Time OwedIs there a certain amount of time I "owe" the company? I've been with my certain company for almost a year now and am ready for a change. I noticed last fall that this wasn't the job that utilized my skills and have felt guilty for wanting to switch. A little on the background: I graduated college with an interior design degree/minor in commercial graphics. I worked at a small hospitality design firm for 9 months post graduation; realizing it was unpaid long hours and high stress. I wanted to find a different route that would compensate me for my time. I came upon carpet design for hotels/casinos. The job would utilize my graphic design skills and keep me in the interior design industry...and the only other designer here fought hard for my position within the company despite my "carpet" knowledge. My company sent me to train at one of the mills in the UK for 3.5 weeks and set me up with a great home office. Nice laptop and cell phone.The work from home thing was on my mind to begin with-- it has GREAT benefits but also has its downfalls, one being that in my early 20's, I crave the office interaction! I miss the overall aspect of interior design and want to get back with a firm (definitely one that pays overtime or compensates with comp time) but am feeling really guilty for wanting to switch. I've bonded well with my coworker/friend/fellow work-from-homer has made several comments about "oh you'll get to know that person after you've been with the company for a few years" or "don't worry...you'll be able to design that in your sleep after more years." Do I owe the company a certain amount of time because of what they've put in to train me? Or can I start job searching once again? -Feeling Guilty Unless a company pays to relocated you or pays for your (usually college) education AND has a contract in place with you over amount of time owed versus payback you owe them if you leave early, then no, you don't owe them anything. That's part of the cost of doing business. It doesn't do YOU any favors to have short hops on your resume, but if you've been with this company a year, that shouldn't be a problem.
Tess Thank you. I've had this weight sitting on my shoulders about the "right" thing to do by the company. They've been nothing but good to me...flexible with time off, reimbursements, phone, etc.; it's not that I'm frustrated at work, I'm just not being challenged in all aspects of design that I so crave. And I really miss being in an office; I'm starting to feel trapped in the home. All of which is ideal for my coworker who is a single parent to two young girls--work from home couldn't be better for her. However, I'm still single and live 20+ hours from my family...I miss social interaction. In regards to the upcoming yearly review, would it be better to state my feelings before the review? How long before? After? How long after? Thanks! If you're planning to look elsewhere then do not state your feelings to your current employer. That gets it off your chest but it is also (usually) a fast track to the unemployment line. If you're thinking of asking your employer if you can work in the office instead of at home, then that is the perfect time to do that. It sounds to me though like home or office, you want to move up in job, so the best bet is to get the resume out and start looking, then when you have something in hand, you give your two weeks notice, thank them for everything and move on.
Tess Just a suggestion before you throw the baby out with the bath water. The key issue from what I have read here, is that you are not being challenged with the work you are doing. I owned a small boutique pottery company for almost 20 years, employed several decorators. The ones that did well, the ones who moved up in the company were those that challenged me to challenge them. Have you discussed with your supervisor or higher ups additional training opportunities, potential job growth, including possibly moving up into a position where you could be involved with sales (as one example). If you have good people skills, and combine that with product knowledge and your design sense, would seem a natural progression? Sherwood Martinelli Hi! You bring up some really great points...I want to be able to move up and progress in my career, and I've actually expressed my desire to work in an office setting. There has been talk of possibly opening a showroom in my city to where we would have design in the back and sales in the front. The rumor was milling and the office to open in June, but I have heard nothing about it for months now. As June is approaching and the the office space yet to be built out, I don't foresee this happening within the year. As for moving into a more challenging position, I question that opportunity as my coworker/friend has been with the company nearly 8 years and is still a contract designer working from home. I actually get more interaction with clients than she does because I ask to discuss projects face-to-face instead of corresponding through email or courier. Even so, I have an aching in my heart to be back on the other side of design (being the one who SEEKS out manufacturers and representatives) so I don't know if searching for a higher position would necessarily fill my want for the aspect of OVERALL design (lighting, surfaces, fabrics, space, carpet, etc.). Is it wishful thinking to want to be back on the "other side"? Thanks! And I love your unicorn quote :-)
Hi Andi: 1. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I have spent almost my entire adult life working for myself, being both the boss and owner of several small business start ups. Contrary to the Mary Tyler Moore show wherein Lou looks at Mary and says, "You've got spunk!", and after she says, "Well thank you Mr. Grant" he dryly replies, "I hate spunk!" I always liked an employee who showed initiative, took the proverbial bull by the horns and came looking for more authority, wanted to move up. In short, rather than listen to the rumors around the virtual watercooler, why not put an inquiry in about the showroom in your local area, while expressing a keen interest in working there, even being considered to manage it? 2. As a potter, briefly involved in home renovation, and having owned a landscaping business I can completely understand wanting to be on the other side of the equation, being more involved with both customers, and the creative process. I think one of the reasons I have had the luxury of working for myself almost my entire adult life, is that I have always followed my muse, done things that I loved doing. My love of what I was doing was contagious, and my clients picked up on it from moment one, which is why I rarely failed to get a project that I wanted, that I went after. Listening to your passion (one I share) for fabrics, textures, space, perhaps you should seriously look at moving into being and interior designer...start off small, even part time on a local basis, seeking out small projects to hone your talents on? Who knows, maybe you are a budding entrepreneur waiting to happen? Sherwood Martinelli PS...thanks for the praise on my signature...self authored years ago. | |
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