In A Rut 1

[ElijahBaley]

Hi

I work for a small company taking care of 3 NT servers running Exchange and a custom DB server, 2 legacy Netware servers and about 35 Win9x/Win2K client computers as well as printers, peripherals a couple of MAC's and the Telephone and voicemail system.

I can remember the enthusiasm I had two years ago when I took this job, I was not very experienced and a little nervous, but I approached it as if it was the most important job in the world and used my time to the best of my ability to hone and maintain our IT systems and had a lot of pride in 'my' network.
My original plan was to keep this job for a couple of years, whilst I pursued a couple of professional certificates and then try to move into a big multinational company and get involved with WAN's and internetworking

I really am in a rut, to cut a long story short morale is very low and there is no real management running this place -I am pretty much left to do as I please and have for a long time been taking advantage of that and just doing enough to keep everything running and responding to problems as and when they occur, whilst pursuing my own interests and activities, I have spent a painful 8 months home study for the CCNA and am almost there but I feel so lethargic, I know I can do it but all of my enthusiasm,optimism and confidence is evaporating

How can I get back to that level of attentiveness and drive that I had two years ago?

Thanks for any comments,


Regards

EB

 

[mmorancbt]

I posted something in another forum (professional development) on staying motivated. Part of it is a self-directed vision of where you want to end up. Kind of "what do I want to be when I grow up."

Part of what might be occuring is that you are realizing that getting your CCNA may not provide any real benefit to what you would ultimately like to do. For example: perhaps you want to move towards programming or automation in your career. Or management, project development, etc.

I don't know. I'm just throwing it out there. When you are working towards something but it doesn't really take you in a specific, or at least ancillary related direction, it becomes tedious.

Or maybe you don't really know where you want to end up. And that always, eventually leads to a disinterest.

You need to create some long term idea of where you want to go with your career. This doesn't remove factors like a mundane or tedious task filled job, but it helps make those things bearable. Your work towards a future objective will make such moments (something part of any person's career) less "painful".

FYI: The future plan or objective can be changed as your interest change. I view it as a guidance system. It may be that your future objective is to be exposed to different aspect of the job, or of I.T. so that you can discover what areas interest you the most. That's a perfectly good objective. Then any training or learning you do, even if it turns out to be something you don't particularly want to do, works into your longer term objective.

If the company you are with is lacking any real direction, either step up to that plate, or find a place that has a bit more enthusiasm. Talk to people, create a network of contacts, let people know what you would like and ask for opportunity.

Hope this is helpful. Matthew Moran
The I.T. Career Builder's Toolkit

http://www.cbtoolkit.com

 

[xjlkx]

EB -

I think its important for you to remember that ruts happen. It doesn't mean your career is in the crapper, or that you're aimless or spinning your wheels....it means you're in a rut.

I firmly believe that ruts are a part of your life just like anything else...and the only way to get out of it is to kick yourself in the butt.

Start a project at work. Revamp something. Get back to what you like. Give your employers twice what they're looking for, because it will never be wasted. Everyday adds to your experience, every new project teaches you something you can apply later on.

Don't lose hope. Ruts are NORMAL. They HAPPEN. If they didn't, I'd be worried.

So, think about what it was that made you so enthusiastic, and get back to it. You owe it to yourself.

 

[ElijahBaley]

Thanks for your replies,

I think that I am starting to understand why I feel the way I do, I think had an unrealistic linear view of my career and subconsciously believed that I would progress
Upwardly in direct return for my effort and time in the job – the real world does not work like that, yes I agree ruts happen and I have to kick myself to get out of this one, I think part of that kick is this post – so I plan to make a plan to start a fresh when I return to work after Christmas, I’m going to book that exam for the end of Jan and get everything running smoothly at work, maybe start a project to get my confidence up and then look around for a new job and get out of here,

Thanks again for your comments, they are very much appreciated

EB

 

[gargouille]

Biggest thing left to do when you achieve a goal you've aspired to is SET THE BAR HIGHER and keep it in sight.
You're headed there, now, it seems.
You always need dreams.