Well, as luck would have it, shortly before I got married I got offered a new job. And after heavily considering both sides, I accepted the position. I'll be moving from a Software Specialist/Network technician at a law firm over to an IT specialist at UMBC.

My position at the law firm was my first official job after graduating from college, so as you can expect I was very hesitant on making this move. I'm not one to jump around, I very much like consistency. But as everyone advised, it's better to test the waters out now while I'm young. I guess I was always in the mind set that since this was my first professional job out of college, this is where I would be making my career. But apparently that doesn't happen as often as I thought it does. After talking to a few other people it seems that it's pretty common for people to go between 3-4 jobs before finding out where they want to settle down for their career.

So that's my situation now...took a leep from my safe/secure position to see what another place has to offer, change up environments, and meet a slew of new people and coworkers.

Has anyone else been in this situation? Have you ever felt that even though things are fine where you're at, you just can't pass up an opportunity if it comes your way?

How many jobs have you been through until you found the place you've decided to stay at.

And finally, what's usually YOUR deciding factor in changing jobs?

Quote: Originally Posted by IronSerif Has anyone else been in this situation? Have you ever felt that even though things are fine where you're at, you just can't pass up an opportunity if it comes your way? How many jobs have you been through until you found the place you've decided to stay at. And finally, what's usually YOUR deciding factor in changing jobs?

Oh my, I'm not sure I have enough time right now to answer all those questions.... But I'll start. First off, congrats on the new job. It is always exciting to start a new job, and a bit scary. I know, I just started a new one Sept 1. So let's see, yes, I have been in that situation where things are moving along okay and a better opportunity knocks.

I have never, and don't see it happening, been in a position where I have said "I want to keep this job forever." That is a very rare thing to have happen. Especially in the tech field. You may come to a point where you want to stay working for the same company for the rest of your career, but not the same job. How boring would that be? How are you to grow your skills and knowledge, and challenge yourself and keep the job interesting if you have the same job for the next 30 years?

To give you an idea, here is what my career has looked like since I graduated college in 1991:

- Systems Operator (small mfg company) -- 1yr
- Network Tech --> Service Mgr (small reseller) -- 3yrs
- Pre-Sales Engineer (bigger reseller) -- 1yr
- Sr. Network Engineer/Mail Systems Mgr (CMP Media -- mid-size publisher) -- 3yrs
- Enterprise Groupware Architect (Equitable -- large Insurance company) -- 1yr
- Field Technical Sales Support (IBM - Lotus) -- 5yrs
- Sr. Portal/Messaging Architect (mid size consulting firm) -- 2yrs
- Technology Specialist (Ninth House -- small e-Learning company) -- current

Nobody has ever questioned all the jobs I have had. They basically have asked during interview why I left the last job, and maybe the one before that. I tell them the truth, whatever it happens to be.

As for what I look for in a job, that's tough. It really depends. There are two sides of the coin. One is job satisfaction, the other is total compensation (salary, bonus, benefits, vacation, etc). I got things I gotta run and do, but I will post more on those two topics later, I promise.

To answer your questions

Yes - I think most folks that have been in the work force a long time 8+ years have. I once quit a job paying $29.87Hr, for a job paying $2Hr less because they payed for all my schooling to get my ASE Master cert / GM certs ( went from a privet shop to Genral Motors ).

I've been through around 10+ jobs including running my own business's. I've done lots of things .For me its a question of getting bored. If the job stagnates I would start looking for a new job to keep my sanity. Here are some I've had......
Auto Mechinac
Construction worker/ Co. owner
System builder (comps ) / Co. owner
Process server ( serving supena's )
Tow truck driver / Co. owner
Machinist
Plant maintainance ( fixing assm. line equip. )
Siesmic bracing engineer ( earthquake proofing buildings )
Asbestos removal Tech / job site forman
** In no particular order **

And lastly , my desiding factor for taking a job was mainly if the job offered me the chance to learn / do something new. Money was a factor too, but if the job was just a little more money and nothing new, then I probably wouldnt take it

You have to go where you are happiest. As adults, we spend such huge amount of our life at work it would be stupid to go to a workplace that made you unhappy. If you believe that the new job will be more satisfying, then go for it.

I've had several offers over the last few years for positions that would allow me to make more money, but none of them seemed to suit me as well as my current one. That doesn't mean I am not always keeping my ear to the ground, I just won't go unless I am certain that I will enjoy my days as much as I currently do.

Quote: Originally Posted by IronSerif Has anyone else been in this situation? Have you ever felt that even though things are fine where you're at, you just can't pass up an opportunity if it comes your way? How many jobs have you been through until you found the place you've decided to stay at. And finally, what's usually YOUR deciding factor in changing jobs?

I've been through a few jobs. I've worked in a vegetarian restaurant as a barrista (I developed my love of caffeine there), I was a travel agent, a car audio salesman/installer (they kept losing guys, so if I sold it, I usually installed it), a telemarketer (only job available, not my best days), a project lead, a systems administrator, a PC repair tech for two different companies, and these days, I'm a "Multifunction Service Consultant" (which means I can fill the shoes of about anyone in any service center... we're a rare breed, as we tend to only exist in places that they can't justify hiring someone for each job) for an outfit that runs medical equipment.

In between, I repaired old houses for resale for most of my youth. That one involved basic plumbing, electrical skills, and a bunch of other odds and ends.

Also, I'm going through a similar situation. Only problem is I kind of hate my current job, but it pays well enough to make me wonder if rolling the dice is a good idea.

I've applied at a couple places. I have a semi-opportunity to move on it, but I'm almost hoping it doesn't happen, because the company I work for now can get me the hell back out of Montana. I think I'm better suited to urban these days... plus I should be getting a raise here in the near future.

Regardless, I'm trying to finish my Associates (only about eight months left to go... not too shabby for a 3.9 student who works mega-freakin'-hours) and I'm trying to catch up in martial arts (long way to go, I haven't been to class in two weeks as I've been too busy).

Rolling stone gathers no moss, I guess... but I really miss my old Systems admin job... I'd have done that for many years with no real complaints...

Hmm, that got me to thinking about other jobs I've done. I've been a steel siding applicator, a roofer, a dishwasher, a cook, a head cook, and an emergency services dispatcher. Then I was a Soldier for a long time. Now, I am a manager over automation, procurement, and a myriad of other functions. Much better now after the Soldier stuff than before.

"Multifunction Service Consultant"... I like that one.

Now on to the further post I promised yesterday. Big Akita said ti very well, you have to go where you are happy, or at least think you will be happy. You never really know until you get there. But what I look for in a job and what you look for and what BA looks for will all be different. I have a wife, 2 kids, and a house. What I was looking for in a job this summer was something that will allow me to spend more time with the family, has good benefits, will expose me to new things and allow me to use the skills I have, and pays well enough to get a little ahead of the bills. I got the first 3, so I can't complain. Hopefully the 4th will come in time since the company is growing.

So I get to work from home, which means I don't spend 3+hrs a day commuting into NYC as well as save about $4-5k a year on transportation, food, dry cleaning, etc. It is in a filed I have experience with, but dealing with things from a different angle, so I will be able to both leverage my skills and learn new ones. The benefits are at least as good as my last job but cost only $275/mo vs $667, so that is good. The pay is a little less, but with all the savings I come out ahead, plus there is a bonus which the last job didn't have.

So that's what I looks for. Money is great, and it sure makes like easier, but I wouldn't take a job in NYC for anything less than 50% more than I am making now due to the additional costs and quality of life issues.

I hope that helps.

i still aint found the right one id like i missed my ideal job as an IT by like 5 mins, because i decided to walk in and inquire about it instead of just call the place.....go figure

Myself, I'm in a decent position right now, but that could change based on the path I chose very quickly. Contractor/Consultancy isn't the most stable of work, but when you CAN get it, it pays frickin' good.

Before? I've done my share of jobs . . .

• Telemarketer
• Secretarial assistant
• University IT intern
• Computer Lab monitor
• Web Capture associate (downloaded news pages for a transcription service)
• Retail Back Room associate
• Janitor
• Mechanic in oil change shop
• MSN Tech Support agent
• Short order cook/breakfast cook/barrista/network administrator (yeah, all four in one job)
• Dialup ISP tech support/customer support
• Data Entry
• Production Control Associate (Network administration/system administration/data flow management/data backup and restore to name a few of the skills needed for that job)

Ideally, if things pan out and I'm able to start using some free time to build the connections, I want to have a shop out of the house doing basic computer work/consultancy for the area. The main hook that I have over any other company in the area is that there's NO ONE offering custom restoration and backup for the home user. And those services, to me, is worth a $45 charge to save future headache and heartache due to lost data.

d

I had the same exact experience Iron. I took my first non temp IT job last year as a Desktop Support Tech/ Network Tech. It was a good job with good pay and EXTREMELY stable. The only downside was, I was working for a company that was expanding across the eastern seaboard, and I wasn't home for weeks at a time.

In august, I was offered a job as an Application Support Analyst for a growing company. It was more money and a longer commute. I chose to take it over my old job because however stable my old job was, it was stale and there was no real room for moving up and I realized that. This company was new and growing and there are places to go, and if I decided not to stay, it would give me experience that would look good on my resume. Plus, it was alot more money =P

Ill be 17 next week, ha.

Anyways...

Dishwasher at a Grille
Maintence at a sterilization pellet factory
Quit both of those.

Currently I Run a online business with a WebHosting Server and I do Web Development. I work for My school district on the computers. I also am a Manager and Head of Web Development at ECS Computers a local computer shop.

Until recently I was a paid professional asshole also known as the head of collections for a smaller rent to own company. Due to the combination of it being miserable, dangerous work and the new gm the owner hired being a douche I tried to quit. The owner wouldn't accept my resignation and made my secondary job function (computer tech for his main store) my full time gig for the whole company. I also get a transfer to our Waco store to be supervised by the guy who originally brought me in.

PS NEVER rent to own anything.