Transferring within the company

yankeeyosh · #1 11-30-2006, 09:21 PM

OK...this might come as a shock, but I am starting to wonder if it makes sense to stay within the SAME company I am currently working at, but look for a different position that would be more relevant to my career goals. I don't know if I can have any luck with other companies due to my mostly-involuntary job hopping and horrid interviewing skills, but perhaps I will have better luck by simply move to another position more in line with my skill set within the same company. As you know, I am not a big fan of what my company does and what it stands for, but maybe I'll be happier if I am in a role where there is indeed more room for growth and learning. My best bet would probably be in New York, which would mean another move (which would make any worries about the girl I am currently trying to "woo" moot), since that's where the headquarters are, and where most of the technical stuff is done...but I don't care anymore. Hell, I sent out a resume to Wyoming this evening.

The questions are: (a) is this a good idea, given how much I despise my current position? I worry that even if I transfer, given the 1955-structure where I work, things won't change, and (b) how dangerous is it; that is, will my current boss know?

yankeeyosh · #2 12-01-2006, 09:37 AM

Anyone?

winneythepooh7 · #3 12-01-2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankeeyosh

Anyone?

Mark, I don't think we can really answer this for you. Also, from what I see, I think because of many reasons, some beyond your control, it's not going to be that easy to be happy anywhere for you. I also still feel that you need to be in therapy to address a lot of these issues.

mishl982 · #4 12-01-2006, 09:40 AM

I don't think it would hurt to try.

I don't know what your company's policies are in letting your boss know, but I have applied for another job in my company twice without telling my boss. The first time I did a position change it happened to be within my same group and my bosses were very supportive of the move, knowing that I would be happier and better suited for the new position. More recently I applied for a totally different position (I didn't get it though) and as far as I know my manager doesn't know.

WorkInProgress · #5 12-01-2006, 09:42 AM

I don't know, as I have no experience with this. However, if I were in that situation, I would seriously think (and DEFINITELY make a rational pro/con list) of my current position and the other(s) I was considering. And I'd probably share that with a few well-trusted people to get their take on it.

spokes · #6 12-01-2006, 11:14 AM

here are my thoughts:

if you are transferring within the company then make sure yor boss is onside with that as it makes it easier to move with his/her support.

the atmosphere in any office is formed by the people - therefore the atmosphere in another location may be more to your liking.

as for the girl you are trying to woo - i personally would take her out of the equation, from what i understand you are in the very early stages of a relationship, and you have to make the right decisions for yourself and not based on any other people as it is your life and not anyone else's.......

celtic19 · #7 12-02-2006, 06:17 PM

I don't really know your specific situtaion well, but I did the whole transfer thing about 6 months ago. Went from one company within the larger corporation to another.

In my situation...guess what...bad move. Last month they announced they are selling the company I transferred into. I'm very likely going to get laid off in the next year. Whats worse is the company I transferred out of is trying to reduce staff so I can't really go back there either.

Not that any of this would happen to you, I'm just saying sometimes the grass isn't always greener.

yankeeyosh · #8 12-02-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celtic19

I don't really know your specific situtaion well, but I did the whole transfer thing about 6 months ago. Went from one company within the larger corporation to another.

In my situation...guess what...bad move. Last month they announced they are selling the company I transferred into. I'm very likely going to get laid off in the next year. Whats worse is the company I transferred out of is trying to reduce staff so I can't really go back there either.

Not that any of this would happen to you, I'm just saying sometimes the grass isn't always greener.

I would seriously doubt that would happen where I work. But you never know.

wordsmith · #9 12-02-2006, 07:35 PM

It's always an option to transfer within my company as openings crop up, and since we have papers across the country, it's crossed my mind at times, in the abstract. But it wouldn't change anything that I don't like; they run all the papers similarly, pay doesn't vary across the board/some of our other, more appealling locales have higher COLs, so you'd be actually losing $$$, and at least where I am now, I have the home court advantage.

SunDevil · #10 12-02-2006, 10:04 PM

Do you want to move to a different city? If you take that angle, during the middle of the winter you could always complain about the cold and say jokingly "Are there any openings in Florida?". Or you could say you are looking into moving to where you have friends and family and was wondering if there would be any openings at your company there. You might prefer to move, but you wouldn't have a problem staying at your current job.

yankeeyosh · #11 12-03-2006, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunDevil

Do you want to move to a different city? If you take that angle, during the middle of the winter you could always complain about the cold and say jokingly "Are there any openings in Florida?". Or you could say you are looking into moving to where you have friends and family and was wondering if there would be any openings at your company there. You might prefer to move, but you wouldn't have a problem staying at your current job.

I just want a job with more of a challenge. The fact of the matter is, boston is dead... this is a town where Ph. D.'s from Harvard are serving lattes at Starbucks. It has nearly jobs for someone like me, and I will probably have to move if I want to do something else.

SunDevil · #12 12-03-2006, 11:18 AM

What would your dream job be? What would you be doing or what would the specifics be? Is New York the only place you want to go, or would you not care as long as you had that job? And would you take a pay cut in order to get the job?

yankeeyosh · #13 12-03-2006, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunDevil

What would your dream job be? What would you be doing or what would the specifics be? Is New York the only place you want to go, or would you not care as long as you had that job? And would you take a pay cut in order to get the job?

I have left the notion of a dream job behind. It's not going to happen in my lifetime. There's always going to be someone better applying for the same job, and I cannot convince the hiring manager that I should be chosen over that person. All I want is a job where I feel like I'm learning something, where I feel I can succeed to some degree, and where I'm making at least a little bit of a difference. The reason I said New York is that is where most of the jobs in my "industry" are. There's a chance it might be somewhere else.

And yes, I would take a paycut if the job is meaningful.

LaFille · #14 12-03-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankeeyosh

I just want a job with more of a challenge. The fact of the matter is, boston is dead... this is a town where Ph. D.'s from Harvard are serving lattes at Starbucks. It has nearly jobs for someone like me, and I will probably have to move if I want to do something else.

really? i didn't realize boston was on the outs. can't be as bad as rochester

yankeeyosh · #15 12-03-2006, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaFille

really? i didn't realize boston was on the outs. can't be as bad as rochester

Unless you're in the medical or bio field, there is nothing here. If I had a degree in biostats, this would be heaven. But I don't. It's as dead as a doornail.