Leaving employer after 16 years!

[thestrangebrew1]

Well, after 16 years I'm leaving the County. I started my career as a land use planner I and worked my way up to Sr. Planner then Manager. After managing staff for the last 6 years, and many crazy changes in the department (more recently for the worse!) I've accepted a new position as Director of Community Development for my small city. I'll be running our Community Development Division which consists of the Planning and Building Divisions. I'll have a staff of 2, one of them being myself, and an assistant lol. It's going to be glorious! The last few years I've dealt with so much mismanagement and staff drama and low worker morale it became unbearable here. Not to mention, we've been so low in staff that for the last 2 years I've been a glorified permit technician and was never able to achieve some of the goals I had for the department.

Another bonus is my commute will go from 40 mins one way to a 2 minute commute on a bike! I'll be taking 2 weeks off before I start the new gig beginning of August.

 

[Charmonium]

That's fantastic and most likely, very well deserved.

Now, find a nice fishing spot by a river and watch as old enemies float by. BWAHAHA

 

[allisolm]

Good for you! Hopefully now you will be able to accomplish your goals and get to feel good doing it.👍

 

[Zorba]

I personally always recommend 6 weeks between jobs. The first 4 are amazing, but by the end of the 6th week you'll really be ready to go back to work.

My current manager sucks, but I still feel bad for him, being a first level manager sucks.

 

[jpiniero]

Feels a bit too personal, esp with the flair.

I remember reading an apocalyptic story about planning in the Bay Area. Like one town tried to hire an building inspector but he re-negged because he couldn't find a place to live on the salary.

 

[I'dluv2]

Well, after 16 years I'm leaving the County. I started my career as a land use planner I and worked my way up to Sr. Planner then Manager. After managing staff for the last 6 years, and many crazy changes in the department (more recently for the worse!) I've accepted a new position as Director of Community Development for my small city. I'll be running our Community Development Division which consists of the Planning and Building Divisions. I'll have a staff of 2, one of them being myself, and an assistant lol. It's going to be glorious! The last few years I've dealt with so much mismanagement and staff drama and low worker morale it became unbearable here. Not to mention, we've been so low in staff that for the last 2 years I've been a glorified permit technician and was never able to achieve some of the goals I had for the department.

Another bonus is my commute will go from 40 mins one way to a 2 minute commute on a bike! I'll be taking 2 weeks off before I start the new gig beginning of August.

So you'll be the one I have to grease to get my projects through.

 

[Exterous]

Congrats! Sounds like a great overall adjustment for your life

 

[MtnMan]

Sounds like there wasn't much of an advancement at your current position, and this will open new doors for growth.

Hopefully retirement plans are interwoven, being government based. Both my wife and daughter had a variety of jobs from county, state, positions, but they had a common retirement, thus vesting proved beneficial for them.

I worked private sector, but big company, and wore a number of different hats, transferring from different structures withing the company and vastly different management, while still under the same pension plan, and carried the longevity. Proved beneficial, and not trapped reaching the top positions, without having to transfer to a different part of the country.

 

[Bacstar]

I did something similar: worked for the city for 12 years. when an upgrade to my position failed to be approved and no path to further advancement and pay increases (i max'd my pay ladder) I left for a better paying job with less responsibilities and stress. No regrets after 6 years.

 

[skyking]

Congrats!!
Do you want a little side job?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Congrats!!
Do you want a little side job?

Thanks! Nah no side jobs. Just going to relax, do my work and enjoy the less stressful environment!

Edit: Actually, I'll have more time to get back into photography. I was really getting into it a couple of years ago but with the craziness of work I stopped. Now I can get back into it!

 

[skyking]

I had to try man. I'm building a new house from scratch and I'll have to do an erosion control plan based on how much property I am messing with. I can write it up, but I'd like another set of eyes to look at it before the city craps all over it

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I had to try man. I'm building a new house from scratch and I'll have to do an erosion control plan based on how much property I am messing with. I can write it up, but I'd like another set of eyes to look at it before the city craps all over it

Yea I've never had to review an erosion control plan. That would usually be reviewed by our public works department, and they would make a determination if it's acceptable and let us know it's ok.

 

[skyking]

I'm going to quit the detracting from your wonderful thread about a new job, but it's really ironic that it only rains 16" a year where I'm building the house and I'm going to be doing most of the work in the summer. There will be no erosion to control