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Should I stay a state employee or should I leave and get non-state job?

determined09

determined09

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 9, 2009
1,454
312
Hello I have a problem at my job. I've been in my job for 10 years and I've received one raise over the 10 years that I've been at my job. (only 11,000 dollars). I'm making about 35,000 per year with a bachelor of Business administration in Business Computer information systems. The last time that I worked in computers was back in 2000 as a Programmer II. I'm doing auditing type of work now, in addition to the previous job duties that I was doing before my raise. the problem is they have assigned me to doing data entry for the guy they need a paper trail on in order for them to fire him. This man as being working at the job since 2009 and everyone knows that he isn't doing his work. He tries to lean on me for answers for how to do the work. In addition, because I'm a good worker my supervisor gives me all of the harder assignments at work. So, at the end of the day, I have no energy for myself to make other improvements to my personal and professional life. My father has told me to leave the state of texas and go work in refinery. I hate being in the rain and the cold weather. But, I will get a big pay increase if I take that job, if I can pass the test.


The problem is I will Have to pay into Social security for 40 quarters in order to be edible for retirement. I will be losing the 10 years that I have paid into Texas retirement system.


Any tips or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thank you
 
You don't seem particularly enthusiastic about either option. Are there other possibilities? You throw out a bit of a non-sequitur with "The last time that I worked in computers was back in 2000 as a Programmer II." Perhaps you'd like to "work in computers" again? Something beyond data entry? Have you researched your options from that perspective? You frame your question as working for the state vs. not working for the state, and I'm not sure that's particularly useful.

No one here is in a good position to tell you what you'll be better off doing. You'd have to define your interests, expectations, and desires, as well as what being "better off" means to you. And then you have to do the research on what is available right now.

Good luck!
 
So you have a job that hasn't fired you for 10 years, won't fire you for another 10 years or probably the 10 years after that, received a raise you probably didn't ask for (or asked very lightly when you did) and you already passed a background check and have 10 years of government experience and you want to QUIT?

Dude, it's totally not a job-seekers market right now. You will probably quit your 35k/year job only to get a 0-k/year job and even when you do get hired, you probably won't get benefits.

My mom was a human resources specialist that cleared fingerprint/background checks for incoming teachers. She made around 40k a year with great benefits and she quit because of similar circumstance to you.

Basically a woman came into the office to replace her boss, and that woman had an agenda: treat everyone like crap so they quit and she can replace them with her nephews/nieces/cousins/etc. My mom took the bait and said "I'll show them by quitting just before they have a lot of work to ask me to do!" Yeah, she showed them. They had one slow weekend and then what? Her boss hired a replacement and business moved on like usual. But for my mom, she's been unemployed for about 9 of the last 10 years. Even with 15 years of work experience at that job and she regrets quitting to this day.

I think, what you SHOULD do, is apply to internal opportunities that are ONLY available to internal employees. There's so many state jobs that are offered internally and do you know why they do that? So people like you, who only make 35k a year with no room for advancement, can apply to a better job or a growing position and THEY can save money by not having to test you/background check you/security clear you. The second benefit is that by applying to those positions, if you get an offer (and your boss legally CANNOT punish you for even considering those positions) you can use that offer to negotiate a salary increase with your current job.

Think smart, not easy/desperate.
 
1) NEVER quit a job unless you have something solid lined up. You don't need that kind of stress and the gap in employment can kill you when you finally go for the next job.

2) I work for my state. A "civilian" job might pay better, but the state benefits are really hard to match. If I leave my job, I'd loose a lot of pension and other benefits. The new job is going to have to be really good to toss my accumulated pension, seniority, and sick and vacation time behind.

3) You work for the state - look for a lateral move to another division or section.
 
Don't jump unless you've got a formal offer from a better company. We hear you about deadwood but that's everywhere. Just be sure you don't wear the angst on your sleeve. If you receive no further raises or promotions there are advantages in maintaining the bird in hand. It looks good on applications if you've been with a company many years like you have. Since you're a good worker, leverage the good will and network yourself in the organization thoroughly and then branch out. Recommendations trump all else when it comes to the best jobs. People hire people they know, barring that, applicants who are suggested by trusted colleagues.

This is one of the few jobs these days with good benefits and probably a pension. How long do you need to remain to receive retirement? Perhaps you do your best and plan on a better job after this one (if you're young). I always admire the folks who receive dual incomes and work one only job.

If you've got a good relationship with your boss, why not discuss your 5 year plan? Maybe they would pay for more education that will help you break through to the next level. That may be here or somewhere else but you don't need to mention that.

I've found it's good for the boss to feel like an employee is in demand elsewhere. If they ever sense an employee has nowhere else to go, they tend to take advantage more and more over time. So don't just complain around the water cooler like so many I see. You realize there is a problem that's not going to go away, make up your mind now to make a positive change and better your situation.
 
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Couple of other things to think about.

Medical benefits. Who has the better package. Not just for yourself, but for your family (future or current).

You've touched on retirement already. Really look at the numbers. I don't think Social Security pays much. How does that compare to the State pension fund? If you go to the refinery how much would you need to 'self deduct' to ensure a pension comparable to the State program.

Manual labour is tough on the body. How long can you keep at it before you will need to move on to something else? Will your medical benefits pay for the long term medical issues that you may develop (bad back, pulled ligaments, etc).

Long term disability packages. If you get sick (more likely at the refinery) and have to take an extended time off work, does either workplace financially support that?

Can you take time off your current job to go back to school? Does the current job allow you to 'bank' hours to take a paid leave?

I don't know the US system, but in Canada government jobs typically have very good benefit packages attached. For the front-line workers the benefit packages were negotiated to make up for their wages that have been frozen (or nearly frozen) for many years. Most workers don't access their benefits, so they focus on the pay levels. But if you research what your benefits are you may find that there is a 'benefit' to staying with the State job.
 
Dude, do a search for recruiters or head hunters, those are groups who find jobs for you and you do not pay a thing for the service, corporations hire them.

$35K a year is nothing, you are basically an slave.

I used to make 72K a year and I left, and I have head hunters and staffing agencies looking positions for me. The least I have found is 42K a year and as a video editor. I bet you can do better.

Just look for those organizations in your area, explain your situation and it won't cost you a thing. The most that can happen is you finding a better job.
 
mobilehaathi said:
You don't seem particularly enthusiastic about either option. Are there other possibilities? You throw out a bit of a non-sequitur with "The last time that I worked in computers was back in 2000 as a Programmer II." Perhaps you'd like to "work in computers" again? Something beyond data entry? Have you researched your options from that perspective? You frame your question as working for the state vs. not working for the state, and I'm not sure that's particularly useful.

No one here is in a good position to tell you what you'll be better off doing. You'd have to define your interests, expectations, and desires, as well as what being "better off" means to you. And then you have to do the research on what is available right now.

Good luck!
Click to expand...


I would like to work in computers again. The problem is I lack the needed experience and my current job and all consuming in terms of energy. There are secretaries that are making more money than me and doing less work than I'm doing. :mad:

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ejb190 said:
1) NEVER quit a job unless you have something solid lined up. You don't need that kind of stress and the gap in employment can kill you when you finally go for the next job.

2) I work for my state. A "civilian" job might pay better, but the state benefits are really hard to match. If I leave my job, I'd loose a lot of pension and other benefits. The new job is going to have to be really good to toss my accumulated pension, seniority, and sick and vacation time behind.

3) You work for the state - look for a lateral move to another division or section.
Click to expand...


Yes, I would lose my state benefits. There is no lateral move for my job description. My job was specially created for my department. My seniority counts for nothing. I'm no one's friend in this department. I'm their work horse.

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Essenar said:
So you have a job that hasn't fired you for 10 years, won't fire you for another 10 years or probably the 10 years after that, received a raise you probably didn't ask for (or asked very lightly when you did) and you already passed a background check and have 10 years of government experience and you want to QUIT?

Dude, it's totally not a job-seekers market right now. You will probably quit your 35k/year job only to get a 0-k/year job and even when you do get hired, you probably won't get benefits.

My mom was a human resources specialist that cleared fingerprint/background checks for incoming teachers. She made around 40k a year with great benefits and she quit because of similar circumstance to you.

Basically a woman came into the office to replace her boss, and that woman had an agenda: treat everyone like crap so they quit and she can replace them with her nephews/nieces/cousins/etc. My mom took the bait and said "I'll show them by quitting just before they have a lot of work to ask me to do!" Yeah, she showed them. They had one slow weekend and then what? Her boss hired a replacement and business moved on like usual. But for my mom, she's been unemployed for about 9 of the last 10 years. Even with 15 years of work experience at that job and she regrets quitting to this day.

I think, what you SHOULD do, is apply to internal opportunities that are ONLY available to internal employees. There's so many state jobs that are offered internally and do you know why they do that? So people like you, who only make 35k a year with no room for advancement, can apply to a better job or a growing position and THEY can save money by not having to test you/background check you/security clear you. The second benefit is that by applying to those positions, if you get an offer (and your boss legally CANNOT punish you for even considering those positions) you can use that offer to negotiate a salary increase with your current job.

Think smart, not easy/desperate.
Click to expand...


Yes I'm currently looking for a internal position. The problem is they treat bad as an employee and as a person over the last ten years. But I need more money so that I can move out of my parents house and to save more money for retirement. BTW, my supervisor is very lucky to be a supervisor period. It took them a year to make him a supervisor. The department that I work in has been referred to by other people in other departments as a cesspool. :(
 
rei101 said:
Dude, do a search for recruiters or head hunters, those are groups who find jobs for you and you do not pay a thing for the service, corporations hire them.

$35K a year is nothing, you are basically an slave.

I used to make 72K a year and I left, and I have head hunters and staffing agencies looking positions for me. The least I have found is 42K a year and as a video editor. I bet you can do better.

Just look for those organizations in your area, explain your situation and it won't cost you a thing. The most that can happen is you finding a better job.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Will do
 
I looked this book's review. I'll check it out. Thanks.

----------
designs216 said:
Don't jump unless you've got a formal offer from a better company. We hear you about deadwood but that's everywhere. Just be sure you don't wear the angst on your sleeve. If you receive no further raises or promotions there are advantages in maintaining the bird in hand. It looks good on applications if you've been with a company many years like you have. Since you're a good worker, leverage the good will and network yourself in the organization thoroughly and then branch out. Recommendations trump all else when it comes to the best jobs. People hire people they know, barring that, applicants who are suggested by trusted colleagues.

This is one of the few jobs these days with good benefits and probably a pension. How long do you need to remain to receive retirement? Perhaps you do your best and plan on a better job after this one (if you're young). I always admire the folks who receive dual incomes and work one only job.

If you've got a good relationship with your boss, why not discuss your 5 year plan? Maybe they would pay for more education that will help you break through to the next level. That may be here or somewhere else but you don't need to mention that.

I've found it's good for the boss to feel like an employee is in demand elsewhere. If they ever sense an employee has nowhere else to go, they tend to take advantage more and more over time. So don't just complain around the water cooler like so many I see. You realize there is a problem that's not going to go away, make up your mind now to make a positive change and better your situation.
Click to expand...

I'm 37. I ned to stay with the state until I'm 62 yrs. but I need to get to about 100,000 year salary.i also thought about going back to school for pharmacy. I can work at a state hospital until retirement. But first I need a job a state hospital as a pharmacy technician. So I can work at while in pharmacy school
 
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rei101 said:
Dude, do a search for recruiters or head hunters, those are groups who find jobs for you and you do not pay a thing for the service, corporations hire them.

$35K a year is nothing, you are basically an slave.

I used to make 72K a year and I left, and I have head hunters and staffing agencies looking positions for me. The least I have found is 42K a year and as a video editor. I bet you can do better.

Just look for those organizations in your area, explain your situation and it won't cost you a thing. The most that can happen is you finding a better job.
Click to expand...

Update

I just found out that My department has been trying to get us a raise but HR won't approve the raise.

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Essenar said:
So you have a job that hasn't fired you for 10 years, won't fire you for another 10 years or probably the 10 years after that, received a raise you probably didn't ask for (or asked very lightly when you did) and you already passed a background check and have 10 years of government experience and you want to QUIT?

Dude, it's totally not a job-seekers market right now. You will probably quit your 35k/year job only to get a 0-k/year job and even when you do get hired, you probably won't get benefits.

My mom was a human resources specialist that cleared fingerprint/background checks for incoming teachers. She made around 40k a year with great benefits and she quit because of similar circumstance to you.

Basically a woman came into the office to replace her boss, and that woman had an agenda: treat everyone like crap so they quit and she can replace them with her nephews/nieces/cousins/etc. My mom took the bait and said "I'll show them by quitting just before they have a lot of work to ask me to do!" Yeah, she showed them. They had one slow weekend and then what? Her boss hired a replacement and business moved on like usual. But for my mom, she's been unemployed for about 9 of the last 10 years. Even with 15 years of work experience at that job and she regrets quitting to this day.

I think, what you SHOULD do, is apply to internal opportunities that are ONLY available to internal employees. There's so many state jobs that are offered internally and do you know why they do that? So people like you, who only make 35k a year with no room for advancement, can apply to a better job or a growing position and THEY can save money by not having to test you/background check you/security clear you. The second benefit is that by applying to those positions, if you get an offer (and your boss legally CANNOT punish you for even considering those positions) you can use that offer to negotiate a salary increase with your current job.

Think smart, not easy/desperate.
Click to expand...


Will do my best. thanks
 
I was in your situation until recently. I worked as an TX state employee making 27k a year for two years with no advancement or raises in sight. Finally I got fed up and looked for a job in the oil field. After 2 months of persistent job search I got an offer that doubled my income and came with 9% 401k match.

You are never going to get great pay by working for the texas government. I have had coworkers who worked for the state their whole lives and only get paid under 40k. Texas (especially Houston) has tons of oil companies and with your experience you can definitely land a better paying job.
 
watertube1005 said:
I was in your situation until recently. I worked as an TX state employee making 27k a year for two years with no advancement or raises in sight. Finally I got fed up and looked for a job in the oil field. After 2 months of persistent job search I got an offer that doubled my income and came with 9% 401k match.

You are never going to get great pay by working for the texas government. I have had coworkers who worked for the state their whole lives and only get paid under 40k. Texas (especially Houston) has tons of oil companies and with your experience you can definitely land a better paying job.
Click to expand...
Good for you. The job title that I have is also at one of the local school districts and these people are making about $50,000 per year. I missed the end time for the job postings. In addition, a guy in the IT department is making about 90,000 per year,but he's been there since 1994. My cousin is a phArmacist at a state hospital and she's making about 117,000 per year in straight time.
But I do see it from your point of view. I took the test to work as a process technologist but I failed the test. I'll keep looking.
 
As someone who has had a state job for a little over a year...I can't blame you for wanting to leave, its terrible (at least where I work).

The hiring process is asinine, I have 13 years experience but was put in entry level because of job bidding rules. The promotions are near impossible again, because of bidding rules (who cares how experienced you are or how good you are at your job.)

The pay is lousy, the benefits are lousy, they're not terrible but they're nothing fantastic. I only get one week of vacation a year, my last job I had much more.

The people I work with are idiots (my boss can't even install software). Its all around bad.

That being said don't jump ship until you have another job! I'm currently looking both inside and outside the state although I'd prefer to get out. I don't understand how people make it here 10, 20, 30 or more years. I'm learning nothing new here and I hate that.

Don't get me wrong though I am very thankful I have a job, its just a very miserable job.
 
chrono1081 said:
As someone who has had a state job for a little over a year...I can't blame you for wanting to leave, its terrible (at least where I work).

The hiring process is asinine, I have 13 years experience but was put in entry level because of job bidding rules. The promotions are near impossible again, because of bidding rules (who cares how experienced you are or how good you are at your job.)

The pay is lousy, the benefits are lousy, they're not terrible but they're nothing fantastic. I only get one week of vacation a year, my last job I had much more.

The people I work with are idiots (my boss can't even install software). Its all around bad.

That being said don't jump ship until you have another job! I'm currently looking both inside and outside the state although I'd prefer to get out. I don't understand how people make it here 10, 20, 30 or more years. I'm learning nothing new here and I hate that.

Don't get me wrong though I am very thankful I have a job, its just a very miserable job.
Click to expand...
Sorry to heard about your situation. My situation is similar to yours. I have a doubt supervisor also. But I my have found a job in another department at the same company.
 
I've been working a state job for 9 years and the bureaucracy often makes me want to leave. I do make pretty good money, my benefits are ok (not as great as many people assume, but better than other places), and I do have a fair amount of security where I am. But the hours suck, and if I so much as need a pencil it has to go through a dozen people.

I have attempted to move up a few times and I am always cut off at the pass by a pretty girl or someone who is related to someone up top. Sad to see that kind of stuff going on, especially when there are a lot of people who could do the job better.

I have been debating on whether or not I should leave and go back to the private sector but right now I just don't see how. It sucks, but they kind of got me right where they want me, and everyone knows it would take something pretty catastrophic to make me quit. I am pecking away at some classes to up my education game, but my work hours make it tough.
 
12vElectronics said:
Sucks to hear OP :(
Keep us updated with what happens
Click to expand...
I saw an opening at the same company that I'm working with now but in the IT department and I started asking some questions of someone on that team in IT department. But this person told me to try another university and they gave me the feeling that I shouldn't even apply for it. But when I spoke to someone else( they're also in IT but in a different part) they asked me who in IT gave me the negative vibe and I wouldn't answer. This other person told me to apply for the job anyway and don't pay the negative person from IT any attention because she isn't the supervisor. I'm getting the feeling that the lady from that team with the job opening doesn't want me on her team or she doesn't think that I will get hired. In addition, I had another person also in a different part of the IT department, tell me that I'm going from the frying pan to the hot grease and should just stay in my department and go back to school. Because you're job is protected, if you go back to school. THat's only if you know about that rule at work. But what this people doesn't know is that Back in 2009, I went to take some medical classes at the same school that I working at, but the classes were only available during the day. The Director of my department , asked me to quit. So, I told the medical program at my college that I need to drop all of my classes. they wanted to know WHY?! When I explained to them why, they were in shocked and disbelief. FYI, my director has PH.D in education. AMy department had already passed me over for two different jobs both jobs would have payed me more money. If I do, get this job it will be pay increase:mad:
 
12vElectronics said:
Sucks to hear OP :(
Keep us updated with what happens
Click to expand...

Hi There. There has been is a hiring freeze where I work at for a while. So, I'm still in the same position. But During this time, I did take the test for process technician but unfortunately I failed that test. I have to wait two years before I can take that test again.But I still have hope of finding a better job. Thank you again everyone.
 
You should stick with your state job because there much more benefits with state oriented jobs as compare to non state jobs. the job security is also more strongly associated with state jobs but in a non state job you are not sure about your job safety
 
determined09 said:
Hi There. There has been is a hiring freeze where I work at for a while. So, I'm still in the same position. But During this time, I did take the test for process technician but unfortunately I failed that test. I have to wait two years before I can take that test again.But I still have hope of finding a better job. Thank you again everyone.
Click to expand...

Look at the benefits your receiving are they better where you are or in the private sector? Salary is but one metic to measure you job at. health care coverage (which is insanely expensive especially if you have a family) and retirement are two huge benefits that many state/federal works have an edge.
 
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