Rambling Introspection
Oct. 13th, 2006 11:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparkindarknessSo more half-arsed analysis of self.
It occurs to me that I am looking for a new job. Now, this isn’t a new thing – I’m always looking for a new job in a semi-passive kind of manner. When I see jobs advertised I have a gander and reach out some feelers. I make sure several people have updated copies of my CVs etc. But recently Mad Secretary found one of my updates I’m sending out and asked, quite confused, “why?”
And it’s a very good question really and probably need answering soon. At the min ute I am not much in demand, being a relatively new lawyer, but once a lawyer in any field gets 3-5 years experience under his belt there are suddenly a plethora of options.
So why? Alright this firm has had recent problems, but my job seeking predates these problems and I have been impressed by how the firm has moved to fix the problem and has actually taken steps to stop them reoccurring. There are problems everywhere, what matters is that they are fixing it. No, blaming the current turbulence doesn’t explain anything (though it makes a nice excuse to mentally hide behind).
Money? Not really, my wage is very good, above what many of my age in my profession get. I can’t expect much (if any) of a wage increase if I move elsewhere. Besides, I have money. Between the job and the wonderful investment opportunity dropped in my lap not so very long ago, money is not something that really worries me.
Working environment? Certainly not. All the colleagues rock muchly on a grand rocking sc ale. They have a sense of humour, they don’t take themselves too seriously and when they do they don’t get touchy when you puncture their ego balloons. More to the point, and especially important to me, is that they accept and are happy with my homosexuality. I don’t mean in a “oh play nice or he will sue” kind of way, I mean that it genuinely does not bother at all. They’re not being polite, it simply doesn’t bother them. That’s a huge plus for me because there’s a level of awkwardness that plagues me in so many places that just isn’t there. I like knowing that my boss doesn’t have even the slightest inclination to gouge out his eyes because my car broke down and beloved dropped me off and we kissed goodbye.
Ok, advancement then? Well, I’m still really at the beginning of my career, is that something I want to worry about yet? Sure, the Senior Partners here have a thing about creating new Sneior Partners and are even a little reluctant about Partners – but I’m 25. Promotion Partner/Senior Partner, even senior associate, is sooooo not on the cards right now.
Besides which, haven’t I already bitched about NOT wanting more responsibility? I don’t want to expand my work load and how much rests on my decisions – so why seek early promotion?
I don’t know. I think it may be a society thing – the idea that there’s always something better out there. Do we spend so much time aiming for the next big thing that we can’t enjoy what we have? Do we hunger so much for something better that we don’t even realise that we already have everything we want?
Gah, maybe it’s just because everyone expects me to continually try and “improve” that I feel almost guilty not to. It’s the only thing I can think of.
”If it’s not broke, why fix it” is a sensible idea – so why am I still pottering about with a spanner? And is my continued unnecessary tinkering going to throw a monkey wrench in there somewhere?
It occurs to me that I am looking for a new job. Now, this isn’t a new thing – I’m always looking for a new job in a semi-passive kind of manner. When I see jobs advertised I have a gander and reach out some feelers. I make sure several people have updated copies of my CVs etc. But recently Mad Secretary found one of my updates I’m sending out and asked, quite confused, “why?”
And it’s a very good question really and probably need answering soon. At the min ute I am not much in demand, being a relatively new lawyer, but once a lawyer in any field gets 3-5 years experience under his belt there are suddenly a plethora of options.
So why? Alright this firm has had recent problems, but my job seeking predates these problems and I have been impressed by how the firm has moved to fix the problem and has actually taken steps to stop them reoccurring. There are problems everywhere, what matters is that they are fixing it. No, blaming the current turbulence doesn’t explain anything (though it makes a nice excuse to mentally hide behind).
Money? Not really, my wage is very good, above what many of my age in my profession get. I can’t expect much (if any) of a wage increase if I move elsewhere. Besides, I have money. Between the job and the wonderful investment opportunity dropped in my lap not so very long ago, money is not something that really worries me.
Working environment? Certainly not. All the colleagues rock muchly on a grand rocking sc ale. They have a sense of humour, they don’t take themselves too seriously and when they do they don’t get touchy when you puncture their ego balloons. More to the point, and especially important to me, is that they accept and are happy with my homosexuality. I don’t mean in a “oh play nice or he will sue” kind of way, I mean that it genuinely does not bother at all. They’re not being polite, it simply doesn’t bother them. That’s a huge plus for me because there’s a level of awkwardness that plagues me in so many places that just isn’t there. I like knowing that my boss doesn’t have even the slightest inclination to gouge out his eyes because my car broke down and beloved dropped me off and we kissed goodbye.
Ok, advancement then? Well, I’m still really at the beginning of my career, is that something I want to worry about yet? Sure, the Senior Partners here have a thing about creating new Sneior Partners and are even a little reluctant about Partners – but I’m 25. Promotion Partner/Senior Partner, even senior associate, is sooooo not on the cards right now.
Besides which, haven’t I already bitched about NOT wanting more responsibility? I don’t want to expand my work load and how much rests on my decisions – so why seek early promotion?
I don’t know. I think it may be a society thing – the idea that there’s always something better out there. Do we spend so much time aiming for the next big thing that we can’t enjoy what we have? Do we hunger so much for something better that we don’t even realise that we already have everything we want?
Gah, maybe it’s just because everyone expects me to continually try and “improve” that I feel almost guilty not to. It’s the only thing I can think of.
”If it’s not broke, why fix it” is a sensible idea – so why am I still pottering about with a spanner? And is my continued unnecessary tinkering going to throw a monkey wrench in there somewhere?