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12 years ago
8 months ago, I posted about a job opportunity in Cincinnati that would have pushed me on a different career path than the actuarial path I wanted to be on. Well, behold, I'm currently in a job that is even further from the actuarial field that one mentioned in my journal. A lot of the same questions I asked back then are coming up to me now.
I'm currently an inventory operations analyst in Chicagoland, for those of you who do not know. I spent 4 years at Ohio State to get my bachelor's in actuarial science. I've passed two exams and plan to take the 3rd exam this August. I'm going to work my ass off this summer, just like I did last summer, to pass this exam. The scary thing about Exam 3 is that I won't know until about 2 months later whether or not I passed it. But, let's assume that I'm smart, have a good work ethic, summon my inner hatathi and learn in October that I've passed the exam. Then what?
Most likely, I'll start looking into actuarial positions again right away. It -IS- what I went to school. The growth potential in the field is absolutely amazing. I know my communication skills would set me apart from my coworkers in the field. Plus, the money ain't bad either. Only thing is that my lease is through the end of February. While I'm not "stuck" here til then, there's little reason to try and get out just a few months short of the end of my lease.
I'm not going to say I'm not happy with my current job, but I feel there are bigger and better things for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful I landed this position to begin with. Working in an office setting is great, there are a wide range of responsibilities and resume builders, and my coworkers are easy going and intelligent. However, it's not where I see myself in three years.
I think the biggest issue is Chicagoland itself. I've gotten to make some awesome friends and get to know some friends even better. Our weekend poker group is full of great friends (squipwuff, kalendil, dizfoley, aiden, just to name a few). There is so much to do in the area as well. But, the cost of living is just so damn high. I won't get too deep into the numbers, but I'm underpaid for my qualifications, after cost of living, by nearly $15,000 annually. Plus, it doesn't feel like home here. Every day, I think of places I would rather be. Usually, Ohio is at the top of that list. (There's also Iowa, but that's a different journal for a different day.)
The other problem is the job itself. My boss is a very smart man, there is no question about it. However, I feel like he doesn't quite understand my strengths and that I'm not being utilized to my full potential in this role. (Granted, he -may- be taking an opening in I/T and I may be reporting to someone else in the near future, but that's just speculation.) For now though, I'm feeling safe in my current position, but I want to make a bigger splash in the company. I just need to find the opportunity to do so. This may just be a case of "the grass is always greener on the other side."
Six months ago, I would've been happy to have just any job. But now that I do, the question becomes: what is the next step in my career and is it with this company? Though that's just who I am. I've never been content with the status quo and am always looking for the next big challenge.
I'm currently an inventory operations analyst in Chicagoland, for those of you who do not know. I spent 4 years at Ohio State to get my bachelor's in actuarial science. I've passed two exams and plan to take the 3rd exam this August. I'm going to work my ass off this summer, just like I did last summer, to pass this exam. The scary thing about Exam 3 is that I won't know until about 2 months later whether or not I passed it. But, let's assume that I'm smart, have a good work ethic, summon my inner hatathi and learn in October that I've passed the exam. Then what?
Most likely, I'll start looking into actuarial positions again right away. It -IS- what I went to school. The growth potential in the field is absolutely amazing. I know my communication skills would set me apart from my coworkers in the field. Plus, the money ain't bad either. Only thing is that my lease is through the end of February. While I'm not "stuck" here til then, there's little reason to try and get out just a few months short of the end of my lease.
I'm not going to say I'm not happy with my current job, but I feel there are bigger and better things for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful I landed this position to begin with. Working in an office setting is great, there are a wide range of responsibilities and resume builders, and my coworkers are easy going and intelligent. However, it's not where I see myself in three years.
I think the biggest issue is Chicagoland itself. I've gotten to make some awesome friends and get to know some friends even better. Our weekend poker group is full of great friends (squipwuff, kalendil, dizfoley, aiden, just to name a few). There is so much to do in the area as well. But, the cost of living is just so damn high. I won't get too deep into the numbers, but I'm underpaid for my qualifications, after cost of living, by nearly $15,000 annually. Plus, it doesn't feel like home here. Every day, I think of places I would rather be. Usually, Ohio is at the top of that list. (There's also Iowa, but that's a different journal for a different day.)
The other problem is the job itself. My boss is a very smart man, there is no question about it. However, I feel like he doesn't quite understand my strengths and that I'm not being utilized to my full potential in this role. (Granted, he -may- be taking an opening in I/T and I may be reporting to someone else in the near future, but that's just speculation.) For now though, I'm feeling safe in my current position, but I want to make a bigger splash in the company. I just need to find the opportunity to do so. This may just be a case of "the grass is always greener on the other side."
Six months ago, I would've been happy to have just any job. But now that I do, the question becomes: what is the next step in my career and is it with this company? Though that's just who I am. I've never been content with the status quo and am always looking for the next big challenge.
I'm looking forward to studying alongside you this summer! And yes, those eight weeks are the longest, most nerve-wracking weeks imagimable, but when you see your number on the pass list… awesome.
Keep up the great work. Your current job is opening the door to big-time career in financial risk mamagement. *lion hugs!*
Then when you get an acceptance or a job offer, at that point you can choose to accept it or decide to stay where you are and diplomatically decline it. You could also decline positions in locations that don't interest you.
You are on stable ground, don't shake it up until you have something better available.