Advice

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Most of you guys know already, but just a little background for those who don't:

My company is cutting costs - severely. 6 people have left/ are leaving in the last few months. (there are now only 8 staff left)

My job is "safe", but there is so much to do and i'm not sure it's possible....basically I have to do the normal everyday support stuff (my original job), take on a fair amount from my IT manager who is leaving THIS Friday (the rest is going to my colleague who is slightly more senior, but she has said she's looking for another job and I think she'll be gone as soon as she gets something decent...so then I'd need to tae on all her stuff, or somehow find time to train someone up on mine and do hers), and I also have testing to do - this has come from another colleague who was doing this as a full time job. This too is split between me and my colleague, and whoever is less busy will be allocated the work....I have also booked my last two MCSA exams for June...and am arranging a wedding...and have just found out about two cancers in my family that have been kept secret from me because no-one wanted me to worry about it all (life sucks eh?!?)...anyway, I am starting to feel the pressure quite a lot...

...was just wondering if anyone has any advice on what I should do? Should I start looking for something more manageable (I could easily go back to a second line support job for the amount of money i'm on now and the job would be hopefully be more structured and concentrated to a more specific area - allow me to concentrate on my MCSE path etc (which I seem to be being pushed away from and doing more and more domino / lotus stuff here)...but it'll be stressfull trying to look / find time for interviews etc etc
should I stick to what I'm doing at least until the wedding in august, then start looking after the honeymoon - stress is high now and gonna get much worse once manager gone on Friday, so I may spontaneously combust (but hey, at leat it's be sorted LOL )...
...should I just leave it, get an excellent CV, and hope it all works out?

Really stuck with this one

Cheers

L

 

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Thats a really tough one Leehaa, sorry to hear about the cancer in the family, its never nice to find out stuff like that, and it sounds like the last thing you need at the moment.

I think its really hard to give you advice on what to do with the whole situation. I can only tell you what I think i'd do, but then everyone deals with pressure and stress differently.

Sticking with the job sounds like the best option for me. Although it may be hard and very very busy for you, I think looking for another job will only bring more stress and worry with all the interviews etc.. Even if you were to land a new job for decent money etc, the whole "getting started" in the job would bring a whole new set of feelings and could work out no better. I've always stuck with the idea of giving anything a good go before walking away, why not give it three months or so and see how it goes?

Also, I know arranging anything as big as a wedding is very stressful, but remember, its a good thing! Try to forget the other stuff and enjoy the time you spend doing that!

Another option would to be to leave the exams til later in the year? Its not ideal but its probably the only thing that can "wait" til your more ready.

I've said all that and its probably no clearer to you at all, hope it all works out for the best for ya, im sure it will.

 

Dealing with the stress is the first issue you have to address.

Ensure you discipline yourself to take your breaks from work however over worked you are. If you don't you will just get slowly ground down. This will affect your whole life not just your work be warned.

Try to avoid stress, making sure you're not in that environment where people can hassle you all the while. Phones ringing constantly, not enough staff to answer them etc. You need to ensure systems are in place so you can prioritise your work according the resource you have.

Is your company in financial trouble? If you've got some much work why is you department having cut backs?

Sorry to hear about your family illness.

 

The first thing I would do in your place is push the exams forward a couple of months. That'll give you at least some room to breath.

 

It's a tough call. If you stay at your current job and manage to keep it under control, the opportunity for advancement in your experience is right before you. Problem is, as you say, managing the stress and ending up not being able to handle it all.

When you list out all the factors, it does seem like quite a lot to have to deal with all at once and there is certainly a rationale for cutting back on something.

I can't really tell you what the best course of action is. On the one hand, this could really stretch you and expand your experience and stress/time management skills. On the other hand, you could end up being overwhelmed and letting some part of all this slide...ending up doing a poor job and damaging your professional rep.

You are the best expert on you. Leehaa. I've taken chances and done things I never thought I could ever do, but I also know when to say "no more". It's your call.

 

Thanks for the great advice (again) all.

It's such a tough one. I guess I'm gonna have to see what happens...I just don't want to be in a situation where it's so bad that i'm totally run down for the wedding...also, looking at my future, I really want to progress in my career, and i'm not getting any younger (yes I know, there's still "plenty of time", but I would like to at least be taking a specific path in the next year or so)

...the job is good because, as Trip says, there's so much experience that I wouldn't other-wise get...there's also the chance to try out testing etc as that's something i've always been interested in - I also get to do more hardcore domain administration, networking etc etc...

I just worry that there's going to be waaay too much to be able to do any one job well - I like to make sure my work is done thoroughly - hate cutting corners...and it does my head in not being able to do any one thing for more than a 2 min at a time cos the phone rings constantly!!

...then the exams - yes, I know I could postpone them, but the company have paid for them, and, I felt that at least having my MCSA title as proof of all my hard work/experience over the last few years would be a "comfort blanket" for if it does get too much and I have to start looking elsewhere...If I delay them, then it may be just as hard later if I try to look for a new job, cope with the current manic one, and revise / spend time with family etc etc...


Aaaarrgh - decisions decisions...

I guess weighing up the pros n cons, like nXPLOSi said, it may be best to stick the three months (well 15 weeks)out and try my hardest, knowing that I get a really fantastic 3 week break at the end of it all and a chance to relax, reflect on stuff....plus I could always do a bit of swotting up for exams on the honeymoon (joke - the other half would go crazy!!!)

 

Well hun, this is my opinion, but that doesn't mean it is right for you though. As the others have said only you know what your breaking point is. Now with that said...

If it was me, I would stay with the job for right now. I know you have been working hard on your certs and trying to move forward in your carrer. However, the exp your receiving right now and the opportunities that will come your way where your at now is going to get you farther ahead in the long run then the mcse ever will. But what is right for others is not for all. You know your stress level. If you truly do not think you can handle the pressure, then no this job is not for you hun. If your just nervous or scared shitless because your saftey net is leaving friday. Then I say hang in there. Your stronger then what you realize. You may have to dig deep, but I don't belive the powers who be would have given you this chance if they didn't think you could handle it. Your a smart cookie, and you have what it takes too. Why does this sound firmilar.

 

My opinion. This is what i would do and by no means am i offering advice on what you should or should'nt do:

I would walk, and walk real fast away from such a stressfull situation at work. That is a huge workload that they have put on you, and seems like its about to get bigger.

People handle stress in different ways, some have been known to go under with work related stress.
The bottom line is your health is more important than work. Work to live, not live to work.

I wish you the best of luck with everything.

 

Well I got to this later on ..but first up all the best with the family illnesses, as this really can nail every member of the family stress-wise.

My wife and I have had an "interesting" first few years of marriage...

I lost my father to Asbestosis [mesothelioma] just over 12 months after my wife and I where married in 1998. It was a rough time for all, especially as my wife was expecting our first baby.

As for our earlier wedding, my wife and I had a low cost wedding reception for 60 friends and family at the local church hall. We spent less than $6000 AUD or about $4000 pounds all up. For our honeymoon we stayed a week down at the Sister-inlaws beach-house.

Basically we communicated and managed our expectations throughout all this...we had better things to do with our resources as we both wanted to start a family ASAP and we had the house to spend our money on besides.

Then the babys arrive, this is when life is really hectic but really also especially special...we have our 4th turning up in August BTW...

For my employment as sole IT dude during these times I have had to manage my manager's expectations. Essentially if it is not urgent and not planned for then it gets done when resources permit. As a result of this "training" I dont get manager's random objections inflicted on me willy nilly.

Be firm but polite with your employers...this issue of increasing work is not of your making. Pre-empt a possible showdown over this by giving them a estimated % of a person they are short on for these various jobs. Also get contractors in to help where and when you can...ie dont be afraid to call for help.

As for your own training - if an employer pays for this then they are really worth sticking with if you can. Dont let this circumstnace slow your own training.

I get paid for work training at least a week a year but pay for my exams myself. I also get an hour first thing in the morning to study - which I do always...

I am getting back into my Certs study from January this year after doing up and selling two houses last year.

just my two cents worth - stick with it and good luck!