Ready to Leave!!

6 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 7,2024 at 7:49PM UTC

   I think you answered your own question: "In my heart, I don't belong there any longer "

   I say it's time for a new adventure!! Polish resume and find your next opportunity

   Those crap in county government is crazy: maxing out. What's the point in staying especially with experience if you can't go elsewhere?

2. AnonymousApril 7,2024 at 8:12PM UTC

   You should take some classes to add the software needed to get a higher position. Working for the county, the classes should be free. Put the software and the minimum qualifications for the job you want on your resume. Off you don’t have the skills, take a quick class for it.

3. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistApril 7,2024 at 8:20PM UTC

   When you know, you know. Unless you plan on staying with that organization for the rest of your career - and it sounds like you don't - it's time to get out now. The longer you stay, the harder it will be to make that move.

   Be prepared to answer why you stayed so long and why you're looking to make a move now.

   If you're not sure what direction you want to go in, run searches on the job boards for positions that sound interesting to you. They will tell you right there what they're looking for - if you consistently see say a particular piece of software is required that you don't have, you can take a class or get certified to help with your qualifications.

   GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

4. AnonymousApril 7,2024 at 10:10PM UTC

   Several times I've written up the paperwork (justification and job description) for my own promotions. Since you say both directors are overwhelmed, think about how you can position your jack-of-all-trades background to fill in a gap that's exactly what you'd like to be doing for the next few years (and coincidentally up a pay grade) and write it all up. It's a lot easier for your boss(es) to say yes if you aren't giving them extra work. Good luck!

5. AnonymousApril 7,2024 at 10:26PM UTC

   I suggest that you begin looking for new roles outside your government agency and evaluate what you are qualified for in the market.

   If you are happy with the positions for which you qualify, move into search mode. You have a great track record to sell.

   You can also readily prepare yourself for new roles within your agency. First, your mindset. You say that you are not qualified for more advanced roles, but you also mention that others have moved upward at the Directors’ discretion. I think that it would be helpful for you to adopt a more confident and optimistic mindset. You are an exemplary employee with strong institutional knowledge who has great working relationships across the organization and delivered value on varied assignments for 17 years. Of course you are worthy of being promoted! Please look at yourself as an exceptional performer for your agency, because you are.

   In addition, continue to let your Directors and HR know that you are interested in advancement, and avail yourself of all in-house trainings that would help your chances. Don’t be a nag, but do be a squeaky wheel. I suspect that your Directors would hate to lose you.

   You mention that an impediment to your promotion is that you don’t have a thorough knowledge of softwares to which you are not regularly exposed. That can be remedied fairly easily, through one or more of the following strategies:

   •Ask for formal or informal training on these softwares through your agency. Does your agency have a training budget? After 17 years you are entitled to your share of it. Plus, having you more extensively trained on these softwares will give your agency more flexibility in responding to special needs and emergencies.

   •If your agency is unable to pay for training, consider taking a class in one or more of these softwares, perhaps online, to bolster your skills.

   •Ask for or volunteer for projects that use these software, again to bolster your experience with these softwares.

   •One more thing: you say that you have used these softwares before, so you already have a knowledge base. I strongly suspect that your institutional knowledge and excellent working relationships across the agency will be more important than your specific software skills if you are promoted. Value these softer skills highly.

   One last item: you mention that your current job gives you a desirable hybrid schedule. Will being promoted require you to adopt a standard 40 -hour schedule and, if yes, does that work for you?

6. AnonymousApril 8,2024 at 2:07PM UTC

   I have been looking for jobs in the non-profit space at a director (or above) level, and a recurring requirement in the JDs is "able to show management/leadership growth with increasing responsibilities" or something like that. It sounds to me like your experience would make your resume stand out. Put your current company in multiple times on your resume, once for each position you held, and show in the bullet points how your responsibilities increased, float the resume on LinkedIn and Indeed, and see what happens. You might be surprised at how good your experience looks from the outside since you are getting no traction inside.