NEW JOB

The long wait is finally over.

I am going to start a new job at a new company at a new place. Everything will be new.

In two days time, I will officially step my foot on their well driven path. And I am pretty excited.

A Year-End Career Introspection

This holiday season, I preferred to file a leave of absence for a vacation rather than going to office.  I actually planned this action in order to take a breather and leave the work atmosphere for a while. I wanted to take this time to think about my future actions regarding my career.


I wanted to weigh over my options.  Gladly, I found this article that was very helpful in assessing my predicaments.


(Article is from this site http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/111648/is-it-time-to-leave-your-job?mod=career-worklife_balance   )


Is it time to leave my job? The questions were bombs to my thoughts.

1. Does my company stand for something -- anything -- special?

It's hard to be thrilled with your job if the company you work for is struggling to succeed, or feels stuck and irrelevant. I'm not talking about obvious problems -- red ink and layoffs. I mean the nagging sense that the company will never be anything more than OK, just another ho-hum player in its field. In this hyper-competitive age, you can't do great things as a company if you're just a little better than everybody else. Does the company you work for really stand out from the crowd? If not, why on earth are you working there?

This is the biggest issue I have with the company.  Though I found myself relevant to my area of work, the company is struggling in terms of technical exploration and development.  Rate of development can kill your patience.  I am skeptical to talk about this, but as a person looking into the process/management, I can't help but be disappointed so as to voice out such grievances. The company has its vision and mission yet I can not comprehend a more elaborate and deeper meaning with great significance both to its employees and customers. Neither a concrete plan nor an operative and strategic routine is ever well-constructed at this point for the sake of the company's long years in business.

2. Am I excited to see my colleagues when I show up for work on Monday morning?

Lots of people sign on with a company because it's got a cool reputation, or it's prestigious, or it's got a great stock price. But quickly you realize that "working for" a company is an abstraction. The reality is that you work with the people closest to you -- those in your department, in your unit, in your region. Most experts say that over the long term, employees aren't loyal to a company as a company. They are loyal to the people they work beside day after day. Can you imagine not spending 40 or 50 hours a week with the people you work beside every day? If so, maybe it's time to make a move and fine a group of colleagues who stimulate you and motivate you.

Working in a dynamic group of professionals is something to look forward in any organization. It is a  determinant on how long should I stay with the company. I always make a point that I can contribute to the synergy that can push the activity of the organization.

At present, do I have this motivation?   I am still searching for it.  I found few colleagues that have the same spirit, same intentions, same goals and same missions as I am in introducing changes in the organization. I am just hoping that we are one in this endeavor.

3. Do I have a voice at work -- does anyone who matters listen to what I say?

There's nothing more depressing and demotivating than feeling that you don't matter as a person -- even if you're part of a group that's working well in a company that's doing fine. In this age of participation and communication, people are hungry for a say, a voice, a sense that their opinion counts. If you feel like your opinion doesn't count, maybe it's time to find a company where it does.

One thing I enjoy in the company is having a say in some company issues especially when it comes to the production-related schemes.   

Do they listen to me? 

It is something worthwhile. 

4. Am I learning as fast as the world is changing?

I first heard this question from strategy guru Gary Hamel, and I ask it of myself all the time. In a world that moves so fast, the most dangerous thing in anyone's career is the sense that you're standing still -- that you're not learning, that you're not being challenged, that you're stuck. If that's how you feel, that's a strong sign that it's time to make a change.

This question stabbed me right through.  This gives me endless frustrations, endless self-pressure, and endless battle against undetermined specialization. I really felt stuck. 

Currently, major problems that I have is tracing history so that can provide solutions, troubleshooting existing defects on consumers' products that are occurring abnormally, and providing innovative ideas for product development.

I hope this coming year is bound with boulders of challenges that will make me busy and mobile.

5. Am I making enough money?

Strange as it sounds, this is the worst reason to leave a job. Virtually every study I've seen shows that there's almost no connection between how much money you make and how satisfied you are with your job. There really are things that money can't buy -- and happiness at work is one of them.

This may be the worst reason but I bet this is the most anticipated reason here in the Philippines. And as for me, I am one of those underpaid professionals.

Whoa! I think enough has been said. And the verdict.....wait till I get another shot.!

Happy New Year! Wishing you a more prosperous career to look forward to.

WHAT A YEAR!

I felt that this year has been unproductive. Though I landed my first job that almost consumes my entire year, I felt empty in terms of career development.

January - April
I was very busy for job seeking.

May
I got my first job.

May - October
Probationary Period.

• A laboratory room was established.
• Initial acquisition of necessary laboratory tools and equipment.
• Initial study on new products.
• Compiled necessary Test Methods.
• PCO Assistance

November - present
Regularization

• New formulation for an existing product.
• New formulation for new type of the same product.
• Further study on other products.
• Working on Quality Assurance Development Plan.

So few accomplishments.  Most projects are on-going status. These give me frustrations.

But before the year ends, something worthwhile happened. I hope this will push through. I am keeping my fingers cross.

LOADS ARE GETTING HEAVY

These past few days, my loads are getting heavy.  About 80% of those are work-related and the rests are personal matters.

My shoulders are tired.  I just need some rest, longer hours of sleep and good company.

PREDICAMENTS

I wonder how many people dream to have successful and growing careers. I wonder how many of them want to be remarkable in their workplace. I wonder how many of them commit to have legacy at their own right that can be always remembered. I wonder how many of them dream big as much as I dream exaggerations. I wonder how many of them express their discontentment on their impressive achievements. I wonder how many of them want to initiate change. I always wonder...

When I enter an organization, I always bring high hopes, dynamic drive, spontaneous passion and commitment in me and expect to share the same spirit with others. I am optimistic that every hour is worthy of staying and learning. I am a contributor that wants to take every step to a higher level of growth and precision. I am a revolutionary. There is a part of me that jostles against inappropriate culture and norms. Inappropriate culture that hinders development, and norms that deprive the rule of new beneficial expectations and actions.  

Unconventional. That is the idea. 

Now that I am part of an organization, where do I stand?

At this moment, I stand at the edge. I want to question their rule and expectations. I want to question their ability to cope with a drastic change of technical development. I want to see their ability to accept change. I want to scrutinize their plans on how they will invest not only in the future of the organization but also in the machinery that boosts the production of their valuable goods. I want to know the basis of accepting qualified people. I need to comprehend how they value people. I need to know the answers to the puzzling questions that can trigger a sudden turn down of events that may affect the organization in a blitz.  

But for now, I can do my observations. Examine the prevailing atmosphere. Do my job at best. Invest in my own development. Do my part.

Afterwards, if things are still the same, radical change may crawl without signs.

CAREER. POLITICS. RELIGION

Career is a race.  Race of endless learning.  Race of timeless experience.  Race of progress through life.  Race of self-competitiveness.

Politics is a collective effort.  An effort to make things in order.  An effort to withdraw non-conformance.  An effort to withstand power.

Bad politics is a riot.  A riot of effort to grab some ass*s of superiors.  A riot of crawling self-interest.  A riot of grudges to make other people unproductive.  A riot of provocation.

Religion is a belief.  A belief of origin.  A belief of organized worshiping.  A belief of submitting oneself to the Creator.  A belief of giving back the blessings of life.  A belief of concern.

Mislead religion is a disgrace. A disgrace of insanity that clings to quantitative value.  A disgrace of egoistic claim.  A disgrace of self-proclaimed savior.  A disgrace of gathering people towards the idea of salvation and of which the sole provider is the mislead belief.

Is it possible to see these elements working hand-in-hand in a workplace?

Absolutely YES!  Try to ponder this example.
     
       John was a new technical employee at Company A.  He had good credentials upon application: good grades, strong leadership background, remarkable achievements, and excellent communication skills.  Though a stranger in his new job, he adjusted quickly which can be validated by his successful projects and on-going technical proposals.
       With these results, his superior was impressed and proud.  Proud of himself that he was the one who discovered that potential in John.  Proud of himself that he got an eye for a glistening gold.  One thing unusual about them was John and his superior were of completely different field of expertise.  John was a technical person while his superior was a not-so technical.  So, how the heck did they understand each other?
        Every time John proposed a project, it was his superior who presented it to the management.  John did not have any idea how things were presented if it was convincing and worthy of approval.  Feedbacks that were always given by his superior, "it is for further study", "it is under consideration" and the worst, no feedback at all.
         John was always blinded on the progress he wanted to.       

So how are the three working?

D I F F E R E N C E S

Differences is the key for bad politics and mislead religion to oppress a dynamic career.  You may not totally agree with me but where in the world could you see that career, politics and religion work harmoniously to reach an ultimate goal of development?  Even church and state have its separation and whenever one is trying to influence the other, for sure it is a riot.

On the contrary, differences can be settled upon compromising. Meet halfway.  But the sad part, compromising can not be reached in a workplace where greediness for power, inflicting self-interests and cultural stagnation are prevailing.

So what will happen to poor John?

He has his choices.

VALUE OF CAREER

How do you value yourself?  How do people value your potentials?

Finding my first job was not an easy shot.  It took about six months to finally landed the job that I preferred.  The job that I thought to be an application of my bachelor degree.  Prior to that, I sent resume to different companies ranging from manufacturing of goods to sales, quality assurance tasks to technical salesman work, and then I ended up to manufacturing of polyurethane foam, which I believe is very relevant to my area of study.

The task at hand was paramount.  The pressure was at high level in the barometer.  The job that I took was a Goliath for a David like me but it was a BIG CHALLENGE!

I had to start from scratch.  No history.  No data.  No materials to study.  No standards.  No traces of technical development.  It was a den of traditions that declined science and technical change.

For a neophyte that barely starting his career, the work seemed to be unbearable unless there was a mentor, an adviser, or a consultant that could consecrate his/her expertise to the trainee which is a customary working environment for most companies in the country.  Most entry level employees receive multiple assistance from the organizations where they belong.  They are well supervised, guided and instructed to the tiniest details of technical processes. For this case, these setups are missing.  No traces that personnel competency is transferred from one generation to another.

The five-month probationay period ended well.  A laboratory room was built.  Acquisition of necessary equipment to start the research and development was facilitated.  Some minor laboratory trials for various products were conducted and produced remarkable results.  These were the work of a beginner.

Are these accomplishments enough to say that this neophyte has great potential?

Well, the company did not give much attention or simply did not see it.  Or should I say that the company has this culture of personnel development deprivation.

The day I signed for my regularization, I deeply express my dismay on how they evaluate the important unit of their development.  I was disheartened.  I value my career as much as I value myself but do they value the right person as much as they value their spirit of gaining more profit?

I am still hoping.