Just expressing some frustrations~~

[Bonesey]

So I've been working for my company for almost 8 years now. Generally they havn't treated me badly. I get paid a lot more than my peer group from university for my age and I usually have time off for myself due to my work schedule.

About September 2010 I was signed up for a 1 year job that would have seen me with a steady 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off rotation until the job completed. This was fine by me, I wasn't too keen on the work location but regularity in work is sometimes the biggest pull. However during the first work trip I was told that I would be being replaced on the contract (internal politics from my own company). I was so pi$$ed off about that. We have an internal division that works on computer simulated hydraulics monitoring in both real time and in a predictive capacity. My background is in computers and with my fluids background this was an ideal opportunity to try this out. I said to myself that I will give it one year and see what happens.

So here we are after just over one year, and I've spent 50% of my working time doing my old job with very irregular work on the new software side. I love the software side, it appeals to not only my background but also my personality and passions as well. I genuinely like the job. Problem is that the work is not steady enough.

I got a phone call yesterday from an account manager that I've worked with in the past telling me he has my name down for an upcoming contract and he wanted to discuss some details. I told him that I was running the software and that I was designated for a few upcoming jobs so doubted that my name should have been given to him. I asked him to look into it and get back to me. So today he phoned up and was basically, yeah, your still assigned to this job (my old one) and it's a 9 month contract.

I made some phone calls to some of the other engineers working this software system and asked what the script was. Long and short of it is, there's going to be a serious lull in contracts over summer and that looks like most of us will revert to the engineering pool to be sent wherever and whenever. At most there will be work for 2 people so of course the most experienced and senior guys get those. At this point I'm getting the picture that I'm screwed. And I'm frustrated as well. I don't particularly like the other job i'm going back to do, I don't find it challenging or interesting any more. Job satisfaction for me is a big part of the job because if I'm away from home for so long over a year I really need to enjoy what I do.

Another consideration is money (when is it not!). We get extra cash per day for running this software. Primarily as an incentive to get engineers to work with it, and also because it can be highly stressful running it. I wont go in to details on it. Anyway, given if I do the same number of days offshore I am basically losing about £800 ($±1200) after tax per month from going back to my old job. Don't get me wrong I'm still earning enough money for the essentials plus some of the little luxuries. My hobbies will definitely have to be scaled back a good bit (ie watches!) and some other things that I enjoy will take a backstep as well.

God, reading that back I sound like a whiney little sod. I should be happy, I still have a job, I still get paid enough to live where I do and enjoy it, I also know that I should have a fairly regular schedule for the rest of the year.

Just frustrated is all....

 

[thedoover]

Sometimes you just need someone to vent to. I deal with IT stuff all day, and before that I was over a police/fire dispatch center. Either way its people bitching, all day every day about something in their lives that they cant handle themselves. I cant gripe to them, dont gripe to my family and dont really feel like I can vent to anyone.

You have to have some outlet, so why not here, with all of us who at least have one thing we know of in common, and probably a lot more. I dont have anything really constructive I can add to your specific situation, except that Im frustrated with my work too, and there are a lot of us in your situation Im guessing.

Keep on using RWI as a distraction or whatever it is to you though. You know youve added a lot to this group and we appreciate it.

 

[Bonesey]

Nah, there's nothing I can do about it. Short of looking about for other jobs. Too much of a pain in the ass considering we're one of a very small group of companies actually offering this service as it is. Chances of me finding a similar position are slim, and all for a short term gain. Not worth it.

Going out tonight with the wife, going to wear my Fiddy to cheer me up

 

[levelmanroger]

Yes, you do sound like a whiney little sod. But we still love ya, Bonesey!

Nothing wrong with venting every now and then. Job satisfaction is a critical component, but in this economy and job market (Texas not-withstanding, but please don't tell anyone - the traffic here is getting rediculous with all the out-of-state license plates filling the streets!) perhaps you just have to swallow hard and bide your time.
Of course the 26+ year Entrepreneur in me says "F'em! Start your own business doing what you do best and do it better than they do!!", but I've always been a bit of a maverick and have no idea how feasible that is for your chosen career.
Hang in there and just stare lovingly at the pretty watches, my friend. That will make it all better!

 

[R2D4]

My advice is to figure out a way to spice up your position aka beef up your value, so that you can be content with stepping sideways. Maybe try and think of a new idea to add that the job site customer will appreciate. Then build on that. Over, above and beyond so to speak. You never know how powerful that networking really is.

Our safety equipment supplier comes in once a month a with a slip of paper containing jokes. Calls me by my name, I have never even introduced myself. He takes 15 seconds extra to say hello and converse. I can tell it makes him happy and if I ever have a chance to steel him from his employer, I will.

 

[Bonesey]

Thanks guys. The nature of the oil and gas industry is a strange one. I could go solo and farm myself out. The advantages would probably be slightly more money if given regular work, better able to dictate when I work and probably pay a lot less tax. Downsides are that when it's quiet we have no income. With a mortgage and all the rest of it it's a big risk.

Also because the workplace is not only limited, ie there's not going to be anyone else on the rig doing my job, as well as each discipline being very specialised there's not a huge scope for crossover without completely retraining outside my job.

Not being negative, that's just how the industry runs. I'm in a very specific field of work, and within that I also have a very specialist job. If for any reason the industry went down the pan I would struggle to get a job onshore paying even half of what I earn let alone anything close.

 

[levelmanroger]

Or you could covertly try to sabotage the efforts and results of your "peers", thus increasing your effectiveness and value by comparison.
I'm just sayin'.

;-)


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[jmd33]

I could go solo and farm myself out. The advantages would probably be slightly more money if given regular work, better able to dictate when I work and probably pay a lot less tax. Downsides are that when it's quiet we have no income. With a mortgage and all the rest of it it's a big risk.

That the the analysis for anyone starting a business. There is never a "good" time (just like having a kid), and it's a terrifying thing to do.

I made the jump at around 30 years old (with a family, mortgage, etc...). It was scary, but was the BEST thing I have ever done. It was critical that my wife was on board with the plan (and was the one actually pushing me).

I say GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!! and this will be you in a few years: :maty:

 

[levelmanroger]

I started on a wing and a prayer. Confidence and ignorance often trump prudent analysis!
Just be prepared to disprove all the imagined perks our corporately-employed friends have:
1). You will work twice the hours you do now. - so much for setting your own schedule.
2). Every problem is now YOUR problem - there is no other department that handles anything.
3). You will NOT be your own boss! Every new job comes with a new boss - one whom you've not had time to figure out yet.
4). You will not have freedom and flexibility as vacations and sick/personal days will be a thing of the past.
5). You WILL, however, decide what you will and won't do and you will reap the benefits of your efforts.

It's number 5 that makes it all worth it.


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[P4GTR]

Sounds similar enough to say this is why I gave up IT after a decade in the industry.