Are You Working a Dead-End Job

Have you ever felt like you are working at a dead-end job?  If you think that you are, you are definitely not alone.  With that in mind, just because you think that you may be working a dead-end job, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are.  However, if you would like a little bit of proof or verification, you may want to continue reading on.

One of the many signs that you may be working a dead-end job is if you find yourself in the same position, for years and years.  If you were hired with the intention of no advancement, your current position may be fine for you. With that in mind, if you have goals and have yet to see those goals accomplished, it may be a sign of a dead-end job.  You should never have your work go unrewarded, especially if you were employed by the same company for years.

Another sign that you may be working a dead-end job is if you have been working at the same pay level, also for a number of years.  In fact, many employers automatically give their employees pay raises yearly or even quarterly.  If you have been employed by the same company and for an extended period of time, you may be working a dead-end job.  There is good news though, if your only issue is pay, you may be able to turn your dead-end job into a great job.  You can do this by inquiring about a pay raise.  Many employers expect this, especially after an extended period of time without a raise; therefore, you may have nothing to lose by at least asking.

The above mentioned signs are just a few of the signs that you may be working a dead-end job.  As previously stated, however, it is important to remember that you don’t have to keep on working in what may be deemed as a dead-end job forever. There are a number of different steps that you can take to see success.  One of those steps involves speaking to your supervisor or supervisors.  This may involve asking for an increase in pay or asking for a promotion, should any positions be available.  In today’s society, you will find that not all individuals want the responsibility of a promotion; therefore, you will want to let your supervisors know that you are not one of those individuals.

Another one of the many ways that you go about getting out of what you may refer to as a dead-end job is by creating a stir, but in a good way.  Despite your possible frustration, you may want to consider giving your job, dead-end or not, a second chance. With that second chance though, you are urged to take action.  Be sure to do good deeds in front of your supervisors, volunteer to work late or cover someone else’s shift in an emergency and so forth. As previously stated, your supervisors may mistakenly believe that you are currently satisfied with your job.  You will want to show them that you want more and that you are capable of handling more.

Another option that you have, when looking to rid yourself of a dead-end job, is seeking employment elsewhere.  If you have a family to support or bills that must be paid, you may only want to use seeking employment elsewhere as a last resort, but it is still a resort that you may want to examine.

Accounting as a career choice

George Wagner emailed me and told me about his new accounting careers page that he recently helped launch George is currently a researcher for OEDB.org , a site dedicated to providing higher education and career resources to individuals interested in pursuing an online education.  I have a degree in Economics and in Business and as part of the program I took many accounting courses. I also taught accounting for many years and I think it is a great career opportunity for both newcomers to the job market and those of us who may be looking for a second or third career. If nothing else, having an understanding of accounting will help prepare for life and for retirement. The link to the accounting site is http://oedb.org/careers/accountant/  and I think it is an interesting page. Check it out.

This resource is part of the "Careers" section of the website, and provides specific details about different career possibilities open to those interested in accounting. The page includes statistics about employment in the United States, as well as salary and job growth information. Additionally, we've included links to professional organizations, social networking sites, job boards, and online degree guides

A degree in accounting prepares graduates for a career as one of the most vital components of a company. Accountants and auditors are responsible for the preparation and examination of financial records for a business or non-profit organization. Because of the opportunity for advancement offered, the healthy salaries, and the above average flexibility involved, U.S. News & World Report ranks accountant as its third best business job, which is great news for accounting majors. 

Moving on

I have been very lucky this past year, I am working at Kwantlen Park Secondary School, in Surrey. This school used to be called West Whalley and it was where I started my career in education. Many of the students who went to the school are now members of my facebook page and I enjoy seeing there comments and keeping in touch with them.

I am in my last week at the school and I am having mixed feelings. I am working with two wonderful people in the Career Resource Center (Kim and Rick) along with a very strong staff that cares very much about the students. I am looking forward to my new assignment but feel sad about leaving the school. Moving on is always like that, but Boomers are good moving on when the time is right. I am sitting in the Career Office at lunch as the army recruiter is fielding questions from students interested in a number of army programs being offered this summer. There are seven woman and three men in this session.  The students are here because the school wants to make sure that the students complete their applications are filled out correctly, so they can increase their chances of getting into the programs. The staff at KP are still caring and interested in helping students plan their future. I will miss them.