals MC2


2. How the hell do I interview for other jobs while retaining my current job? I can't exactly hide it if they call up my boss for reference. How do you do this? If I Do tell my boss I'm looking for other jobs and references keep calling him up over time, I don't think that's quite a good idea and a nice thing to do to my boss. (please answer this)

You DON'T list your current employer as your reference.

So I would apply to other jobs as a fresh out of college kid? That defeats the whole purpose and fish another lame entry level job.

A prospective employer isn't going to contact your current employer because the person know this puts you in a bad situation. Unless this is some intra-city agency thing where you're moving from one city agency to another (as an example) then its perfectly fine.

You say that you are employed and that you want to work for this company A because you feel you are qualified and you know you can do the job. Honestly, if you've done a good enough job in the interview, references are probably not even going to be necessary. Don't you have anything from school?

 

[E equals MC2]

Originally posted by: oddyager

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: oddyager

Originally posted by: E equals MC2


2. How the hell do I interview for other jobs while retaining my current job? I can't exactly hide it if they call up my boss for reference. How do you do this? If I Do tell my boss I'm looking for other jobs and references keep calling him up over time, I don't think that's quite a good idea and a nice thing to do to my boss. (please answer this)

You DON'T list your current employer as your reference.

So I would apply to other jobs as a fresh out of college kid? That defeats the whole purpose and fish another lame entry level job.

A prospective employer isn't going to contact your current employer because the person know this puts you in a bad situation. Unless this is some intra-city agency thing where you're moving from one city agency to another (as an example) then its perfectly fine.

You say that you are employed and that you want to work for this company A because you feel you are qualified and you know you can do the job. Honestly, if you've done a good enough job in the interview, references are probably not even going to be necessary. Don't you have anything from school?

I'm sorry, that post is absolutely incoherent, especially the second line. What the heck are you saying? As far as I know, employers typically don't give a rat's ass about what I did during school.

 

[Azurik]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: her209
I've been with my current company for 3.5 years now. Plan to stick around until I hit the 5 year mark when I'm fully vested in my 401k.

We're immediately vested in our company's contribution. 5 years is a long time! Then again, our pension vests in 5 years...

Immediately 100% vested?

Immediately vested in the company's contributions yes, which btw is dollar for dollar matching. Sorry, had to rub it in🙂

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: oddyager
A prospective employer isn't going to contact your current employer because the person know this puts you in a bad situation. Unless this is some intra-city agency thing where you're moving from one city agency to another (as an example) then its perfectly fine.

I fail to see how a job in another city would make it any different in regards to contacting your current employer.

 

[E equals MC2]

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: her209
I've been with my current company for 3.5 years now. Plan to stick around until I hit the 5 year mark when I'm fully vested in my 401k.

We're immediately vested in our company's contribution. 5 years is a long time! Then again, our pension vests in 5 years...

Immediately 100% vested?

Immediately vested in the company's contributions yes, which btw is dollar for dollar matching. Sorry, had to rub it in🙂

How much vacation do you get? Feel free to show off, I'm already used to it. kl 😉

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Azurik

Originally posted by: her209
I've been with my current company for 3.5 years now. Plan to stick around until I hit the 5 year mark when I'm fully vested in my 401k.

We're immediately vested in our company's contribution. 5 years is a long time! Then again, our pension vests in 5 years...

Immediately 100% vested?

Immediately vested in the company's contributions yes, which btw is dollar for dollar matching. Sorry, had to rub it in🙂

Bastard!

 

[JS80]

you need to start networking and find some professional [who are] friends to serve as a reference. or make friends with trustworthy co-workers who can also provide to be a reference. otherwise your sol.