I'm getting a headache.

[Newarcher]

Actually this Guy is one of my best friends. We have worked together for years, rode dirt bikes, etc. He truly has my back, there are no if, and's, or buts about it. Id trust him with anything, information or otherwise. He has 100% character.

Actually, they just flat dont care. As long as this department is making money and the ripples dont get to their side of the pond they will ignore the problem. These people started this company and it won the Governors award (in Oklahoma) for Exporting this year. Big deal since there is a lot of industry in Oklahoma. They are to busy playing big money to care about inner office politics. That stinks for everyone that shows up to put in an honest days work.

This is my only dilemma. I can actually switch to a competitor company quick, fast, and in a hurry. I like the work, its not the problem. Its our "boss." I just have the opportunity to make roughly 12k (net) EXTRA by the end of the year, easily and possibly more if I wanted to dig in. That would greatly advance me.....

Actually Im not having any trouble with money. Even if I take another job Im in for a raise. Stability isn't an issue either. These jobs are so hard to fill that we were offered a 1k sign on bonus for helping the company to find new employees. Just yesterday an Engineer asked me about taking another position in the company (structural) instead of the burner position im in.

I am having absolutely no trouble finding work. This change isn't iffy, if I want it all I have to do is apply. I could be working a new job by Monday and probably get a considerable raise. I just dont like to move around much. If this department was better looked after id still be sitting here in 10-years.

Actually ive read his book. He has some good ideas. Ive also listened to him a lot on the net. We have used some of his methods to pay stuff off. We also do the envelop method to track money and be sure we dont overspend. He's a sharp cookie.

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I gotcha....I would love to be in demand like that.

However, I think you are missing my point though. On one hand, you are telling me that you don't want to quit because it will mean less money to pay off your debts. Yet at the same time, you don't like your boss or the management. What I am saying is that if you were out of debt completely, you could tell them all to go pound sand!

Okay, enough preaching. If you were to take the other job in the other department, would the management that told you to kiss off still be your management? If not, I might consider that.

Personally, here's what I would do (I think we talked about this previously). I would stay...you can't make the money elsewhere....or I would transfer around inside the company provided the total management structure would be different. I would aggressively pay off the debt and STAY OUT OF IT. During this year while I was paying off debt, I would be working all the overtime I could stand and then also look at doing what you do for yourself via jobs on the side.

I don't know how old you are but I have learned the hard way that working for someone else is rarely positive. Even if you hire into a job where you love the work and the bosses and they love you too, you are one merger, one new manager, or one buyout away from the street. Like I said, it seems that with my career/companies, there is some major shakeup every 6 months or so.

That's my opinion.

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[Guest Andrea]

I think you've already made up your mind to leave Jeramie. And I don't blame you one bit. Going to work somewhere day after day where you are miserable is draining on the soul. It sucks the life out of you. And it's not worth it. You've got a little girl who doesn't need a Dad who's always grouchy when he comes home. Sounds like you don't get to spend much time with her anyway like it is. That burden alone is worth leaving.

Good luck!!

[Jeramie]

I gotcha....I would love to be in demand like that.

Look at gas prices lately! Im working in the refinery business now. Im detailing and designing burners for Chemical (aka, oil) separation. I hate paying high gas prices but as long as fuel is being used this industry will boom. Its a catch 22. I drive 55-miles and it cost me but it guarantees I get payed.

However, I think you are missing my point though. On one hand, you are telling me that you don't want to quit because it will mean less money to pay off your debts. Yet at the same time, you don't like your boss or the management. What I am saying is that if you were out of debt completely, you could tell them all to go pound sand!

And thats exactly my point. If I were to stick around I could make roughly 12k (net) in OT alone. We are allowed Unlimited OT and Im pretty much working 11.5 hours a day right now trying to keep up with the work load.

If I take another job I will get a pay increase of roughly $2-$3 an hour. Right now without OT Im making enough to pay down my debts and Im doing that consistently, however, pitching another 12k to the top of the heap would make a HUGE difference and quite literally within 1-year would free up a lot of money.

Okay, enough preaching. If you were to take the other job in the other department, would the management that told you to kiss off still be your management? If not, I might consider that.

Actually, no. And thats the beautiful part. Its still for the same company, just another part of the refinery business. Id be designing towers for Rigs, structures for refineries, etc. Same Building, same company, totally different department. He would have NO control over me. In fact the truth be known, id be working directly under one of the owners.

They cant find a designer/ detailer to work that position right now. All of our work in that department is being shipped to our office in India! Having me in house would be huge and id actually get some merit for my work. The only downside is they really wont want me to move out of this department. This is the bread and butter for the company. We are the worldwide industry leader for this area of refining. That means a lot of work. If I move to another department they will have to get someone in here with knowledge and thats hard to find right now. The people simply aren't there.

Btw, the inquiry about the other department came to light after I created this post.

Personally, here's what I would do (I think we talked about this previously). I would stay...you can't make the money elsewhere....or I would transfer around inside the company provided the total management structure would be different. I would aggressively pay off the debt and STAY OUT OF IT. During this year while I was paying off debt, I would be working all the overtime I could stand and then also look at doing what you do for yourself via jobs on the side.

Thats the consensus my wife and I have come to. She just had her hours bumped up at the post office because they transfered one of the women. She will now be bringing in an addition $600-700 a month (roughly). I will be pulling in roughly $1k a month (extra). If I take one of these other jobs I will get an addition $3 an hour and an extra week vacation. My retirement will be a LOT better too. They are really working hard to get good people.

Thats why this decision is a brick wall right now. The potential for me right now, here, is HUGE but long term would be much better at one of the other companies. You can move up fast in this industry because Tulsa is a big Oil Company City. I wouldn't mind sitting still for a year and making good money, just dealing with our boss is making it VERY difficult.

There are about 5-owners to this company. One owner and his wife are the majority share holder. They pull all the strings. His wife is as nice as can be and is in charge of a LOT of stuff. She also handles all HR and hired me. They are in India right now but will be back next week. We are going to play along with the pain until she gets back. Once she does we are going to talk with her. If at that point no one really cares I have a decision to make.

I don't know how old you are but I have learned the hard way that working for someone else is rarely positive. Even if you hire into a job where you love the work and the bosses and they love you too, you are one merger, one new manager, or one buyout away from the street. Like I said, it seems that with my career/companies, there is some major shakeup every 6 months or so.

You hit the head. My wife and I were talking about no matter where you work there is always a pain in the neck somewhere. Unfortunately mine got promoted because he had been here for 10-years. My original boss quit and he was cool as can be, Thanks Ron. Anyway, its a reality that pretty much everywhere you go, you're going to find someone like him. That is the very reason I left my last job. Oh and Btw, Im 30. Ill be 31 in July. Ive been working in the White Color world since I was 19. Talking about a culture shock for an old Farm boy....

[Jeramie]

I think you've already made up your mind to leave Jeramie. And I don't blame you one bit. Going to work somewhere day after day where you are miserable is draining on the soul. It sucks the life out of you. And it's not worth it. You've got a little girl who doesn't need a Dad who's always grouchy when he comes home. Sounds like you don't get to spend much time with her anyway like it is. That burden alone is worth leaving.

Good luck!!

A new development happened yesterday after I posted this!

I was hinted to about moving to another department! If thats the case ill be working directly under an owner and with an engineer that is younger than I am! We get along really well too.

that just really threw a wrench in the works.... Now I have some serious digging to do and decisions to make.

[Newarcher]

A new development happened yesterday after I posted this!

I was hinted to about moving to another department! If thats the case ill be working directly under an owner and with an engineer that is younger than I am! We get along really well too.

that just really threw a wrench in the works.... Now I have some serious digging to do and decisions to make.

You just made your decision in my mind.

You sound like a very hard worker and seem somewhat bright! so in my mind there is not greater place to be than working directly for the owner. They will see the shine of your potential and generally you will be much more appreciated/rewarded with no levels of management between you two.

To me, that's the best of all worlds right there. You get rid of this boss of yours, you display your allegiance to the company, and you don't have to take the risk of learning a new company's culture nor the risk of ending up with a boss like the one you are leaving. Remember, each and every company you interview with are putting their best foot forward just like you are. They won't tell you that the managers are overbearing or insecure, you only find out when it is too late.

Good luck, but I'd go with the department move. If they don't let you, then you leave. If you get over there and don't like the management or coworkers, you probably just bought yourself the year you wanted so you could get out of debt. I have found that when you want to transfer it is best to talk to the new manager first to get them pulling you rather than asking from your current manager.

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