what would you do...

....In my position - tomorrow I go back to work after the last 4 days off due to my op. I will have to go onto a sickness discipline for having the operation and to be honest, although its not viable, I dont want to go back.
I do enjoy upto a point what I do, however, I want to do better and move forward. I have been in a call centre for 6.5 years and have been passed over for promotion 6 times due to the fact that "I am too valuable in doing what I do".
I have spent the last few days thinking about work and I am almost scared to go back which is not right at all.
If you wanted to do better - would you think about looking for something else - but for me - what though have no idea- would like to do something that involved more responsibilty etc.
What would you do as this place is messing my mind up with worry.
Kev

Since not working is not an option, you go back to your job and do it to the best of your ability, but you begin to plan for yourself, i.e., looking for something else or exploring the further education you might need to do something else.

I spent this entire summer interviewing for positions, and due to many factors such as a competitive environment with many other qualified candidates, race, and school district politics, I did not get a position. So I am back at my old job and not overjoyed about it. I figure if I let that attitude seep into my work, future possibilities will not happen. So, I am living in the here and now, doing my job to the best of my ability, and trying to have some new experiences that will prove valuable for the future.

How frustrating! I've been there too..."we need you here...I can't refer you for the promotion in that other department because we couldn't live without you!" - but not enough to give me anything more than a token raise...grrrr...

I don't know if you can find it there, but there's a great book called "what color is your parachute?" that is good for helping you to decide if you would like to pursue another career path, and has advice for finding a job. If I were you, I'd stick it out where you are for now and spend your spare time researching other opportunities...you don't want to get burned out. Perhaps you can check with an area university to see if they offer career counseling?

I went through a similar crisis of conscience a few years ago. What worked for me was to write down my options, including not making any changes. I listed what would need to be done to bring about any changes, such as schooling/training, etc. and once it was all down in black and white, it was easier for me to evaluate things. Also, think about where you want to be in five or ten years, and think, "What do I need to do now to make that happen?".

I understand what you are going through, and wish you all the best.

This website http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/ goes along with the book Tess mentioned. It might help you, I don't know how much of it is geared to the US.

I am working at a call center as well, Kev. I think it's the WORST possible work, but it's better than being unemployed. I am looking for better work, and something a lot more challenging and rewarding, because there is NOTHING rewarding about working in a call center, NOTHING!

My advise is the same as Deb's-go back to work and then start looking for something else. You NEVER want to quit a job, until you have a new one, especially in todays economy.

Oh, Kev! I know EXACTLY how you feel. The thing is, I worked for such a nasty place though, that I got disciplined for being in the ER with kidney stones instead of at work. I even got disciplined when I had a car accident during the noon hour and ended up in the hospital for 2 days.

If your place isn't that bad--I'd go back to work and start looking for someplace else immediately. Maybe change careers? If it is that bad, I wouldn't go back and I'd just start looking for another job. The thing is that it is easier to get a job when you already have one.

This is easy for me to say, of course. But I think you should set up a plan and maybe go to an employment agency and if you have something you would like to get a degree in, look in to it. Maybe take off days as needed for interviews elsewhere.

It has been my personal experience, that the longer you work somewhere the more you are taken for granted. The new employees are considered the latest discoveries in a lot of places and everyone else gets the short shrift.