Chadstroma
Footballguy
I am in an interesting position in my career right now. Not sure if I am looking for advice or just want to vent but I thought I would share.
I never intended to have a career in banking but as I was going to school for something else I took a job as a part time teller back in the late 90's. I always performed well in the jobs I had an opportunities ended up presenting themselves to the point that before I knew it, I kind of made banking my default career as it would be hard financially to leave. I progressed through the ranks and ended up a high performing (top 5%) branch manager with added responsibilities of coaching/mentoring other branch managers and other such activities.
I loved the company I was with and turned down offers to make 20% more than what I was making there simply because I enjoyed the company so much. But around 2007 things just got crazy and the company was no longer the company that I had loved culminating in leaving mid 2007. I really had no concern about finding another job. I had seen people who were fired for fraud get jobs at other banks- so why would someone like me who had a track record of top peforming career progression have trouble? Well, timing could not have been worst. I ended up having absolutely no luck in getting a new job. I had many instances that job offers were about to be presented and then something went wrong (from having a job being created for me by a CFO- who then resigned and left the company before that was finished, to a regional manager who committed to hiring me when she had the right position- and she passed away before, The thursday before the friday I was suppose to get an offer for a job- the company largely got rid of that position, etc). After being unemployed for a while, I finally took a job in retail which I was overqualified for, underpaid and was generally horrible... but it was a job. I finally ended up leaving the job to be a stay at home father for our firstborn as that job was not going to go anywhere career wise (I turned down promotion offers) and it would have cost more for daycare than the job paid with a huge difference.
After a year of being a stay home father it was time to go back to work. I reached out to past colleagues to see if they could help. One informed me that they had a banker position open and that they would hire me for it if I wanted it. Looking to get back into the industry and then make my way up quickly, I took it. I did well but not super well and did not like the company at all. I stayed mostly as loyalty to my colleague/boss who hired me and did not seek to leave. As I got her blessing to move on, rumors started about the company being sold and being in the industry long enough, I could see that the rumors had truth to them. I decided to stay to see who would end up being the buyer.
At the same time I was given a promotion. The promotion would have normally have been to an Assistant Manager but the company had previously eliminated that position, so the promotion was to a Senior Banker II- otherwise known as an Assistant Manager in everything but name. I was told that I would be on the short list for a Branch Manager position as long as I performed. It came with a decent pay raise as well, this was on top of being brought in near the top of the banker position paygrade when I was originally hired because of my high level of experience. When I transitioned to the new company, my position transfered over as a Banker. In this role, my base salary actually exceeds the new companies paygrades as their positions rely more in incentive pay. I was able to keep my base pay and make the incentive which I have produced at the top level (top 5%) with the incentive pay and awards, etc. I now make more money than the top Assistant Managers make.
I am bored with the position. It was originally a step down from my past experience and I very badly want to do something more/different. I inquired about taking a Branch Manager position but the new company only promotes from the Assistant Manager position or hires from outside. I have applied internally for a few positions that I would like but with no success. I am frustrated and have started to look outside the company. However, I know for a fact that my current position title has kept me from interviewing for positions I have applied for (typically Branch Manager). I can not apply for positions other than Branch Manager because they would mean a pay cut for me.
So, here I am now. In a position that I am overpaid in (and not eligable for any pay increases). Overqualified and over paid for the normal career progression but the position I am in now, even with my experience/history, is blocking me from skipping and moving on.
I am suppose to have a conversation with my boss's boss regarding the situation. But I am a little frustrated right now. If you have read all of this- you are either extremely bored or a trooper. Feel free to comment, ask questions, or give advice.
I never intended to have a career in banking but as I was going to school for something else I took a job as a part time teller back in the late 90's. I always performed well in the jobs I had an opportunities ended up presenting themselves to the point that before I knew it, I kind of made banking my default career as it would be hard financially to leave. I progressed through the ranks and ended up a high performing (top 5%) branch manager with added responsibilities of coaching/mentoring other branch managers and other such activities.
I loved the company I was with and turned down offers to make 20% more than what I was making there simply because I enjoyed the company so much. But around 2007 things just got crazy and the company was no longer the company that I had loved culminating in leaving mid 2007. I really had no concern about finding another job. I had seen people who were fired for fraud get jobs at other banks- so why would someone like me who had a track record of top peforming career progression have trouble? Well, timing could not have been worst. I ended up having absolutely no luck in getting a new job. I had many instances that job offers were about to be presented and then something went wrong (from having a job being created for me by a CFO- who then resigned and left the company before that was finished, to a regional manager who committed to hiring me when she had the right position- and she passed away before, The thursday before the friday I was suppose to get an offer for a job- the company largely got rid of that position, etc). After being unemployed for a while, I finally took a job in retail which I was overqualified for, underpaid and was generally horrible... but it was a job. I finally ended up leaving the job to be a stay at home father for our firstborn as that job was not going to go anywhere career wise (I turned down promotion offers) and it would have cost more for daycare than the job paid with a huge difference.
After a year of being a stay home father it was time to go back to work. I reached out to past colleagues to see if they could help. One informed me that they had a banker position open and that they would hire me for it if I wanted it. Looking to get back into the industry and then make my way up quickly, I took it. I did well but not super well and did not like the company at all. I stayed mostly as loyalty to my colleague/boss who hired me and did not seek to leave. As I got her blessing to move on, rumors started about the company being sold and being in the industry long enough, I could see that the rumors had truth to them. I decided to stay to see who would end up being the buyer.
At the same time I was given a promotion. The promotion would have normally have been to an Assistant Manager but the company had previously eliminated that position, so the promotion was to a Senior Banker II- otherwise known as an Assistant Manager in everything but name. I was told that I would be on the short list for a Branch Manager position as long as I performed. It came with a decent pay raise as well, this was on top of being brought in near the top of the banker position paygrade when I was originally hired because of my high level of experience. When I transitioned to the new company, my position transfered over as a Banker. In this role, my base salary actually exceeds the new companies paygrades as their positions rely more in incentive pay. I was able to keep my base pay and make the incentive which I have produced at the top level (top 5%) with the incentive pay and awards, etc. I now make more money than the top Assistant Managers make.
I am bored with the position. It was originally a step down from my past experience and I very badly want to do something more/different. I inquired about taking a Branch Manager position but the new company only promotes from the Assistant Manager position or hires from outside. I have applied internally for a few positions that I would like but with no success. I am frustrated and have started to look outside the company. However, I know for a fact that my current position title has kept me from interviewing for positions I have applied for (typically Branch Manager). I can not apply for positions other than Branch Manager because they would mean a pay cut for me.
So, here I am now. In a position that I am overpaid in (and not eligable for any pay increases). Overqualified and over paid for the normal career progression but the position I am in now, even with my experience/history, is blocking me from skipping and moving on.
I am suppose to have a conversation with my boss's boss regarding the situation. But I am a little frustrated right now. If you have read all of this- you are either extremely bored or a trooper. Feel free to comment, ask questions, or give advice.
