Enthusiasam slump- How to proceed? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: McPete
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2013, 12:34:58 pm
content: I would like to preface this post by saying it isn't inteded as a whinge. I also apologise if it becomes a rant.Lately, I've been finding it more and more difficult to get motivated in my electronics work, and I want to share my experience, and see if anyone else has been in the same spot, and how they've come out of it.I'm financially painted into a corner, so thoughts of stopping the show and abandoning electronics are not an option.Recounting my electronics story seems to be the best way to explain my situation.Did work experience with my first employer, who had a calibration/electronics group, loved it. Applied for and got an apprenticeship with that workgroup.Enthusiasam blunted by an inappropriate choice of trade course (Instrumentation rather than electronics).Kept going. Did a digital electronics subject, loved it. Finished trade, petitioned employer to allow/assist me in doing an advanced diploma in electronics.Got a lukewarm response and suggestion to do power engineering instead. I persisted, was told that I would more or less not be recognised/provided with oportunities as those who did power engineering.Did 6 months of Advanced diploma using annual leave, commuting 1 1/2 hours each way. Teachers relentlessly negative about their subjects. Got pretty annoyed with the situation.Applied for a job in another city, slightly less pay, study fully supported by the employer. Promises of better pay once I was established. Took said job, moved to new city. Fell in love!First 1 1/2 years of the job were fantastic. Lots of unusual jobs, design work, new things, great new teachers at TAFE.Lately; Advanced diploma downgraded to Diploma, doubtful future of entire engineering department of this TAFE.Several managers looking to cut their overheads looking at our workgroup as a burden- As a value-added service, we're very hard to put a dollar value on. Intense scrutiny, changes to our operation that see a significant drop in work requests.Substantial cuts to the across our worplace. My colleages seem to spend a lot of time complaining and proclaiming the end is nigh for our workgroup.Still paid the same as a lawnmower operator at the same employer.While I want to finish the diploma before I move on, I'm not sure if the whole experience has killed my love of electronics totally. I still find the ideas interesting, but working up the motivation to implement them is seriously challenging.Have any of my fellow forumites been in a similar place in their careers? Where did you go from there?Cheers,Pete

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2013, 02:24:18 pm
content: Quote from: McPete on December 03, 2013, 12:34:58 pmYou're going to have me in a ranting mood now as well. My advice is jump off the sinking ship as soon as you can. It's not like you've been employed for a decade or two and would be passing up a substantial redundancy package. I've been in such a position. Sorry for sounding like a misanthrope, but people in general are at base petty, vindictive, solipsistic and backstabbing fuckwits that only really get along and function cooperatively in a workplace, behind a thin vernier of civility, if each individual feels that he has purpose and his self-interests are satisfactorily looked after.I've seen too many times now how thin that veneer really is, and how swift general mirth, camaraderie and chumminess gives way to petty shit fighting in a workplace with a suddenly uncertain future. Just piss off and don't feel the least bit guilty.Veering further off topic........... remember that your neighbor only refrains from shitting on your front porch because he realizes that doing so may give you license to go ahead and shit on his, and nobody enjoys stepping in other peoples shit. Some may find the actual act of shitting on someone's porch morally repugnant and refrain from doing so for that reason alone, but they, unfortunately, are in the minority.Well those are my words of wisdom for this evening.

author: McPete
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 12:06:08 am
content: I'm thinking about trying more communications stuff- starting with an amateur licence early next year. That spirit of experimentation and home built equipment- maybe that'll get me going again. I'm also keeping an eye out for another job. Staying in this negative envirobment can't be good for my mental health.I'm also starting with a bit of woodworking. Something different, and less ephemeral.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 12:09:34 am
content: The usual solution is to jump ship and change jobs.Just the act of looking and going for interviews makes you feel pretty positive.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 12:16:24 am
content: Quote from: McPete on December 03, 2013, 12:34:58 pmAt a former company we used to sit around and wonder whether or not the guy who comes around and waters and trims the plants earned more than us, and enjoys his job more.Jim's mowing or test'n'tag franchises were popular work time banter!At one point I considered tossing in electronics as a job and becoming a fitness trainer and/or a commercial adventure guide, but I knew it was just certain aspects my current job making me a bit depressed. I finally realised all jobs have their shit parts, even working for yourself as a video blogger...

author: RRobot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 03:34:48 am
content: Its called burnout and they say its from stress, but thats not the exact cause in my experience. I've gotten it after working months/years in largely uninteresting, unrewarding or uncreative tasks. Or tasks which are frequently interrupted with nonsense or changing priorities. Layoffs and lack of raises only make the problem worse.I think it is a form of learned helplessness when work/effort is not rewarded in anyway (material or immaterial) to the point where your only motivation to not to get fired.Anyway it happens to lots of people in their career. I find a job change, rather than a career change is all that is needed and sooner rather than later. Even then it may take a few months to snap out of it. Perhaps identify job qualities and work you have enjoyed in the past and seek these qualities out in a new job. Personally I've only experienced this problem working for poorly run corporations. Typically this implies large corporations, since small ones will go out of business if poorly managed.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2013, 05:50:12 am
content: Mr. McPete,I sense from your post that your lack of enthusiasm is more with your position than with an electronic career per-se.May I suggest: explore how you really feel by ask yourself a few questions.(1) What if when I quit and they counter-offer to my salary doubles, would I leave still? If no, what if it is just a 20% increase? What is the minimum they must offer before I would even think about it seriously.(This may help you discern how much of it is money.)(2) What if they "promote" you but pretty much the new job is same as the old job but with a nice title - and salary increase is little to none?(This may help you discern how much of it is just not getting the attention you feel you have earned.)(3) Job content - what if they move me to the project I most want to work on...(4) What if your boss ask you "ok, so you are going to quit. what can we do to keep you?" What would your answer be to that question.so on, so on.Lastly, ask yourself, what (legal) job would I NOT do even if they double my $? Triple?I think you get the idea. Understand and dig into how you really feel. Sometimes, disappointments we encounter can mislead us into wrong decision.I wish you well and wish the best to you with your choice - whatever it may be.Rick